Editing Sugar Creek, Missouri

{{distinguish|Big Sugar Creek}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Sugar Creek, Missouri
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = 
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Jackson_County_Missouri_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Sugar_Creek_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Sugar Creek, Missouri
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Missouri]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Missouri|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Jackson County, Missouri|Jackson]], [[Clay County, Missouri|Clay]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 28, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 30.17
| area_land_km2            = 28.46
| area_water_km2           = 1.71
| area_total_sq_mi         = 11.65
| area_land_sq_mi          = 10.99
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.66

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est           = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 3271
| population_density_km2   = 114.93
| population_density_sq_mi = 297.69

<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 886
| coordinates              = {{coord|39|08|36|N|94|23|58|W|region:US-MO|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 64054
| area_code                = [[Area code 816]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 29-71368<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2395995<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395995}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|http://www.sugar-creek.mo.us/}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
}}
'''Sugar Creek''' is a city in both [[Jackson County, Missouri|Jackson]] and [[Clay County, Missouri|Clay]] Counties in Missouri in the United States. The population was 3,271 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2971368|access-date=2021-12-29|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> It is part of the [[Kansas City metropolitan area]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|11.33|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|10.54|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.79|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-07-08|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archivedate=2012-01-25}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Jesse James Cave Near Sugar Creek Missouri.jpg|thumb|left|Kids exploring the Jesse James Cave, high on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River near Sugar Creek, Missouri in 1950.]]
Like many cities along the [[Missouri River]], Sugar Creek shows evidence of having once been the home of the [[Osage people]]. The city takes its name from nearby [[Sugar Creek (Missouri River)|Sugar Creek]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_jackson.html| title=Jackson County Place Names, 1928–1945 (archived)| publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri| accessdate=16 October 2016| url-status=bot: unknown| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624070750/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_jackson.html| archivedate=24 June 2016}}</ref>

On June 25, 1804, the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] camped on an island<ref>[http://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/read/?_xmlsrc=1804-06-25.xml&_xslsrc=LCstyles.xsl ''The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition'', University of Nebraska, Lincoln]</ref> in the Missouri River opposite what is modern day Sugar Creek.

In the mid-1800s, the area now known as Sugar Creek served as an important link in America's westward expansion.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} Known as '''Upper Independence Landing''' originally, the territory along the Missouri River served as a port to receive supplies for early pioneers.<ref name=Piland7>{{cite book| last=Piland | first= Richard Newton | title= Sugar Creek | publisher= Arcadia Publishing | page= 7 | year= 2010 | chapter= Introduction| isbn= 9780738584126 }}</ref> It was renamed '''Wayne City Landing''' after an army lieutenant, Anthony Wayne.<ref name=Piland7 /> Wayne City, which is now on the national historic register, also received travelers who were headed west along the [[Oregon Trail|Oregon]], [[California Trail|California]] and [[Santa Fe Trail]]s. In 1850, the first railroad west of the [[Mississippi River]] was constructed to join Wayne City and nearby [[Independence, Missouri]].

From the early 1890s to the 1930s, the Sugar Creek area was home to a first-class pleasure resort, [[Fairmount Park (resort)|Fairmount Park]]. Among the park's attractions were a hotel, theater, lake, and carnival rides, including a [[roller coaster]] that at one time was the world's largest. A [[streetcar]] line brought visitors to the park from nearby [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]].

In 1903, [[Standard Oil of Indiana]] purchased land at the northern edge of the city. A new oil refinery was opened a year later and quickly spurred growth in the townsite of Sugar Creek. A number of immigrants from Eastern Europe came to work in the plant, and by 1918, the town had grown to more than 800 residents.
[[File:Liberty-bend-bridge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Liberty Bend Bridge, built in 1949 to replace the old Liberty Bend Bridge two miles north.]]
Shortly after World War I, businessmen and residents founded the Sugar Creek Improvement Association. The Association installed streetlights, set city limits and petitioned for incorporation as a city. On November 15, 1920, the City of Sugar Creek was officially born. The new town consisted of {{convert|564|acre|km2}} and had a population of around 1,800 residents. The city continued to grow and prosper in its early years. In 1958, an additional {{convert|294|acre|km2}} were annexed on the eastern side of the city, bringing new opportunities for development.

The [[Liberty Bend Bridge]], in northeastern Sugar Creek, carries [[Missouri Route 291|Route 291]] across the Missouri River. The northbound bridge was built in 1949 when a new channel for the river was completed, and replaced the 1927 Liberty Bend Bridge which was about two miles to the north and crossed over the former river channel. Construction began in 1996 on the southbound bridge, which opened in 2001, and the northbound bridge was completely rehabilitated. It was part of an upgrade that changed Route 291 into a four-lane divided highway.

In the 2000s, [[BP America]] was involved in over 24 multimillion-dollar lawsuits for extreme polluting and causing unusual cancers in many people caused by its predecessors Amoco and Standard Oil at its Sugar Creek refinery<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.csnews.com/product-categories/other-merchandise-services/bp-settle-sugar-creek-refinery-lawsuits| work= Convenience Store News| title= BP to Settle Sugar Creek Refinery Lawsuits | date= 30 March 2008| location= Sugar Creek, Missouri | accessdate= 22 April 2014}}</ref> which closed in 1982.<ref>{{cite news| newspaper= Kansas City Business Journal |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2006/10/30/story7.html?page=all | date= 26 October 2006 | title= BP settles case on pollution at Sugar Creek | first= Chris |last= Grenz | accessdate= 22 April 2014}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 1657
|1940= 1638
|1950= 1858
|1960= 2663
|1970= 4755
|1980= 4305
|1990= 3982
|2000= 3839
|2010= 3345
|2020= 3271
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-07-08}}</ref> of 2010, there were 3,345 people, 1,420 households, and 852 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|317.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,627 housing units at an average density of {{convert|154.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 7.1% of the population.

There were 1,420 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.0% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 30.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,839 people, 1,633 households, and 1,048 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|465.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,753 housing units at an average density of {{convert|212.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.83% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.81% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.78% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.52% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.44% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.67% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.95% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.06% of the population.

There were 1,633 households, out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,967, and the median income for a family was $46,208. Males had a median income of $35,341 versus $23,686 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,784. About 10.3% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.2% of those under age 18.

==Education==
The majority of the city is within the [[Independence Public School District]]. The far eastern portions of Sugar Creek are in the [[Fort Osage School District]].<ref>"[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st29_mo/c29095_jackson/DC10SD_C29095_001.pdf SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Jackson County, MO]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on January 3, 2016.</ref>

Schools serving Sugar Creek residents include: Elm Grove, Abraham Mallinson, Sugar Creek and Mill Creek Elementary Schools; Bingham Middle School, [[Nowlin Middle School]] and Osage Trail Middle School; and [[Fort Osage High School]], [[Van Horn High School (Missouri)|Van Horn High School]] and [[William Chrisman High School]]. Prior to Fall 2008, some of Sugar Creek and its schools were within the [[Kansas City, Missouri School District]].<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-32978200_ITM Forum explores potential transfer of seven KC schools to Independence district. | Kansas City Star (Kansas City, MO) (September, 2007)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

[[Kansas City Public Library]] operates the Sugar Creek Library.

==Culture==
*[[Sugar Creek Slavic Festival]]

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
*[[Big Sugar Creek]] which is also in Missouri.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sugar-creek.mo.us/ City homepage]
* [http://www.sugarcreekherald.com/ Sugar Creek Herald & Business Journal]
* [http://www.oldfairmountpark.com/ History of Fairmount Park]

{{Clay County, Missouri}}
{{Jackson County, Missouri}}
{{Kansas City MSA}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Jackson County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Clay County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Missouri populated places on the Missouri River]]
[[Category:1920 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]