Geography
Mexico is located at 39°9'57" North, 91°53'5" West (39.165814, -91.884761)1. N.E. of the centre of the state, and about 50 m. N.W. of St Louis
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 30.3 km² (11.7 mi²). 29.4 km² (11.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.90% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 11,320 people, 4,804 households, and 3,021 families residing in the city. The population density is 384.4/km² (995.7/mi²). There are 5,301 housing units at an average density of 180.0/km² (466.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 88.79% White, 9.19% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 4,804 households out of which 28.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% are married couples living together, 12.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% are non-families. 33.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.25 and the average family size is 2.84.
In the city the population is spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $30,714, and the median income for a family is $39,406. Males have a median income of $30,266 versus $21,190 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,845. 13.8% of the population and 10.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 19.0% are under the age of 18 and 11.0% are 65 or older.
It is served (1911) by the Chicago & Alton, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and the Wabash railway systems.
Mexico is the seat of Hardin College and Conservatory of Music (Baptist, 1873), for young women, an institution founded and endowed by Charles H. Hardin (1820-1892), governor of the state in 1872-1874, and of the Missouri Military Academy (1889).
The city is situated in the blue grass region of Missouri, and was a shipping-point for horses and mules. Among the manufactures (1911) are flour, shoes and fire-clay products.
Mexico was laid out as "New Mexico" in 1836, and became the county-seat under its present name in 1837. It was incorporated as a town in 1855, was entered by the Wabash road in 1858 and by the Alton in 1872, and was first chartered as a city in 1874.
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