Princeton is the county seat and largest city of Mercer County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,007 at the 2020 census, down from the 2010 census, which counted 1,166 people. Princeton was the birthplace of the famous frontierswoman Calamity Jane.

History

thumb|left|200px|Princeton historical marker

Princeton was platted in 1846. The city was named in commemoration of the Battle of Princeton in the American Revolutionary War.

A post office has been in operation at Princeton since 1846. The town was incorporated in May 1853, but the municipal government was allowed to lapse during the Civil War until 1869.

The Herbert Cain and Corah Brantley Casteel House and Leo Ellis Post No. 22, American Legion Building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Princeton is in northern Missouri, in the center of Mercer County. U.S. Route 65 passes through the east side of the city, leading south to Trenton and north to Lineville, Iowa. U.S. Route 136 passes through the north side of Princeton, briefly joining US 65 but leading east to Unionville and southwest to Bethany.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Princeton has a total area of , of which are land and , or 0.81%, are water.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,166 people, 525 households, and 282 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 632 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.9% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 525 households, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.3% were non-families. 41.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 40.3 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.4% were from 25 to 44; 20.8% were from 45 to 64; and 24.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census

Notable people

  • Russ Derry, MLB baseball player
  • Arthur M. Hyde, governor and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
  • Ira B. Hyde, U.S. congressman 1873–1875
  • Laurance M. Hyde, Missouri Supreme Court judge
  • Calamity Jane, also known as Martha Jane Cannary, frontierswoman
  • Mervin Kelly, physicist at Bell Labs
  • Christopher Langan, a man who has been described as "the smartest man in America" by some journalists
  • Minnetta Theodora Taylor (1860-1911), author, poet, polyglot, clubwoman, suffragist

See also

  • List of cities in Missouri

References

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