Ozark, Missouri

Ozark is a city in and the county seat of Christian County, Missouri.[6] Its population was 17,820 at the 2010 census. As of 2019, the population was 20,482.[7] Ozark is also the third largest city in the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Area, and is centered along a business loop of U.S. Route 65, where it intersects with Missouri Route 14.

Not to be confused with Ozark County, Missouri.
Ozark, Missouri
City
City of Ozark
Location of Ozark in Christian County, Missouri.
Ozark
Location within Missouri
Ozark
Location within the Contiguous U>S.
Coordinates: 37°1′38″N 93°12′34″W
Country United States
State Missouri
CountyChristian
Incorporated1890
Government
 • MayorRick Gardner
 • City ClerkChandra Hodges
 • City AdministratorStephen Childers
Area
 • Total11.58 sq mi (29.99 km2)
 • Land11.52 sq mi (29.83 km2)
 • Water0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation
1,168 ft (356 m)
Population
 • Total17,820
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
20,482
 • Density1,778.57/sq mi (686.72/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
65721
Area code(s)417
FIPS code29-55766[4]
GNIS feature ID0723933[5]
WebsiteOfficial website

History

Ozark was named after the Ozarks, in which it is situated.[8] The Ozark Courthouse Square Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.[9]

The name Ozarks is believed to have begun sometime in the late 1700s or early 1800s from those living in the Arkansas area who were heading north and said they were going to the Ozarks.

The first settler to visit the area is believed to be Henry Schoolcraft, who arrived in 1818. During that time he studied extensively the geological makeup of the area and noted the high concentration of lead and zinc. Notably, in the Elk Valley area. Schoolcraft noted on the abundance of elk, bear and other wildlife in the area. This later became the area's hunting grounds, until the elk were hunted to extinction in the 1880s.

Geography

Ozark is located at 37°1′38″N 93°12′34″W (37.027111, −93.209572).[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.15 square miles (28.88 km2), of which 11.10 square miles (28.75 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.[11]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880235—
1890490108.5%
190083069.4%
1910813−2.0%
1920798−1.8%
193088510.9%
19409618.6%
19501,08713.1%
19601,53641.3%
19702,38455.2%
19802,98025.0%
19904,24342.4%
20009,665127.8%
201017,82084.4%
2019 (est.)20,482[3]14.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

In 2012, press reports described Ozark as the fastest-growing city in Missouri.[13]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 17,820 people, 6,603 households, and 4,689 families living in the city. The population density was 1,605.4 inhabitants per square mile (619.8/km2). There were 7,311 housing units at an average density of 658.6 per square mile (254.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.2% White, 0.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2%.[2]

Of the 6,603 households 43.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.0% were non-families. 23.1% of households were one person and 7.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.

The median age was 30.9 years. 30.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.6% were from 25 to 44; 19.1% were from 45 to 64; and 10.1% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 9,665 people, 3,635 households, and 2,599 families living in the city. The population density was 1,280.8 people per square mile (494.3/km2). There were 3,853 housing units at an average density of 510.6 per square mile (197.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.36% White, 0.71% Native American, 0.33% African American, 0.30% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70%.[4]

Of the 3,635 households 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 23.2% of households were one person and 7.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.

The age distribution was 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median household income was $34,210 and the median family income was $40,069. Males had a median income of $30,599 versus $21,794 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,912. About 10.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Ozark was home to Simclar Interconnect Technologies, a 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) Simclar Group factory, providing backplane fabrication for telecommunications and data communications customers.[14] In 2007, Simclar moved 115 jobs to Ozark from Springfield, lured by a "tax incentive under which the company donated $1 million to a local not-for-profit corporation, which in turn will buy buildings, machinery and equipment and lease them back to Simclar."[15] In 2012, Los Angeles-based private equity firm Balmoral Funds LLC acquired the Ozark plant as part of an agreement that included plants in Hialeah, Florida and Matamoros, Mexico. The company was renamed Concurrent Manufacturing Solutions LLC.[16]

The Springfield/Ozark Mountain Ducks were an independent baseball team playing in the Central Baseball League from 1998 to 2003; Price Cutter Park, which was built in early 1999, was their home field.

In 2011, B&B Theatres built a cinema between Ozark and Nixa along Route 14.[17] The Belltower Chapel, originally the Ozark Christian Church, was built in 1912 and is located off of the Historic Courthouse Square in Ozark; since its 21st-century renovation it serves as a venue for weddings and other events.

Education

Public education in Ozark is administered by the Ozark R-VI School District.[18]

Ozark has a public library, the Christian County Library.[19]

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  8. Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. pp. 275.
  9. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. A. G. Sulzberger (15 February 2012). "British Robbery Suspect Edward Maher Arrested in Missouri". New York Times.
  14. "Simclar USA Missouri". Simclar Group. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  15. Tracy Heffner (29 January 2007). "Simclar Reports Plant Closures, Relocation". Printed Circuit Design & Fab Magazine. UP Media Group. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  16. Brown, Brian; Olson, Eric (5 November 2012). "Simclar sells Ozark plant to private equity firm". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  17. "B & B Ozark-Nixa 12 with Marquee Suites". B&B Theatres. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  18. "Homepage". Ozark R-Vi School District. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  19. "Missouri Public Libraries". PublicLibraries.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  20. "Three University of Arkansas Students Named as 2012 Truman Scholarship Finalists". uark.edu. February 29, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  21. "Lucas Harrell Stats | Baseball-Reference.com". Retrieved May 5, 2015.
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