Hannibal

Hannibal, Missouri
—  City  —
Nickname(s): America's Hometown[neutrality disputed]; "Louisville of the West"
Location in Missouri
Coordinates: 39°42′15″N 91°22′39″W / 39.70417°N 91.3775°W / 39.70417; -91.3775Coordinates: 39°42′15″N 91°22′39″W / 39.70417°N 91.3775°W / 39.70417; -91.3775
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Counties	Marion, Ralls
Government
- Mayor
Area
- Total	15.1 sq mi (39.1 km2)
- Land	14.6 sq mi (37.8 km2)
- Water	0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2)
Elevation	502 ft (153 m)
Population (2008)
- Total	17,432
- Density	1,215.2/sq mi (469.2/km2)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	63401
Area code(s)	573
FIPS code	29-30214[1]
GNIS feature ID	0735640[2]

Hannibal is a city in Marion and Ralls counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. Hannibal is located at the intersection of Interstate 72 and U.S. Routes 24, 36 and 61, approximately 100 miles (160 km) northwest of St. Louis. The population was estimated at 17,432 in 2008.^[3] The Hannibal Micropolitan Statistical Area is composed of Marion and Ralls Counties.

Transportation

Interstate 72 was extended into Hannibal across the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge in 2000. Interstate 72 extends west to the intersection with U.S. Route 61. Future plans call for extending Interstate 72 west along U.S. Route 36 to Cameron, MO giving Hannibal an east-west link connecting Kansas City to Springfield, IL. U.S. Route 61 connects to Saint Louis to the south and is part of the Avenue of the Saints corridor that links to Saint Paul, MN.

Hannibal Regional Airport, (formerly Hannibal Municipal Airport) was named William P. Lear Field in 2003 in honor of the inventor of the Lear Jet. The airport is located 4 miles (6.4 km) west of downtown and has one runway 4,400' x 100'.

Freight railroad tracks link Hannibal in all directions: Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) tracks lead north to the Quad Cities and south to Saint Louis. Norfolk Southern (NS) tracks lead west to Kansas City and east to Springfield, IL. ^[4]

History and landmarks

Hannibal, Missouri

Although the site of Hannibal was previously occupied by early settlers and Native American tribes, the city of Hannibal was founded by Moses Bates in 1819.^[5] Although the city initially grew slowly to a population of only 30 by 1830, access to Mississippi river and railroad transportation fueled growth to 2,020 by 1850. Hannibal had gained "city" status by 1845^[5] The city served as a bustling regional marketing center for livestock and grain as well as other products produced locally, such as cement and shoes, throughout the remainder of the 19th century and on to the present time.^[6]

The community is best known as the boyhood home of author Mark Twain and as the setting of his The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. with numerous historical sites related to Mark Twain and sites depicted in his fiction. Hannibal draws both American and international tourists. Most Hannibal residents enjoy the visitors and the town at large enjoys much success through tourist revenue.^[7]

The town has other distinctions as well. In the Broadway musical Damn Yankees, Hannibal was the hometown of the protagonist's assumed persona (Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, MO). Hannibal was also the birthplace of singer and actor Cliff Edwards ("Ukelele Ike") and 'The Unsinkable Molly' Brown. Other natives include inventor Bill Lear and NBA basketball coach Cotton Fitzsimmons. The Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse was constructed in 1933 and has been lit at three separate times by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President John F. Kennedy, and President Bill Clinton. Rockcliffe Mansion sits upon a knoll in Hannibal, is listed on the National Register of Historic places.

Geography

Hannibal is located at 39°42′15″N 91°22′39″W / 39.704065°N 91.377378°W / 39.704065; -91.377378 (39.704065, -91.377378).^[8] It is adjacent to the Mississippi River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.1 square miles (39.1 km²), of which, 14.6 square miles (37.8 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (3.12%) is water.

The Mississippi River at Hannibal, Missouri

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 17,757 people, 7,017 households, and 4,554 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,215.3 people per square mile (469.3/km²). There were 7,886 housing units at an average density of 539.7/sq mi (208.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.61% White, 6.57% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population. 25.9% were of American, 23.8% German, 10.9% Irish and 10.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 7,017 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,892, and the median income for a family was $37,264. Males had a median income of $30,677 versus $20,828 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,902. About 11.3% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The view from Lover's Leap of Hannibal and the Mississippi River

Hannibal High School was founded in 1896.^[9] The current building was erected in 1932. As of 2004^[update] the current enrollment is 1232 ninth through twelfth graders. The athletic teams are named the "Pirates" and play in the North Central Missouri Conference of the Missouri State High School Sports Association. As of 2008 the principal is Ryan Sharkey. The school has Future Teachers of America, Young Democrats, Future Farmers of America, DECA, Key Club, and Natural Helpers (a peer helping group) as well as a wide array of other clubs.

Hannibal-LaGrange College is a four-year, Christian liberal arts college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Founded in 1858 in LaGrange, Missouri, the campus moved downriver to Hannibal in 1928. Dr. Woodrow Burt was elected the 16th president of Hannibal-LaGrange College on February 10, 1995.

MACC Hannibal Area Higher Education Center is a two year community college established in 1999. Currently housed at 4550 McMasters on the second floor, the community is raising funds to build a full campus. MACC Higher Education Center offers a full Associates of Arts degree.

Law and government

City police service is provided by the Hannibal Police Department.

Hannibal residents

• Jake Beckley, major league baseball player^[10]
• James Carroll Beckwith
• Margaret Brown, passenger on the Titanic, the unsinkable Molly Brown.
• Robert Coontz
• Cliff Edwards, the voice of Disney's Jiminy Cricket
• Harry Richard Landis, one of the last surviving World War I veterans was born near Hannibal.
• George Poage
• Benjamin Prentiss
• Scott Sanders, Baseball player
• Larry Thompson was born and raised in Hannibal, Deputy Attorney General of the United States under President George W Bush
• Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens)
• William P Lear inventor of car radio and Learjet

Fictional Hannibal residents

• Sherman T. Potter, character in the TV series M*A*S*H.
• Allison (Liberty Maid) from Josh and S.A.M., 1993 film about two runaway boys fleeing to Canada.
• Joe Hardy, from the musical, Damn Yankees. A popular song from the musical was called, "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo"
• Chris Dennis, from the movie "Nathaniel Neverwas"
• Joyce Palmieri from the movie Kindergarten Cop

Attractions

Mark Twain's boyhood home is open to the public

• Riverview Park - 465 acres (1.88 km²) of wooded land and scenic views of the Riverfront.
• Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse - The only lighthouse built inland features a panoramic view of Hannibal and the Mississippi River.
• Mark Twain Cave - World Famous Mark Twain cave.
• Cameron Cave - Missouri's newest show cave.
• John Garth's Woodside Mansion - Historic 1870's Victorian mansion is Missouri's highest rated and voted Bed and Breakfast. ^[11]
• Tom & Becky Appearances - Local children are chosen to portray the famous literary couple in local appearances.
• Tom Sawyer Diorama - 16 Hand Carved Scenes from the Book, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" & The Lollipop Guild Candy Store
• Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum Properties - Tours are available for the boyhood home, museum, interpretive center, Huckleberry Finn house, Becky Thatcher house, J.M. Clemens Justice of the peace office, and Grant's Drug Store.
• Mark Twain Mississippi Riverboat - Cruises available.
• Rockcliffe Mansion - A turn of the century Mansion.
• Molly Brown Birthplace & Museum Home of Titanic survivor.
• Sawyer's Creek Fun Park - Amusement complex on the riverfront.
• Hannibal Rocks Offroad Park: Hannibal Rocks

• Hannibal Cavemen - Prospect League baseball team. Plays at historic renovated Clemens Field downtown. Summer only.

Gallery

Mark Twain's boyhood home in Hannibal, Missouri.

The home of the girl who inspired Becky Thatcher.

The Mississippi River viewed from Cardiff Hill in Hannibal, Missouri.

The office of John Clemens, Mark Twain's father, who was the Justice of the Peace.

References

External links

• City Website
• Hannibal, Missouri Photographs in the Western Historical Manuscript Collection at the University of Missouri-St. Louis

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Marion County, Missouri County seat: Palmyra Cities Hannibal‡ | Monroe City‡ | Palmyra Unincorporated communities Philadelphia | Taylor | West Quincy Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Ralls County, Missouri County seat: New London Cities Center | Hannibal‡ | Monroe City‡ | New London | Perry | Vandalia‡ Village Rensselaer Townships Center | Clay | Jasper | Saline | Salt River | Saverton | Spencer Unincorporated community Saverton Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties