Bunker, Missouri

Bunker is a city in Dent and Reynolds counties, Missouri. It had a population of 407 at the 2010 census.

History

Although settlers first moved into the future area of Bunker around 1840, no organized community existed there before the 20th century. Its creation was largely the work of Sylvanus J. Bunker, a businessman who believed the nearby oak and pine forests provided an opportunity for the timber industry then flourishing in southern Missouri. He convinced two brothers, Samuel and George Culler, to relocate their sawmill from the city of Mountain View, and assisted in persuading the Missouri Southern Railroad to construct a line from that point to a junction with the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad in Wayne County.

The new community, named for Mr. Bunker, came into existence in 1907, at the same time as the railroad and the sawmill. First incorporated in 1909, it grew rapidly, the mill soon producing over 100,000 feet of lumber per year and employing dozens, if not hundreds of people. Like many such towns, Bunker prospered only as long as the timber industry boomed, and already by the 1930s both had begun to decline. It is held together today by the local school district and by acting as a market for the nearby population.

Bunker celebrated its 100th anniversary in June 2007 with a weekend-long commemoration, including a parade and other festivities.

Geography

Bunker is located along Missouri State Highway 72, astride the dividing line between Dent County to the west and Reynolds County to the east. It is about 14 miles west of Centerville, and about 22 miles southeast of Salem. Its exact coordinates are 37°27’19”N 91°12’37”W.

The city lies in the westernmost part of the St. Francois Mountain range, more or less between the watersheds of the Current and upper Black Rivers. It has a total area of 0.66 square miles, and an average elevation of 1,394 feet.

Demographics

At the 2010 census, Bunker had a total of 407 inhabitants, grouped into 167 households, with a population density of 616.7 people per square mile. This figure represented a slight decrease from the 2000 census, when Bunker had a population of 427. 99.26% of the inhabitants were White, 0.25% were Native American, and 0.49% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 0.98% of the population.

The median age in Bunker was 38.3 years, with 27.3% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 7.8% between 18 and 24 years old, 24.1% between 25 and 44, 26.8% between 45 and 64, and 14.3% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 49.4% male, 50.6% female.

According to the 2018 American Community Survey, Bunker had a median household income of $24,545, and a median family income of $43,750. The unemployment rate was 13.6%. The per capita income was $20,484. About 22.5% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 35.3% of people under the age of 18 and 21.8% of people 65 years old or older.

Education

Bunker and the surrounding area are served by the Bunker R-III School District, a PK-12 school district with a total enrollment of about 245 students. Its mascot is the Eagles, and the school colors are green and white.