Macon, Missouri

Macon is a city in and the county seat of Macon County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,457 at the 2020 census.

History

thumb|right|[[Bird's-eye view of Macon in 1869]]

Macon was platted in 1856. Like the county itself, Macon was named for Nathaniel Macon. A post office called "Macon City" was established in 1856, and the name was changed to Macon in 1892.

The Western Baptist Bible College opened its two-story Macon campus in January 1892, having previously been established in Independence, Missouri. The college considers itself to be the "oldest African American school west of the Mississippi River". It continued operations in Macon until it was finally relocated to its present-day campus at the Ridge Estate in Kansas City, in September 1920.

In May 1898, there was a string of break-ins in the area of Macon. The break-ins included the theft of food and items, as well as assaults on women. During this break-in, there were references to previous assaults, an attempted assault, and a theft of two sacks of flour.

Geography

Macon is in southeastern Macon County. Two US highways cross in the city. U.S. Route 36, passing through the northern side of the city, leads east to Hannibal and west to Brookfield, while U.S. Route 63 passes through the city as Missouri Street, leading north to Kirksville and south to Moberly.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Macon has a total area of , of which are land and , or 4.78%, are water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Macon had a population of 5,457. The median age was 41.4 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.9 males age 18 and over.

97.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,378 households in Macon, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.9% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 5,471 people, 2,369 households, and 1,357 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,727 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90.8% White, 5.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 2,369 households, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.7% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 42.7 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64; and 22.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census As of 2026, the incumbent mayor is Anthony E. "Tony" Petre. The city's current ward members are as follows: Steve Olinger and Ernie Lea (Ward 1); former mayor James "Talt" Holman and Steve Iwanowicz (Ward 2); Jerold Carr and Chris Walk (Ward 3); and Cheryl Blaise and Jerry Thompson (Ward 4).

Federal and state representation

At the federal level, Macon is represented by two U.S. senators and one U.S. representative.

In the House of Representatives, the city was previously contained wholly within Missouri's 9th congressional district. This district became obsolete and was eliminated after the 2010 census and subsequent nationwide redistricting. It was last represented by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R), a resident of St. Elizabeth, between 2009 and 2013, who was redistricted into the state's third congressional district. Since 2013, the city of Macon is located entirely within Missouri's 6th congressional district. Since 2001, this congressional district has been represented by Rep. Sam Graves (R), a native of Tarkio, Missouri. Graves was first elected in 2000 to succeed outgoing Rep. Pat Danner (D), defeating former state senator Steve Danner (D), his predecessor's son. Macon itself has been under Graves' legislative jurisdiction since new districts were enacted in 2013, though he has always represented the sixth district since first being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Additionally, as of 2026, the city and the rest of Missouri have been represented at-large in the United States Senate by Sen. Josh Hawley (R) since 2019 and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R) since 2023. Macon has been represented by an all-Republican congressional delegation since 2019, upon the beginning of the 116th United States Congress.

At the state level, Macon is represented by two members of the Missouri General Assembly, one in both the Missouri Senate and the Missouri House of Representatives. In the former, the city is represented by state senator Cindy O'Laughlin (R), who represents the state's eighteenth senatorial district. Sen. O'Laughlin was first elected to her office in 2018, defeating Democratic nominee Crystal Stephens. A resident of neighboring Shelbina, O'Laughlin has since served as Senate Majority leader between 2023 and 2025, as well as Senate President pro tempore since 2025.

In the state's lower chamber, Macon falls squarely within the state's sixth district. Since 2021, this seat has been filled by Rep. Ed Lewis (R), a former high school and college educator based out of nearby Moberly. Rep. Lewis was first elected in 2020 to succeed term-limited Rep. Tim Remole (R), defeating Democratic nominee Terrence Fiala. Macon has been represented by an all-Republican Assembly delegation since 2001, when a special election filled the senatorial vacancy created by the accession of state senator Joe Maxwell to the office of Missouri lieutenant governor.

Media

Radio station KLTI is licensed to Macon.

Education

Public education in Macon is administered by Macon County R-I School District. Public schools currently operating within the R-I school district include Macon Elementary School, Macon Middle School, Macon High School, and the Macon Area Career and Technical Education Center (MACTEC). All three schools are located within a single, multi-building complex.

Macon has a lending library, the Macon Public Library.

Notable people

Frederick W. V. Blees (1860–1906), Macon benefactor, founder of Blees Military Academy
Frank P. Briggs (1894–1982), U.S. senator and Assistant U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Henderson Forsythe (1917–2006), actor
James P. Kem (1890–1965), U.S. senator from Missouri, 1947–1953
Butch Patrick (b. 1953), television actor best known for his role as Eddie Munster on CBS's The Munsters
Milton A. Romjue (1874–1968), long-time US congressman for Missouri's 1st district
Maude Mae Rubey aka Madam Maude Seay (1884–1957) Prosperous businesswoman "One of the First Negro Women to Distinguish Themselves in Business" Dorothy Height
Aurora Snow, former porn actress, director and columnist

References

External links

Historic maps of Macon in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri