Bismarck, Missouri

Bismarck is a city in western St. Francois County, Missouri. It had a population of 1,546 at the 2010 census.

History

Unlike most nearby towns of the so-called "Lead Belt," Bismarck owed its existence more to farming and transportation than to mining. It began to be settled in the mid-19th century, especially after the completion of the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad in 1858 and the construction of a branch line to Charleston, Missouri. It was at the junction of the two lines where the town of Bismarck took shape, laid out in 1868; it was initially named "Dent's Station," after a pioneer family of that name in the area, but in an effort to attract German immigrants, local leaders renamed it Bismarck, in honor of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. It was later incorporated as a town in 1877.

During its early years, there was a movement to have the county seat moved from Farmington to Bismarck, on account of its more direct rail connections; these ambitions were never realized, but the new community prospered nonetheless, rapidly growing in population and becoming home to a number of businesses, including several mills and grain elevators. Due to anti-German sentiment, the town faced some pressure during World War I to change its name to Loyal, but this was rejected by a solid majority of the inhabitants.

Though Bismarck's economy was not directly tied to mining, the closure of the nearby lead mines in the mid-20th century did have an effect; the town's growth leveled off, and since 1980 has fluctuated around 1,500. Agriculture continues to be an important aspect of its livelihood.

Geography

Bismarck is located along Missouri State Highway 32 in western St. Francois County, about seven miles southwest of Leadwood and eleven miles west of Farmington. Its exact coordinates are 37°46’07”N 90°37’31”W.

The city lies on a plateau of sorts between some of the higher peaks of the St. Francois Mountains, to the northeast and southwest. Flat River, a tributary of the Big River and thence of the Meramec, has its source in Bismarck. It has a total land area of 1.00 square miles, and an average elevation of 1,025 feet.

Demographics

At the 2010 census, Bismarck had a total of 1,546 inhabitants, grouped into 634 households, with a population density of 1,546.0 people per square mile. This figure marked a slight increase from the 2000 census, when Bismarck had a population of 1,470. 97.61% of the inhabitants were White, 0.26% were African-American, 0.91% were Native American, 0.06% were Asian, 0.13% were from some other race, and 1.03% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 0.65% of the population.

The median age in Bismarck was 37.2 years, with 24.5% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 8.4% between 18 and 24 years old, 26.9% between 25 and 44, 26.4% between 45 and 64, and 14.0% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 47.3% male, 52.7% female.

According to the 2018 American Community Survey, Bismarck had a median household income of $34,524, and a median family income of $48,274. The unemployment rate was 4.7%. The per capita income was $18,502. About 23.8% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 34.3% of people under the age of 18 and 19.1% of people 65 years old or older.

Education

Bismarck and the surrounding area are served by the Bismarck R-V School District, a PK-12 public institution with a total enrollment of about 500 students. Its mascot is the Indians, and the school colors are red, black, and white.

Transportation

Bismarck Memorial Airport lies one mile southeast of the city center. With a 2,000-foot runway, it services only small aircraft.