Brunswick, Missouri: Chariton County

Brunswick is a city in Chariton County, Missouri, United States. Chariton County is located in the north-central portion of the state of Missouri. The county was named for the Chariton River and was settled primarily by immigrants from Kentucky and Tennessee.

Chariton County, Missouri

Brunswick is a city in Chariton County, Missouri. Chariton County is located in the north-central portion of the state and was formed in 1820 from part of Howard County. It is named after the Chariton River. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 7,408, with the county seat in Keytesville. The county was settled primarily by people from the Upper South states, especially Kentucky and Tennessee, who brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them. They cultivated crops such as hemp and tobacco, and the county became known as Little Dixie due to its cultural and traditional similarities to the South.

The original town of Brunswick was laid out in 1836 by James Keyte, an English immigrant and Methodist minister. The town was named after Brunswick in England. The original town plan was located about 500 yards south of its current location but is now underwater due to changes in the Missouri and Grand Rivers. Brunswick's early growth was slow, with a population of around 125 by 1840. However, in the early 1840s, a large influx of new residents, including German immigrants, increased the size and scope of the town. New businesses included a hotel, a wagon maker, a brick factory, and a pork packing facility.

Before the American Civil War, Brunswick served as a regional trading centre for surrounding counties that lacked railroads. Steamboats were used to transport goods and people, with 534 arrivals and departures recorded in 1849. The railroad finally reached Brunswick in 1867 after delays caused by the war.

Brunswick has a rich history and has been home to notable individuals such as Darold Knowles, the first pitcher to appear in all seven games of a World Series, and Wayne E. Meyer, a U.S. Navy admiral known as the "Father of the Aegis weapons system". The town is also known for its pecan groves and hosts the annual Brunswick Pecan Festival.

Population and demographics

Brunswick is a city in Chariton County, Missouri, United States. Chariton County is located in the north-central portion of Missouri and was formed in 1820 from part of Howard County. The county seat is Keytesville.

According to the 2020 census, Chariton County had a population of 7,408. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.99% White, 3.19% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Approximately 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The median age in the county was 42 years. The population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 22.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median income for a household in the county was $32,285, and the median income for a family was $39,176. The per capita income for the county was $15,515.

The city of Brunswick had a population of 801 as of the 2020 census, down from 858 in 2010 and 925 in 2000. The population density in 2010 was 715.0 inhabitants per square mile (276.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city in 2010 was 88.8% White, 9.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 0.2% of the population.

The median age in Brunswick was 47.7 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18, 6.9% were between 18 and 24, 17.9% were from 25 to 44, 25.2% were from 45 to 64, and 27.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median household income in Brunswick, MO in 2021 was $38,250, with a median property value of $69,500.

History

Brunswick, Missouri, is a city in Chariton County. For thousands of years, varying cultures of indigenous peoples settled by the Missouri River. At the time of European contact, historical tribes in the area included the Missouri, Osage, Kaw, and Otoe, among others. In 1723, Etienne de Veniard, Sieur de Bourgmont built Fort Orleans near Brunswick, which was occupied from 1723 to 1726 as the first multi-year European fort and settlement in present-day Missouri. It was meant to be a trading centerpiece of La Louisiane, the new territory claimed by the French.

Following the Louisiana Purchase and the end of the French colonial period, the area saw a large influx of immigrants, particularly from Kentucky and Tennessee. These new immigrants brought African-American slaves and slaveholding traditions with them. The new landowners planted and cultivated crops similar to those in the Upper South, such as hemp and tobacco. Chariton was one of several counties along the Missouri River to become known as Little Dixie.

The original town of Brunswick was laid out in 1836 by James Keyte, an English immigrant and Methodist minister. It was named after Brunswick, England. Keyte also established the town's first store and its first industry, a sawmill. Early growth was slow for the community, with the population estimated at around 125 citizens by 1840. However, in the early 1840s, a large influx of new residents, including German immigrants, increased the size of the town and the scope of business offerings. In the decades leading up to the American Civil War, Brunswick became a regional trading center due to its steamboat access, as surrounding counties had no railroad connections.

After the Civil War, farmers shifted to other, less labor-intensive crops. The railroad finally reached Brunswick in 1867, reducing the reliance on steamboats for transporting goods and people.

In 1914, the Missouri Farmers Association (MFA), a cooperative, was founded in Brunswick. The town saw further growth in the mid-20th century, with the construction of an alfalfa-drying plant in 1939, the Chariton Electric Company in 1958, the opening of the Tuloma Fertilizer blending plant in 1965, and a glove factory in 1970.

Brunswick is known as the Pecan Capital of Missouri, with the first Brunswick Pecan Festival held in 1980 to celebrate the large number of pecans being harvested in the area.

Economy and employment

Brunswick, Missouri, is located in Chariton County. The city's economy and employment landscape have evolved over time, adapting to the changing economic landscape of the region.

Historically, Brunswick was a hub for crops such as hemp and tobacco, with Chariton County being known as Little Dixie. The arrival of the railroad in 1867 reduced the reliance on steamboats for transportation, leading to a shift in agricultural practices.

In the 20th century, Brunswick witnessed the establishment of various industries, including the Brunswick Institute of Pharmacy, which operated from 1910 to 1937. The city also saw the growth of pecan groves, earning the title of Pecan Capital of Missouri. The Missouri Farmers Association, founded in Brunswick in 1914, played a significant role in agriculture in the region.

Today, Brunswick's economy employs 331 people across various sectors. The largest industries include health care and social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. The highest-paying industries in Brunswick are transportation and warehousing, and utilities, with median earnings for men in these sectors reaching $95,625. Other well-paying industries for men include retail trade and educational services, with median earnings of $73,000 and $44,250, respectively. For women, the highest-paying industries are educational services, health care, and social assistance, with median earnings of $45,455.

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Brunswick grew by 4.42%, with the number of employees increasing from 317 to 331. The most common job groups in the city include production occupations, management occupations, and education instruction, and library occupations.

The median household income in Brunswick has also seen an increase. In 2021, the median household income was $38,250, a 9.64% rise from the previous year. The median property value in the city was $69,500 in 2021, with a homeownership rate of 54.1%.

Brunswick's economy is also influenced by its proximity to other states and its cost of living. Missouri, in general, has the sixth lowest cost of living in the United States as of the first quarter of 2024.

Transport and infrastructure

Brunswick, Missouri, is located in Chariton County, in the north-central portion of the state. The city is situated on the Grand River, just three miles from the Missouri River, providing a range of outdoor recreational opportunities, including boating and kayaking. The city is also known for its pecan production and processing, with a variety of local industries, including an alfalfa-drying plant, an electric company, a fertiliser blending plant, and a glove factory.

In terms of transport, Brunswick has a long history as a regional trading centre. Before the arrival of the railroad in 1867, steamboats were a crucial mode of transportation for goods and people. The city recorded 534 arrivals and departures by steamboats in 1849. After the Civil War, the railroad reduced the reliance on steamboats, but Brunswick continued to be an important transport hub.

Today, most residents in Brunswick commute by driving alone to work, with an average commute time of 18.6 minutes. The average car ownership is two cars per household. A small percentage of residents, about 8.54%, carpool to work, while an even smaller percentage, 8.23%, work from home.

Brunswick is also home to a small U.S. Coast Guard base, which was built in 1965 to service the increased river traffic. However, this facility was relatively short-lived, closing in March 1973.

The city's location on the Grand River and its proximity to the Missouri River have played a significant role in its transport and infrastructure development. The rivers provided a means of transportation and trade, contributing to the growth of the city. Today, Brunswick continues to be a vibrant community, welcoming visitors and offering a range of outdoor activities.

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