Lancaster is a city in and the county seat of Schuyler County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 675.

Lancaster is part of the Kirksville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

thumb|left|Schuyler County court house in Lancaster

A post office called Lancaster has been in operation since 1846. According to one tradition, the community was named after Lancaster, Ohio, the former home of a first settler.

The William P. Hall House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Geography

Lancaster is located at (40.524087, -92.529190). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Demographics

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 728 people, 326 households, and 187 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 367 housing units at an average density of . The racial makup of the city was 98.2% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7%.

Of the 326 households 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.6% were non-families. 38.0% of households were one person and 20.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age was 38.3 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 22.9% were from 45 to 64; and 20.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.4% male and 53.6% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 737 people, 319 households, and 203 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 370 housing units at an average density of . The racial makup of the city was 99.46% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41%.

Lancaster has a public library, the Schuyler County Library District.

Notable people

  • William Preston Hall Circus impresario, dealer in exotic animals
  • Howard R. Hughes Sr., co-founder of the Hughes Tool Company
  • Rupert Hughes, well known novelist and Oscar-winning screenwriter
  • Isabel Grimes Richey (1858–1910), writer

See also

  • List of cities in Missouri

References

  • Historic maps of Lancaster in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri