Marceline is a city in Chariton and Linn Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 2,558 at the 2000 census.

History

In 1887 the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway began construction from Kansas City, Missouri to Chicago. A location was chosen as a terminal or division point between these two cities and by January 1888 the first town lot was sold in the newly platted division point of the railway, later called Marceline. The community got its name at the request of one of the directors of the new railroad, whose wife bore the name Marcelina. With a slight change, her name was attached to the new railroad city.

The city grew so rapidly that by summer, it boasted a population of 2,500. At the 2000 census, Marceline was the second largest city of Linn County, Missouri. Marceline is best known for being the boyhood hometown of Walt Disney. Although the family lived here for only four years, Disney's ties to Marceline are pronounced, with the elementary school and post office named for him. The town also provided inspiration for the film Lady and the Tramp. One of the city's major events is September's ToonFest, to which well-known artists are invited.

Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland is based on the turn-of-the-20th-century downtown Marceline. Because of the connections between Walt Disney and Marceline, the name of Main Street in Marceline is sometimes referred to as Main Street USA.

Walsworth Publishing Company, established in 1937 and owned by Marceline's Walsworth family, employs hundreds of skilled laborers in its non-union Marceline printing press operation; the company publishes primarily high school and college yearbooks, while also holding market share in church directories and other large scale job printing operations.

Geography

Marceline is located at (39.714314, -92.947376) .

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), of which, 3.2 square miles (8.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.91%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,558 people, 1,079 households, and 690 families residing in the city. The population density was 787.1 people per square mile (303.9/km²). There were 1,237 housing units at an average density of 380.6/sq mi (147.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.20% White, 0.12% African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 1,079 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,164, and the median income for a family was $35,948. Males had a median income of $26,786 versus $17,382 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,086. About 9.0% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 19.5% of those age 65 or over.

References

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