Chaffee, Missouri
Chaffee is a city in northern Scott County, Missouri. The population was 2,955 at the 2010 census.
History
Chaffee is among the newer communities established in Scott County. Though older settlements existed in the vicinity, the town itself was not laid out until 1905, when land along the new St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad was purchased from Sikeston farmer John Witt and divided into lots. It received its name from the company buying the land, the Chaffee Real Estate Company of St. Louis, which in turn was named for General Adna R. Chaffee, a veteran of the Spanish-American War.[1]
The town grew rapidly as a place for railroad employees to live and do business.[2] Already by 1912, it had a population of about 2,000 and could boast of electric lighting, a prominent hotel, and two factories.[3] Various textile manufacturing enterprises sustained Chaffee after the railroad declined in importance; however, their closure in recent years has left the town's economic future in doubt.
Geography
Chaffee is located near the northwestern edge of Scott County, near the border with Cape Girardeau County. It lies about 13 miles southwest of Cape Girardeau, and eight miles north of Oran. Its exact coordinates are 37°10’47”N, 89°39’34”W. Missouri State Highway 77 is the main road running through town.
The city has a total land area of 1.85 square miles, and an average elevation of 338 feet.[4] It is mostly located on flat bottomlands, though the hills of Crowley's Ridge rise just to the east.
Like most of Southeast Missouri, Chaffee has a humid subtropical climate, resulting in hot summers and cool winters with abundant rainfall. The average temperature ranges between 32°F in January and 79°F in July. Annual precipitation averages about 46 inches.[5]
Demographics
At the 2010 census, Chaffee had a total of 2,955 inhabitants, grouped into 1,204 households, with a population density of 1,641.7 people per square mile. This figure was down slightly from the 2000 census, when Chaffee had a population of 3,044. 97.83% of the inhabitants were White, 0.51% were African-American, 0.2% were Native American, 0.1% were Asian, 0.07% were from other races, and 1.29% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 1.25% of the population.
The median age in Chaffee was 36.4 years, with 26.1% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 8.7% between 18 and 24 years old, 24.7% between 25 and 44, 23.8% between 45 and 64, and 16.8% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 48.2% male, 51.8% female.[6]
According to the 2017 American Community Survey, the median household income in Chaffee was $41,235, and the median family income was $48,594. The unemployment rate was 6.2%. The per capita income was $22,706. About 13.6% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 13.3% of people under the age of 18 and 10.3% of people 65 years old or older.[7]
Education
Chaffee is served by the Chaffee R-II School District, a K-12 public institution with an enrollment of about 700 students. The school has been in continuous operation since 1907.
The school's mascot is the Red Devils, and its colors are red, black, and white. It won a Distinction in Performance Award through the Missouri School Improvement Program in 2009, and its sports teams have won several state championships, including one in football and three in baseball. The Chaffee football team is said to be the first in Southeast Missouri to have a lighted field for night games, starting in 1928.[8]
The town is also home to St. Ambrose School, a K-8 Roman Catholic parochial institution.
Community Life
Though some businesses have left town recently, light manufacturing continues to be an important part of the local economy, especially of textiles. Agricultural and retail trade also provide significant employment.
The town is home to several parks, the largest of which is Lake Tywappity Park, located just east of town. Built in 1957, it has facilities for fishing and picnicking, as well as a hiking trail.
The "Chaffee German Days" are usually held the second week in August, featuring a carnival, beauty pageants, musical acts, and much else.
Chaffee also has a public library, one of two in Scott County.
References
- ↑ https://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_scott.html
- ↑ http://cityofchaffee.com/chf_wp/?page_id=2
- ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=G-AlAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA392#v=onepage&q=chaffee&f=false
- ↑ http://www.scottcountymo.com/communitiesDetail.php?Chaffee-4
- ↑ http://www.city-data.com/city/Chaffee-Missouri.html
- ↑ https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=CF
- ↑ https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=CF
- ↑ https://chaffee.k12.mo.us/District/1857-About-Chaffee-R-2.html
