Leadington, Missouri

Leadington is a city in central St. Francois County, Missouri. It had a population of 422 at the 2010 census.

History

The city of Leadington derives its name from the Leadington Lead Company, one of several companies formed in the late 19th century to profit from the lead deposits in the St. Francois area, often referred to as the "Old Lead Belt." In 1893, the company bought a parcel of land east of the Flat River and northwest of Farmington and sank a shaft into the ground there, later building a small mill on the site as well. The small community that developed around the mine and mill was dubbed "Leadington" by 1895, and retained that name even after the property was sold to the Federal Lead Company.

The local mine was never as successful as others in the area, and production ceased after a few decades. Leadington was little more than a village for most of the 20th century; since 2000, however, it has seen a remarkable increase in population and overall prosperity, due to growth in the broader Farmington-Park Hills area and to the annexation of land to the east and southeast, which includes a number of important local businesses.

Geography

Leadington is located at the junction of U.S. Route 67 and Missouri State Highway 32 in central St. Francois County. It shares a direct border with the city of Park Hills to the northwest, with St. Joe State Park to the southwest, and with U.S. 67 to the east. Its exact coordinates are 37°50’15”N 90°29’10”W.

The city sits on relatively flat ground at the foot of some of the higher ridges of the St. Francois Mountains, and a short distance east of Flat River, a tributary of the Meramec River further north. It has a total land area of 0.90 square miles, and an average elevation of 840 feet.

Demographics

At the 2010 census, Leadington had a total of 422 inhabitants, grouped into 193 households, with a population density of 468.9 people per square mile. This figure marked a dramatic increase from the 2000 census, when Leadington had a population of 206. 95.73% of the inhabitants were White, 0.24% were African-American, 0.24% were Native American, 0.71% were Asian, 0.47% were from some other race, and 2.61% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 2.13% of the population.

The median age in Leadington was 36.8 years, with 23.5% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 8.8% between 18 and 24 years old, 27.7% between 25 and 44, 24.3% between 45 and 64, and 15.6% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 49.3% male, 50.7% female.

According to the 2018 American Community Survey, Leadington had a median household income of $39,236, and a median family income of $39,653. The unemployment rate was 8.7%. The per capita income was $18,876. About 17.6% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 9.8% of people under the age of 18 and 16.1% of people 65 years old or older.

Education

Leadington is served by the St. Francois County Central R-III School District, located in neighboring Park Hills. The main campus of Mineral Area College, a two-year community college serving the Lead Belt region, is immediately north of the city.