Nevada, Missouri

Nevada ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Vernon County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,212 at the 2020 census. The local government has a council-manager model.

History

When French explorers entered the region in the late 17th century, they encountered the indigenous Osage people, who controlled a vast area extending west from present-day Saint Louis, including territories now within several states. The Osage Village State Historic Site, formerly known as the Carrington Osage Village Site, is located on a hilltop above the Osage River valley. Archeological evidence shows an Osage band that lived there had nearly 200 lodges and an estimated population of 2,000 to 3,000; they occupied the area from about 1700–1775. They were the most influential people in the region and were integral to the fur trade.

After the United States acquired the territory west of the Mississippi River in the Louisiana Purchase, through the rest of the 19th century, it stole the Osage lands, and forced the Osage to cede their lands and remove to Indian Territory. This site has been designated as a National Historic Landmark for its significance to the Osage people and American history.

Nevada was originally called "Hog Eye" by European-American settlers, and under that name was platted in 1855. The town's name was changed to Nevada by circuit and county clerk DeWitt C. Hunter, after Nevada City, California, where he had been a gold miner.

From 1897 to 1933, Nevada was home to the Weltmer Institute of Suggestive Therapeutics, founded by Sidney Abram Weltmer and Joseph H. Kelly. Weltmer bought a 17-room mansion, built in 1886 by Frank P. Anderson, a successful railroad builder. In addition, the volume of mail associated with the institute's business resulted in the post office being classified as first class, and the government building a new, larger post office to handle it. It attracted clairvoyants and psychotherapists, emerging as a new profession. It also attracted people promising various types of miracle cures for such illnesses as tuberculosis, which then had no cure.

In the early 20th century, the town attracted many enthusiasts of what was known as the New Thought Movement. In 1905 the Weltmer Auditorium was the site of the Fifth Annual Convention of the New Thought Federation, held on September 26–29, 1905. Ernest Weltmer, the eldest son of Sidney A. Weltmer, was Secretary of the Federation and helped open the convention. Among the several speakers from across the country was Grace Mann Brown, and entertainment was provided by singers including the Weltmer Quartette. Mrs. Brown served as President of the Federation the following year. In 1916, New Thought followers returned to Nevada for the second International Conference of the movement, and Sidney A. Weltmer was among the speakers.

2025 tornado

On April 2, 2025, an EF1 tornado struck the city, damaging homes and other buildings in Nevada.

Geography

Nevada is located in central Vernon County at the intersection of US routes 71 and 54. I-49 runs through Nevada concurrent with US 71.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Nevada had a population of 8,212. The census also reported 1,933 families. The median age was 36.5 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 82.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 77.2 males age 18 and over.

96.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.8% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,353 households in Nevada, of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 31.3% were married-couple households, 21.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 38.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. estimates show that the median household income was $37,451 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,204) and the median family income was $50,920 (+/- $11,441). Males had a median income of $30,625 (+/- $9,230) versus $24,931 (+/- $5,327) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,080 (+/- $3,745). Approximately, 10.2% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.7% of those under the age of 18 and 10.7% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,386 people, 3,491 households, and 1,908 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 4,018 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 1.1% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 3,491 households, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.9% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.3% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16, and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 23.3% of residents were under 18; 11.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.3% male and 54.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census

Nevada has a lending library, the Nevada Public Library.

Nevada is home to Cottey College which is a private women's college. It was founded by Virginia Alice (Cottey) Stockard in 1884. Since 1927 it has been owned and supported by the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic women's organization based in Des Moines, Iowa. It was founded as a preparatory school for girls and women, and by 1932 was a two-year liberal arts college. In 2011, it achieved accreditation as a four-year baccalaureate-granting college.

Nevada also has a Crowder College Branch.

Transportation

Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Jefferson Lines.

Nevada is served by US 71 and 54 along with I-49. I-49 runs concurrent with US 71.

Notable people

Russell Alexander — circus band composer, performer, and entertainer
Eva Bowring − United States Senator for Nebraska
Patricia Breckenridge − former Associate Justice of Supreme Court of Missouri
Jetta Carleton − novelist, author of the bestselling The Moonflower Vine
Harvey C. Clark, U.S. Army brigadier general
Forrest DeBernardi − member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
Ed Emery — state senator and former state representative
Clark Griffith - Major League Baseball pitcher and co-founder of the American League
John Huston − actor, director, screenwriter, and producer (born there)
Walter Huston − actor of stage and screen (lived there 1905–09)
Frank James − guerrilla and outlaw, brother of Jesse James
George Lyons - Major League Baseball pitcher
Brett Merriman — Major League Baseball player, Nevada High School 1984 graduating class.
Bill Phelps − former lieutenant governor of Missouri
Kimbrough Stone - United States Circuit judge
Anne Swainson − Head of product and graphic design at Montgomery Ward
Marion Talley - An American opera coloratura soprano, and was in Follow Your Heart
Sue Thompson − country and pop singer, born Eva Sue McKee
Sidney Weltmer - founder of the Weltmer Institute of Suggestive Therapeutics

References

External links

Nevada Chamber of Commerce
Nevada Daily Mail
Nevada Public Library
Nevada R-5 School District
Historical maps of Nevada in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri