Wardell, Missouri

Wardell is a city in northern Pemiscot County, Missouri. It had a population of 427 at the 2010 census.

History

A settlement in the Wardell area (initially known variously as Bracy or Oak Grove) has been in existence since before 1895. Significant growth, however, only came following the construction of a sawmill in 1902 to exploit the dense forests in the region. Upon the addition of a post office in 1903, the community was designated Wardell. This was a shortening of "Warren's Dell," a reference to a local landowner, R. L. Warren, and the presence of a dell, a depression or opening in the forest.

The city's population peaked at 454 in 1950, after which it gradually declined. In 2007, Wardell annexed the community of North Wardell, which had been a village of about 170 immediately to the north. Wardell was the hometown of Bill Burlison (1931-2019), a prominent Democratic politician who held several posts in state and federal government during his life.

Geography

Wardell is located on State Route A in northern Pemiscot County, about one mile northeast of Homestown and eight miles southwest of Portageville. Route A connects it to Interstate 55, a few miles to the east. Its exact coordinates are 36°21’07”N 89°48’52”W.

The city lies within the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, near the Portage Open Bay, a bayou-like stream connecting it to the Little River. It has a total land area of 0.28 square miles, and an average elevation of 276 feet.

Demographics

At the 2010 census, Wardell had a total of 427 inhabitants, grouped into 172 households, with a population density of 1,525.0 people per square mile. This figure represented a significant increase (due to the 2007 annexation of North Wardell) from the 2000 census, when Wardell had a population of 278. 95.32% of the inhabitants were White, 3.51% were African-American, 0.23% were Native American, and 0.94% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 0.70% of the population.

The median age in Wardell was 37.6 years, with 27.9% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 8.4% between 18 and 24 years old, 23.7% between 25 and 44, 25.6% between 45 and 64, and 14.5% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 48.9% male, 51.1% female.

According to the 2017 American Community Survey, the median household income in Wardell was $31,563, and the median family income was $38,393. The unemployment rate was 3.5%. The per capita income was $20,296. About 21.6% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 31.0% of people under the age of 18 and 10.5% of people 65 years old or older.

Education

Wardell and the surrounding area are served by the North Pemiscot County R-I School District, a K-12 public institution with an enrollment of about 260 students. The high school is located in Wardell itself, while Ross Elementary School (grades K-5) is in Portageville. Its mascot is the Mustangs, and the school colors are red, black, and white.