Bloomfield, Missouri

Bloomfield, Missouri
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Settled	1835
Population	1,933
Area (sq mi)	1.35 mi²

Bloomfield is a city in and the county seat of Stoddard County, Missouri. The population was 1,933 at the 2010 Census.

Stoddard County Courthouse, Bloomfield

History

American settlement in the Bloomfield area dates back to the mid-1820s; its location in the hills of Crowley's Ridge made it more favorable to the early settlers than the swamps to the west and east. When Stoddard County was organized, government surveyors determining the site of a county seat chose the property of Absolom B. Bailey, a local notable who built the first courthouse and represented the territory in the state legislature for a time. The community was incorporated in 1835; although it may have initially been known as Castor, the name was soon changed to Bloomfield, supposedly for a large field of flowers on the site.

Thanks to its status as the seat of local government, and its connection to Cape Girardeau via a road known variously as "Bloomfield Road," "Old Cape Road," or "the Red, White, and Blue Road," Bloomfield grew rapidly during its first decades. During the Civil War, though largely pro-Confederate in sentiment, the area changed hands several times. A small Southern army under M. Jeff Thompson was stationed at Bloomfield in the first months of the war, but was soon driven out by Union troops. During this time of Union occupation, in November 1861, some of the soldiers took over the printing press of the local newspaper, The Herald, and produced the first issue of The Stars and Stripes, the newspaper of the American armed forces (though it would not become a regular publication until the 20th century).

Bloomfield suffered severely in the war, with most of the town burned before the end of hostilities; it eventually recovered, however, and continues to be fairly prosperous thanks to its status as the county seat and its central location in the county.

Geography

Bloomfield is located in central Stoddard County, about five miles north of Dexter. Missouri State Highway 25 runs through the town, connecting it with Dexter to the south and with Cape Girardeau and other larger communities to the north. The low hills of Crowley's Ridge, in which Bloomfield lies, cause there to be less crop-based agriculture in the immediate vicinity than elsewhere in Southeast Missouri; however, the gently rolling terrain is highly amenable to pasturage, and livestock grazing is common.

Bloomfield has a total land area of 1.35 square miles, and an average elevation of 482 feet. Its climate can be described as humid subtropical, with hot summers and cool winters, and a moderately high annual rainfall. Light to moderate snowfall is common during the winter months.

Demographics

At the 2010 United States Census, Bloomfield had a population of 1,933, with a population density of 1,431.9 persons per square mile. 98.81% of the inhabitants were White, 0.05% were African-American, 0.10% were Native American, 0.10% were Asian, 0.31% were other races, and 0.62% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 0.83% of the population.

The sex ratio in Bloomfield was 47.3% male, 52.7% female. The median age was 41.7 years old, with 21.3% of the population under the age of 18, 7.8% between 18 and 24, 25.3% between 25 and 44, 25.3% between 45 and 64, and 20.4% 65 years old or older.

The per capita income in Bloomfield is about $22,871, and the median household income $40,357. 12.4% of the population is below the poverty line, with an unemployment rate of 3.6%.

Community Life

Bloomfield's central location and the presence of the county government have given it a certain social and economic stability. Retail trade, manufacturing, health care, and education employ a majority of residents, with local government and associated professions offering an additional number of jobs. The town is home to several gas stations, restaurants, and stores, including the Dollar General Store and Town & Country Supermarket.

The Bloomfield R-XIV School District serves the town and the surrounding area. A K-12 public school, it has an enrollment of around 700 students. Its mascot is the Wildcat, and its school colors are purple and yellow.

The Stars and Stripes Museum/Library is located one mile south of Bloomfield on Highway 25. Open to the public, it is devoted to commemorating the U.S. armed forces newspaper, first published in Bloomfield in 1861 during the Civil War. In addition to information on the production and past journalists at the newspaper, the museum also displays artifacts from American conflicts of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, and includes an impressive library on American military history.