La Russell, Missouri: Difference between revisions

| official_name = La Russell, Missouri

| settlement_type = City

| nickname =

| motto = Viva La Russell

| image_skyline = La Russell Water Pump.jpg

| imagesize =

| image_caption = Main Street, La Russell, Missouri, as seen from the ''La Russell Water Pump'' (circa 1904).

| image_flag =

| image_seal = <!-- Maps -->

| mapsizepop_est_as_of = 250px

| image_map1population_total = 134

| subdivision_typeutc_offset = Country-6

| subdivision_nametimezone_DST = United States = CDT

| established_datewebsite =

'''La Russell''' is a city in [[Jasper County, Missouri|Jasper County]], [[Missouri]], United States. The population was 114134 at the 2010[[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2940790|access-date=2021-12-19|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> It is part of the [[Joplin, Missouri]] [[Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

La Russell is located in the valley of the [[Spring River (Missouri)|Spring River]], adjacent to the Jasper-[[Lawrence County, Missouri|Lawrence]] county line. [[Bowers Mill, Missouri|Bowers Mill]] lies just to the northeast on the river. The [[Missouri-Pacific Railroad]] line lies along the river just to the north of the town.<ref>''Missouri Atlas & Gazetteer,'' DeLorme, 1998, First edition, p. 50-51, {{ISBN|0-89933-224-2}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.34|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2012-07-08 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurl=https://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/64vfLAeJ2?url=web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=January 2412, 2012 |df= }}</ref>

The village of La Russell, Missouri was platted and laid out for public use August 18, 1903. ''La Russell'' was named in honor of ''Russell Harding'', vice president and general manager of the Missouri-Pacific Railroad at that time and of importance to the townstown's creation. The French ''La'' was added to the original proposed name of ''Russell'' in order to prevent confusion with another Missouri town named [[Russellville, Missouri|Russellville]]. Because of this word change, the name ''La Russell'' appears to be unique in the United States.<ref>Carthage Press headline on May 16, 1903</ref>

This had been the hunting grounds of the [[Osage Indians]] thatwho were known to have camped at nearby [[Spring River (Missouri)|Spring River]], a short distance north of present-day La Russell. Their lands to the east had been previously purchased by the U.S. Government in 1808 ([[Treaty of Fort Clark]]) and other tribes had been moved to this location as well, and then later all were moved again to the Osage Nation areas elsewhere. [[Arrowhead]]s and other [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] artifacts can still be found in the plowed fields near the river today.

Although La Russell itself was founded in 1903 because of the railroad, early settlers at this location were among the first in the county dating back to the 1830s. The first public school in [[Jasper County, Missouri|Jasper County]] was established near the future site of La Russell in 1838. This was the ''Cave Springs School'', also known as ''Teas School'' in honor of its first teacher, Samuel Teas. School sessions during the [[History of the United States (1789–1849)|Antebellum]] Era were split into two periods each school year, with a summer session and a winter session because students were needed at home for Springspring planting and Fallfall harvest. The Cave Springs School also served as a church and a military headquarters for the [[Enrolled Missouri Militia]] (Union) during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. Following the burning and destruction of the county seat of [[Carthage, Missouri|Carthage]] in the Civil War, the state governor moved the temporary Jasper County Courthouse to the Cave Springs School in 1865. The school still exists and can be visited today. A Civil War memorial was also erected by the ''Eastern Jasper County Historic Sites Association'' in 2009 at the old Cave Springs Cemetery near La Russell, one of the oldest cemeteries in Jasper County.<ref>1883 History of Jasper County Missouri, (McDonald Township</ref>

The city of La Russell, Missouri expanded as a railroad stop for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad in 1905, at the coming of the White River line. As Inof 2014, La Russell is a small rural &and predominantly agricultural and livestock raising community.

[[File:La Russell Pump Christmas.jpg|thumb|220pxupright|left|The ''La Russell Water Pump'' decorated at Christmas time, La Russell, Missouri.]]

The '''La Russell Water Pump''' (''circa'' 1904), conspicuously located in the middle of the road on Main Street, is a local [[cultural icon]] which dates back to the early beginnings of the town. An even earlier ''community [[water well]]'' is documented to have existed about two blocks south from the present one (before La Russell was founded), also located in the center of the road until it was replaced at the beginning of the 20th century. The ''La Russell Water Pump'' supplied water for the village inhabitants, who carried it to their homes in buckets for use, and was also a welcome sight for thirsty travelers and their horses, and in later years for filling automobile [[radiator]]sradiators in addition to a cold drink. The concrete base for the present pump was constructed by the town August 5, 1907 and shows damage from vehicle collisions that occurred over the past century because of its odd location in the center of the street. Due to increased accidents it has also been at the "center of controversy" in modern times as being a safety hazard, though many townspeople have fought against its removal because it is considered an historical landmark in La Russell. The debate continues to the present time, and this old beloved [[hand pump]] is traditionally decorated by locals during the Christmas holidays each year. The motto ''Viva La Russell'' has become a rallying cry for the protection of the pump and emblematic of the town itself.<ref>The History of La Russell by Charles and Neva Chrisman, 1987.</ref>

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As of the [[census]]<ref name ="FactFinderwwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=AmericanU.S. FactFinderCensus website|url=httphttps://factfinder2www.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-07-08}}</ref> of 2010, there were 114 people, 42 households, and 33 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|335.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 55 housing units at an average density of {{convert|161.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 1.8% from two or more races.

There were 42 households, of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 21.4% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.06.

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 138 people, 51 households, and 39 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|405.2 people per square mile (156.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km²)km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 55 housing units at an average density of {{convert|161.5 per square mile (62.5|/sqmi|/km²)km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.93% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.17% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.72% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 2.17% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.45% of the population.

There were 51 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.3 males.

{{Portal|MissouriUnited States}}

[[Category:Joplin, Missouri, metropolitan area]]