Marston, Missouri

Marston is a city in southern New Madrid County, Missouri. It had a population of 503 at the 2010 census.

History

Settlement in the Marston area began in 1878, when a gentleman named Stewart started farming operations. His farms were purchased in 1898 by Charles Barnes, who established a community and named it in honor of his mother, Laura Marston Barnes. A post office was added in 1900, and the town was incorporated in 1905. By 1912 there were two factories, several stores, two churches, and a small opera house. The population peaked at 742 in 1980, but has declined significantly since then.

Geography

Marston is located along U.S. Route 61 in southern New Madrid County, about six miles southwest of New Madrid and eight miles northeast of Portageville. Its exact coordinates are 36°31’01”N 89°36’37”W. Interstate 55 passes along the eastern edge of the community, with the Mississippi River lying about a mile farther east.

The city has a total land area of 1.11 square miles, and an average elevation of 292 feet. It lies near the New Madrid fault line, and small earthquakes occasionally happen in the vicinity.

Demographics

At the 2010 census, Marston had a total of 503 inhabitants, grouped into 226 households, with a population density of 453.2 people per square mile. This figure represented a significant decrease from the 2000 census, when Marston had a population of 610. 80.12% of the inhabitants were White, 17.69% were African-American, 0.20% were Native American, 0.20% were Pacific Islander, and 1.79% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 0.40% of the population.

The median age in Marston was 42.1 years, with 22.3% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 8.3% between 18 and 24 years old, 23.6% between 25 and 44, 31.5% between 45 and 64, and 14.7% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 46.5% male, 53.5% female.

According to the 2010 American Community Survey, the median household income in Marston was $22,222, and the median family income was $29,706. The unemployment rate was 2.0%. The per capita income was $12,137. About 29.5% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 29.3% of people under the age of 18 and 17.6% of people 65 years old or older.

Community Life

Marston is served in education by the New Madrid County R-I School District, whose schools lie a few miles to the north.

The city has a few small businesses, including two motels, the Hunter Lodge and Moore's Landing Inn, and a Pilot gas station near the interstate.

A minor airport, County Memorial, lies a mile north of Marston.