Kennett, Missouri

Coordinates: 36°14′25″N 90°02′53″W / 36.24028°N 90.04806°W / 36.24028; -90.04806
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kennett, Missouri
City
Ely & Walker Shirt Factory 5 on Main Street
Ely & Walker Shirt Factory 5 on Main Street
Location of Kennett, Missouri
Location of Kennett, Missouri
Coordinates: 36°14′25″N 90°02′53″W / 36.24028°N 90.04806°W / 36.24028; -90.04806
CountryUnited States
StateMissouri
CountyDunklin
Government
 • MayorJake Crafton
Area
[1]
 • Total7.00 sq mi (18.14 km2)
 • Land7.00 sq mi (18.14 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
[2]
272 ft (83 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total10,515
 • Density1,501.71/sq mi (579.82/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
63857
Area code573
FIPS code29-38306[3]
GNIS feature ID2395508[2]
Websitecityofkennettmo.com

Kennett is a city in and the county seat of Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The city is located in the southeast corner (or "Bootheel") of Missouri, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Arkansas and 20 miles (32 km) from the Mississippi River. It had a population of 10,515 at the 2020 census. Kennett is the largest city in the Bootheel, a mostly agricultural area.

History[edit]

Settlers built log cabins in the area in the first half of the 19th century, naming their settlement Chilletecaux in honor of a Delaware Indian chief who lived there. The town was renamed Butler in the late 1840s. Due to mail delivery problems because of other jurisdictions named the same, the settlement was renamed Kennett, in honor of the mayor of the city of St. Louis, Luther M. Kennett.[4]

In the 1890s, a railroad reached the area, stimulating growth in the town. In that same period, the state began construction of a massive drainage program in the St. Francis River basin, which was floodplain and wetlands. In the 20th century, after timber clearing, the area was developed for cultivation of cotton and other commodity crops.[5]

Geography[edit]

Kennett is located at 36°14′25″N 90°02′53″W / 36.24028°N 90.04806°W / 36.24028; -90.04806 (36.2403403, -90.0480886).[2] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.96 square miles (18.03 km2), all land.[6]

As part of the southern extremity of Missouri, Kennett has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with cool winters and hot, humid summers, ample precipitation through much of the year, and is part of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7.[7] The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 35.3 °F (1.8 °C) in January to 80.7 °F (27.1 °C) in July. On average, there are 4.9 days annually with 100 °F (38 °C)+ highs, 63 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs, 9.4 days where the temperature does not rise above freezing, and 4.8 days with 10 °F (−12 °C) or lower minima.

Climate[edit]

Climate data for Kennett, Missouri
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 44.9
(7.2) 		50.2
(10.1) 		60.4
(15.8) 		71.3
(21.8) 		80.1
(26.7) 		88.9
(31.6) 		91.6
(33.1) 		91.5
(33.1) 		84.5
(29.2) 		73.6
(23.1) 		59.9
(15.5) 		47.5
(8.6) 		70.4
(21.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 25.8
(−3.4) 		29.5
(−1.4) 		37.9
(3.3) 		47.9
(8.8) 		57.8
(14.3) 		66.5
(19.2) 		69.8
(21.0) 		67.7
(19.8) 		59.1
(15.1) 		47.1
(8.4) 		38.3
(3.5) 		28.9
(−1.7) 		48.0
(8.9)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.67
(93) 		4.04
(103) 		4.54
(115) 		4.87
(124) 		5.49
(139) 		3.53
(90) 		3.57
(91) 		2.32
(59) 		3.32
(84) 		4.49
(114) 		4.40
(112) 		4.90
(124) 		49.14
(1,248)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 3.1
(7.9) 		2.7
(6.9) 		.5
(1.3) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		trace .9
(2.3) 		7.2
(18)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 7.5 8.3 9.1 9.2 9.7 7.4 7.0 5.4 6.5 7.4 8.4 8.6 94.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) .9 1.5 .1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .6 3.1
Source: NOAA[8]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880171—
189030276.6%
19001,509399.7%
19103,033101.0%
19203,62219.4%
19304,12814.0%
19406,33553.5%
19508,68537.1%
19609,0984.8%
197010,09010.9%
198010,1450.5%
199010,9417.8%
200011,2602.9%
201010,932−2.9%
202010,515−3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

The Kennett Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Dunklin County.

As of 2000 the median household income was $26,088 and the median family income was $34,167. Males had a median income of $29,958 versus $18,770 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,397. Living below the poverty line were 26.1% of the population and 20.5% of families. Those living below the poverty line were 37.5% of those under the age of 18 and 24.0% of those 65 and older.

2020 census[edit]

The 2020 United States census[10] counted 10,515 people, 4,252 households, and 2,662 families in Kennett. The population density was 1,502.1 per square mile (579.7/km2). There were 4,837 housing units at an average density of 691.0 per square mile (266.6/km2). The racial makeup was 71.27% (7,494) white, 18.46% (1,941) black or African-American, 0.2% (21) Native American, 0.6% (63) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 2.61% (274) from other races, and 6.86% (721) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 5.7% (575) of the population.

Of the 4,252 households, 24.3% had children under the age of 18; 38.9% were married couples living together; 31.6% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 29.1% consisted of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.8.

23.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 84.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 82.6 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey[11] estimates show that the median household income was $40,857 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,064) and the median family income was $55,915 (+/- $4,916). Males had a median income of $33,403 (+/- $12,178) versus $22,135 (+/- $2,919) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $25,639 (+/- $2,302). Approximately, 12.4% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.1% of those under the age of 18 and 8.8% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census[edit]

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 10,932 people, 4,377 households, and 2,849 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,570.7 inhabitants per square mile (606.5/km2). There were 4,863 housing units at an average density of 698.7 per square mile (269.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 80.1% White, 16.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.

There were 4,377 households, of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 38.4 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.

Government[edit]

Kennett is located in Missouri's 8th congressional district in southeastern Missouri and is the county seat of Dunklin County, Missouri.[13]

The city of Kennett is governed by a city council with 10 elected city council members with the mayor acting as the presiding officer.[14]

Mayor Took office Left office Additional information
Theophilus Robb c. 1917–1918
Paul Caruthers Jones
(1901–1981)
 1933 1935[15] U.S. Representative, Missouri senator, Missouri state representative[16]
John Warren Karsten
(1887–1964)
 c. 1943 1951
Lee A. Pickard, Sr.
(1892–1974)
 1951 1951
John Warren Karsten
(1887–1964)
 1952 1952[17] (He previously served as mayor.)
Lee A. Pickard, Sr.[18]
(1892–1974)
 1953 1954 (He previously served as mayor.)
Arthur Oscar Billington
(1911–1985)
 1955 1963
Sol Astrachan
(1929–2022)
 1963 1971 Born in the Free City of Danzig.[19] He was responsible for paving the streets and implementing zoning ordinances.[20]
Harry E. Goddard
(1907–1980)
 1971 1975
John Warren Karsten, Jr.
(1922–1994)[17]
 1975 c. 1991 He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
Charles B. Brown[21][22][23]
(1940–2020)
 c. 1991 c. 1999
Donald Parker[24] c. 2005–2006
Roger Wheeler, Sr.[25] c. 2008–2011
Jake Crafton[26] 2011 2015 He previously served as a councilman for 4 years.[27]
Bob Hancock[28] 2015 2019 He previously served as mayor pro-tem and councilman.
Chancellor P. Wayne, DC[29] 2019 2023 Chiropractor
Jake Crafton[30] 2023 (He previously served as mayor.)

Education[edit]

Kennett has six public schools operated by the Kennett School District 39. The pre-school is called Kennett Early Learning Center. The elementary schools are South Elementary School and H. Byron Masterson Elementary School. The other schools are Kennett Middle School, Kennett High School, and Kennett Career and Technical Center.[31] Kennett High School's baseball team won the class 4 state championship in 2021.[32][33]

Kennett Christian Academy is a co-ed, private school affiliated with the First United Pentecostal Church that opened in 1979 and offers elementary through high school classes.[34]

Kennett is home to two higher education branch institutions. Southeast Missouri State University at Kennett is a branch of the Cape Girardeau main campus and Three Rivers College (Missouri) is a branch of the Poplar Bluff main campus.

Kennett has a public library, the Dunklin County Library.[35][36]

Media[edit]

The Delta Dunklin Democrat serves as the area's local newspaper.[37]

Transportation[edit]

Kennett Memorial Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) southeast of the central business district of Kennett.[38]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kennett, Missouri
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 165.
  5. ^ "Kennett Missouri Chamber of Commerce". Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  7. ^ "Arbor Day Foundation - Buy trees, rain forest friendly coffee, greeting cards that plant trees, memorials and celebrations with trees, and more". www.arborday.org.
  8. ^ "Station Name: MO KENNETT RADIO KBOA". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  11. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  13. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  14. ^ "Government: Kennett, Missouri, Chamber of Commerce". Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  15. ^ Jan Onofrio. Missouri Biographical Dictionary (Third ed.). St. Clair Shores, MI: Somerset Publishers, Inc.
  16. ^ "Index to Politicians: Jones, O to R". Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Index to Politicians: Karofsky to Kauffmann". Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  18. ^ "Index to Politicians: Phillips-calhoun to Picket". Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  19. ^ "An Interview with Sol Astrachan". October 28, 1998. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  20. ^ "Astrachan reminisces on Downtown's 'Days Gone By'..." January 9, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  21. ^ "Former mayor urges fiscal caution in 'spec' building construction". September 21, 2005. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  22. ^ Jim Grebing (ed.). Official Manual State of Missouri 1997-1998. p. 830.
  23. ^ Julius Johnson (ed.). Official Manual State of Missouri 1999-2000. p. 811.
  24. ^ Hankins, Steve (September 20, 2006). "Kennett council hears reason for name change". Delta Dunklin Democrat. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  25. ^ "Kennett, Mo., puts brakes on driving nonregistered vehicles in city". Southeast Missourian. Cape Girardeau, Missouri. August 8, 2008.
  26. ^ "Kennett, Missouri, Chamber of Commerce". Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  27. ^ "City sales tax still in effect this weekend in one Missouri town". August 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  28. ^ "Kennett, MO medical center closing June 11". April 30, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  29. ^ "Kennett, Campbell mayor races decided". April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  30. ^ DDD News [dead link]
  31. ^ "Kennett School District #39". Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  32. ^ "2020–2021 Class 4 Spring Season Baseball State Tournament". MSHSAA. June 3, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  33. ^ Davis, Tom (June 4, 2021). "Indian uprising: Kennett goes off on Blair Oaks in 16–5 state championship rout". semoball. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  34. ^ "Kennett, Missouri Chamber of Commerce - Education". Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  35. ^ "Missouri Public Libraries". PublicLibraries.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  36. ^ "Dunklin County Library". Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  37. ^ "Delta Dunklin Democrat". Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  38. ^ FAA Airport Form 5010 for TKX PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective February 11, 2010.
  39. ^ Hogg, Karen (April 1, 2001). Guitar Styles -- Women in Rock: The Guitarist's Guide to Music of the Masters. Alfred Music Publishing. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7390-2016-6.

External links[edit]

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