Advance, Missouri

Advance, Missouri
City
Location of Advance, Missouri
Coordinates: 37°6′15″N 89°54′42″W / 37.10417°N 89.91167°W / 37.10417; -89.91167Coordinates: 37°6′15″N 89°54′42″W / 37.10417°N 89.91167°W / 37.10417; -89.91167
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Stoddard
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
• Mayor	Carl D. Ritter, Sr.
Area[1]
• Total	1.12 sq mi (2.90 km2)
• Land	1.12 sq mi (2.90 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	361 ft (110 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	1,347
• Estimate (2012[3])	1,343
• Density	1,202.7/sq mi (464.4/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	63730
Area code(s)	573
FIPS code	29-00262[4]
GNIS feature ID	0713163[5]

Advance is a city located at the intersection of State Highway 25 and State Highway 91/Route C in northern Stoddard County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,347 at the 2010 census. Advance was founded circa 1882.

History

The history of Advance surrounds the construction of the railroad in the northern part of Stoddard County. The town was presumably founded during the construction of the Old Frisco Railroad, which was completed in 1884. The owner of a cotton plantation, Captain W. H. Whitwell of Mexican War fame, dedicated 60 acres (240,000 m²) that became the City of Advance. Originally, Advance was called Lakeville (presumably because the region was covered in swamps and lakes) and was located a short distance east from the present location. Lakeville was settled around 1858 when the first post office opened there. When the railroad was completed around 1882, it bypassed Lakeville. The townspeople wanted to relocate the town to take advantage of the railroad but couldn't decide on a site. One faction settled to the north at Toga. The other group moved west and called their settlement Advance to show that they were "advancing." The old Lakeville died in 1889 when the post office closed, Toga never got off the ground, and Advance thrived. By 1911, Advance was a thriving railroad town of 621 people with lumber and cotton as the major industries.

Geography

Advance is located at 37°6′15″N 89°54′42″W / 37.10417°N 89.91167°W / 37.10417; -89.91167 (37.104227, -89.911575).^[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.12 square miles (2.90 km²), all land.^[1]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Advance has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.^[7]

Education

The Advance R-4 School District runs throughout most of the northern parts of Stoddard County as well as the extreme southern portions of Bollinger County. There is one elementary school for grades K-6 and a consolidated junior-senior high school for grades 7-12 with an average yearly enrollment of 500 students in the district. The school colors are orange and black, and its mascot is the hornet.

Extracurricular activities at the school consist of band and choir, BETA Club, Drama Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Family Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA); Future Farmers of America (FFA), History Club, Math/Science Club, Student Council, and Yearbook. Athletics include boys' basketball, girls' volleyball, boys' baseball, girls' softball, cross country, and cheerleading. Basketball tends to be the most popular sport in Advance.

For adults aged 25 and older in Advance, 62.6% possess a high school diploma or GED as their highest educational attainment, 21.8% have less than high school and 11.7% possess a bachelor's degree or higher educational degree while 3.9% of the population possesses a post-graduate or professional degree.

The Advance R-4 rankings per the Education State Rankings 2009–2010 K–12 education categories. Reading and math scores: teachers’ salaries: graduation rates: per-pupil spending: special education: class size: hours of television watched: percentage of fourth-grade students using a computer at home:

Missouri rates 18 in the Nation with 17.6 thousand primary school age children.

Media

News in the Advance area is covered by The North Stoddard Countian, headquartered 16 miles (26 km) south in Bloomfield. The current editor is Corey Noles of Dexter with Madeline DeJournett of Advance serving as a staff writer.

Demographics

The unemployment rate in Advance is 6.95%, which is above the state average. There is no subtained industry in the town or near surrounding area. Agriculture, although small, is the most viable local source of income. There is an express McDonalds, one small grocery, county shared medical clinics open on select weekdays, daily ambulance services, two medical pharmacies,a florist,a bank, a mortuary, farm supply and home repair store, several gas stations, several automobile and one large tractor trailer garages. There are no hotel services, full service medical facilities or secondary education facilities.

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 1,347 people, 578 households, and 356 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,202.7 inhabitants per square mile (464.4/km²). There were 635 housing units at an average density of 567.0 per square mile (218.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.74% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.15% Asian, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.

There were 578 households of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.4% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 41.6 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.8% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64; and 24.8% 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^[4] of 2000, there were 1,244 people, 544 households, and 348 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,428.8 people per square mile (552.1/km²). There were 593 housing units at an average density of 681.1 per square mile (263.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.31% White, 0.08% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.16% Asian, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.

There were 544 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.80. It was reported that in Advance, 0.2% of all households contain lesbians.

For people in the city aged 15 and over, 55.0% were married, 9.9% were divorced, 14.8% were single, never married, 19.0% were widowed, and 1.3% were separated.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 26.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 76.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,734, and the median income for a family was $38,167. Males had a median income of $27,833 versus $19,702 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,036. About 8.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

• Dewayne Staats, broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Rays
• Charlie Mayo, legendary local baseball player

References

External links

• Unlocking the Past by Madeline DeJournett and Elfreda Cox is a history of more than a dozen abandoned towns in the north Stoddard County area near Advance.

Municipalities and communities of Stoddard County, Missouri, United States
County seat: Bloomfield
Cities	Advance Bell City Bernie Bloomfield Dexter Dudley Essex Puxico
Villages	Baker Penermon
Townships	Castor Duck Creek Elk Liberty New Lisbon Pike Richland
CDP	Grayridge
Other unincorporated communities	Brownwood Guam Idalia Leora Painton