La Plata, Missouri

The beginnings of La Plata can be traced back to March 17, 1827, when Drury Davis established a trading post near the town's current location. The ensuing few years saw Davis joined by family and friends to create a small village that included a blacksmith shop, an inn, and stagecoach station. The name is of Spanish origin meaning "silver". Two men, Louis Gex and Thomas Saunders, were the primary force behind the town's platting, and drew straws to choose the community's name. Saunders wanted to name the town "Charlottesville" to honor a favorite sister, while Gex pushed for the name La Plata. Gex won out, and the town is believed to have been first incorporated on September 29, 1856. The North Missouri (later known as the Wabash Railroad) came to town in 1867, and the Santa Fe Railroad twenty years later, passing through La Plata on its route from Chicago to Kansas City. As part of this growth, the town was incorporated as a fourth-class city on April 4, 1881, with Jacob Gilstrap serving as first mayor. ==Geography==

La Plata is in northeastern Macon County, with its northern border following the county line. U.S. Route 63, a four-lane highway, passes through the east side of the city, leading south to Macon, the county seat, and north to Kirksville in Adair County. Missouri Route 156 passes through the south side of La Plata as Clark Street, leading west to South Gifford and east to Novelty. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, La Plata has a total area of , of which , or 0.38%, are water. The city sits on a height of land which drains west to Long Branch, a south-flowing tributary of the Little Chariton River and part of the Missouri River watershed, and east toward the Middle Fork of the Salt River, a direct tributary of the Mississippi. ==Demographics==

2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 1,366 people, 584 households, and 364 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 683 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.5% White, 0.2% African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population. There were 584 households, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.7% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age in the city was 42.1 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.9% were from 25 to 44; 24.2% were from 45 to 64; and 22.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female. La Plata has a growing settlement of Amish, most of whom are engaged in farming. 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 1,486 people, 630 households, and 388 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 702 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.65% White, 0.13% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.68% of the population. There were 630 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.96. In the city the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $29,583, and the median income for a family was $36,071. Males had a median income of $26,438 versus $17,880 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,675. About 9.0% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over. ==Education==

Public education in La Plata is administered by La Plata R-II School District, which operates one elementary school and La Plata High School. La Plata has a lending library, the La Plata Public Library. ==Notable people==

• Lester Dent, author, Doc Savage books ==See also==