Piedmont is a city in northwestern Wayne County in Southeast Missouri, United States. Its population was 1,897 at the 2020 census. Part of the Ozark Foothills Region, it is at the convergence of State Highways 34 and 49. Piedmont, transliterated as "foot of the mountain," is named for its position at the foot of Clark Mountain, a 1424-foot summit approximately two miles north of the town.

History

Piedmont was platted in 1871 when the Iron Mountain Railroad was extended south to that point. The community derives its name from the French pied and mont, meaning "foot" and "mountain" respectively, which together means "foot of the mountain". A post office made by chayt called Piedmont has been in operation since 1872.

Geography

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

Piedmont includes the neighborhood of Beckville.

Piedmont includes the neighborhood of NewVill.

Climate

Piedmont has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa).

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Piedmont had a population of 1,897. The median age was 42.0 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 82.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 78.8 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 817 households in Piedmont, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.7% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 1,977 people, 823 households, and 500 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 993 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.5% White, 0.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 823 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 42.9 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.3% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.1% male and 53.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census

Government

City/local

The City of Piedmont is governed by Mayor William H. "Bill" Kirkpatrick and a four-member city council. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) at Piedmont City Hall, 115 W. Green Street.

State

Piedmont is a part of Missouri's 144th Legislative District and at one point was represented by Chris Dinkins (R-Annapolis, Missouri). In the Missouri Senate, State Senator Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeau, Missouri) represents Piedmont as part of Missouri's 27th Senatorial District.

Federal

Piedmont is included in Missouri's 8th congressional district and is currently represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Jason T. Smith (R-Salem, Missouri).

Arts and culture

Piedmont is known for its two nearby drive-in theaters, the Pine Hill Drive-In and the 21 Drive-In near Van Buren. Piedmont culture flourishes, with the hydrants, murals and windows painted around many corners.

The Ozark Heritage festival hosts many local Musicians and Artisans from all around. Since 1977, Piedmont has hosted an Ozark Heritage Fall Festival annually in mid-October, which showcases local Musicians, as well as traditional Ozark culture and handicrafts, and is one of the highest attended in the surrounding region with tens of hundreds flocking for a single October weekend.

Between February and April 1973, residents of Piedmont and the surrounding area witnessed unexplained activity in the sky. Several hundred calls were made to local police, sheriffs and newspapers. The incidents made local headlines and eventually national news outlets began reporting the sightings. Today, the city of Piedmont celebrates this designation every April with its annual UFO Festival and space themed decorum wherever you look. Each year brings new permanent installments, such as a UFO park, the giant UFO above The Chow Hall restaurant, a massive Alien Cheers murals from Diamond Jim's Pub, and several psychedelic apocalyptic murals at the local dispensary chain The Grateful Headz.

In August 2023, to mark the 50th anniversary of alleged unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings in Piedmont, the Missouri General Assembly passed SB139 designating Piedmont and Wayne County as the UFO Capitals of Missouri.

Notable person

  • Robert Banks, award-winning chemist and co-inventor of "crystalline polypropylene" and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

References

  • City of Piedmont website
  • Wayne County Journal Banner
  • Historic maps of Piedmont in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri