Lake Ozark is a city in Camden and Miller counties in Missouri, United States, near its namesake, the Lake of the Ozarks. The population was 2,077 at the 2020 census. The community took its name from the nearby Lake of the Ozarks.

Bagnell Dam was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

The segment of Bagnell Dam Boulevard from Horse Bend Parkway to the Bagnell Dam is named "Bagnell Dam Strip." There are two muffler mans named Injun Joe and another named Country Bumpkin. The latter was gone from 2013 until 2024. It suffered damage on the shoe part from vandalism a few weeks after returning.

Geography

The city is in western Miller County, with a portion crossing into eastern Camden County. The city sits at the northeast (downstream) end of the Lake of the Ozarks, with the lakeshore forming portions of the city's western border. The city is bordered to the northeast by the town of Bagnell and to the south by the city of Osage Beach. Lake Ozark encircles the smaller, inactive city of Lakeside.

U.S. Route 54 passes through the east side of the city, while Route 54 Business passes through the center. US 54 leads north to Eldon and northeast to Jefferson City, the state capital, while to the south it passes through Osage Beach and leads to Camdenton. The Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge carries Highway MM across the lake from the southwest part of the city; the highway leads west to Sunrise Beach.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Lake Ozark has a total area of , of which are land and , or 9.10%, are water.

Climate

Lake Ozark has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid, with thunderstorms and other severe weather common. Winters are generally cold with mild periods, but the temperature of the lake can alter the climate with heavy fog and milder weather than other municipalities further away from the lake. Winters also consist of occasional snowfall of about 10 inches per year.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Lake Ozark had a population of 2,077. The median age was 47.8 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.5 males age 18 and over.

33.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 66.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 919 households in Lake Ozark, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.0% were married-couple households, 16.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 1,586 people, 715 households, and 455 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 1,688 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.5% White, 0.2% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 715 households, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.4% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.71.

The median age in the city was 48 years. 19.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.7% were from 25 to 44; 36.9% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.3% male and 48.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census At the junction of US 54 and Route W in the northern part of Lake Ozark, an interchange was completed in 2021 to replace a spotlight intersection.

See also

  • List of cities in Missouri

References

  • Lake Area Chamber of Commerce