Bernie, Missouri

Bernie is a city in southern Stoddard County, Missouri. It is the second-largest community in the county, with a population of 1,958 at the 2010 census.

History

Though settlement of the area began as early as 1878, the town of Bernie was laid out along the new St. Louis Southwestern Railroad in 1890 by George S. Crumb and named in honor of his daughter, Bernice or "Bernie."

Like many railroad towns in the virgin timberland of Southeast Missouri, Bernie grew rapidly; by 1912, the town had a bank, a cotton gin, a drug store, eighteen general stores, and at least four churches. A sizable public school was already in operation as well. The flourishing agriculture of the area, especially the growing of cotton, rice, and soybeans, has helped the town maintain a stable population to the present day.

Geography

Bernie is located along Missouri State Highway 25, about eight miles south of Dexter. Its specific location is 36°40′08″ N, 89°58′07″ W. Malden lies about eight miles south, and the St. Francis River is about ten miles to the west.

The city has a total land area of 1.31 square miles, and an average elevation of 302 feet. There are few if any terrain features worth noting, it being located on the flat Mississippi Alluvial Plain.

Demographics

At the 2010 census, Bernie had a total of 1,958 inhabitants, grouped into 831 households, with a population density of 1,494.7 people per square mile. This figure was up significantly from the 2000 census, when Bernie had a population of 1,777. 94.89% of the inhabitants were White, 2.2% were African-American, 0.61% were Native American, 0.1% were Asian, 0.77% were from other races, and 1.43% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 1.43% of the population.

The median age in Bernie was 40 years, with 24.5% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 8.2% between 18 and 24 years old, 23.9% between 25 and 44, 26.2% between 45 and 64, and 17.3% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 47.1% male, 52.9% female.

According to the 2017 American Community Survey, the median household income in Bernie was $35,417, and the median family income was $48,464. The unemployment rate was 10.2%. The per capita income was $16,639. About 20.4% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 24.4% of people under the age of 18 and 8.2% of people 65 years old or older.

Education

Pubic school students in the town and the surrounding area are served by the Bernie R-XIII School District, a PK-12 educational system with an enrollment of over 500 students. Its mascot is the Mules, and its colors are blue and white.

Bernie also has a public library, with a variety of books, videos, and audio materials.