Sedalia, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Sedalia is a city located about 30 miles (48.3 km) south of the Missouri River
in Pettis County, Missouri
. U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 intersect in the city. As of 2006, the city had a total population of 20,669. It is the county seat
of Pettis County
. The Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Pettis County. Sedalia is the location of the Missouri State Fair
and the Scott Joplin
Ragtime Festival.http://www.scottjoplin.org/festival.htm. On May 25, 2011, a tornado ripped through Sedalia, causing significant damage to much of the southern side of the city.
lived along the Missouri River and its tributaries for thousands of years before European contact. Historians believe the entire area around Sedalia was first occupied by the Osage
(among historical American Indian
tribes). When the land was first settled by European Americans, bands of Shawnee
who had migrated from the East lived in the vicinity of Sedalia.
The area that became the city of Sedalia was founded by General George Rappeen Smith (1804–1879), who went on to found nearby Smithton, Missouri
. He filed plans for the official record on November 30, 1857, and gave the area the name Sedville. The original plat included the land from today's Missouri Pacific Railroad
south to Third Street. In addition, the version filed jointly by General Smith and David W. Bouldin (?-1893) on October 16, 1860, displayed the city spreading from Clay Street to the north and to Smith Street (i.e., today's Third Street) in the south, and from Missouri Street in the west to Washington Street in the east. Smith and Bouldin anticipated that the city would grow to the north; however, it grew in a southern direction.
During the American Civil War, the military had an installation in the area, adding to its boomtown atmosphere. With the coming of two railroads connecting it to other locations, in the post-Civil War period, Sedalia grew at a rapid pace, with a rough energy of its travelers and cowboys. From 1866-1874, it was a railhead terminus for cattle drives and stockyards occupied a large area. At the same time, the town established schools for both white and black children, churches, and other civic amenities.
In the 19th century, Sedalia was well known as a center of vice, especially prostitution, that accompanied its large floating class of railroad workers and commercial travelers. In 1877 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch called Sedalia the "Sodom and Gomorrah of the nineteenth century." Middle-class businessmen made money off illegal prostitution as building owners and lessees; others did business with people in the industry, who banked, used lawyers, etc. in town. Reluctant to raise taxes, residents allowed money to run the city and provide services to be raised from fines charges to prostitutes. In the 1870s brothels were distributed throughout the city, but in the 1890s, they became more concentrated above businesses on West Main Street, as the middle class tried to isolate less desirable elements.
While the city attracted many commercial travelers and railroad workers, its population of married couples also grew. By 1900 having a population over 15,000, it was the fifth-largest city in the state. It had developed an entrepreneur
ial middle class
that created separations between its residential areas and those of working class
and African Americans.
During World War II, the military built Sedalia Glider Base in Johnson County
to the west. After the war, this was passed to the Strategic Air Command
and converted to a bomber base, the Whiteman Air Force Base
, named after a man from Sedalia killed in the 1941 Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor
. After a massive construction program, the base became the center of 150 ICBM silos and administrative offices. These were decommissioned in the 1990s.
Sedalia had a population of around 300 people in 1860, and what Ihrig et al. (1960 p. 12) describe as a "bona fide population" of around 1,000 in 1865.
According to Ihrig et al., (1960 p. 123) Sedalia's population grew as follows:
lines. The Missouri-Kansas & Texas Railroad was most widely known as the "KATY", from its "K-T" stock exchange code.
Sedalia was an important railhead
for the massive Texas cattle drive of 1866 and maintained stockyards to receive cattle from drives and shipping through much of the 19th century.
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For nearly a century, Sedalia's economy was tied to the railroads. By the end of the 19th century, the MK&T had numerous buildings and a wide variety of workers in the city: the MK&T shops, stockyards
, roundhouse
and the hospital
for employees working on the Sedalia Division were among the Katy’s properties in Sedalia.
Today the "KATY Trail" is the nickname of the 225-mile-trail following the railroad right-of-way through much of Missouri. It is used by bikers, walkers, and horseback riders. This has been the largest in the nation among the late 20th-century federal and state "Rails to Trails" projects.
. Some 1,500 of General Joseph O. Shelby's
Iron Brigade
cavalry associated with Price's Missouri Expedition surrounded Sedalia, overpowered the Union militia that were under the command of Colonel John D. Crawford and Lieutenant Colonel John [?D.] Parker, and began to loot and sack the town on October 15, 1864. Once Confederate General M. Jeff Thompson
arrived in Sedalia, he ordered his men to stop the destruction, and moved them on, leaving Sedalia once again in Union hands.
While the Civil War delayed the building of the town, it also meant that Sedalia was the terminus of the railroad for three years. Once the war was over, many of the thousands of Union soldiers who had been stationed more or less permanently at Sedalia and recognized its potential, made the choice to migrate there from their pre-war homes in other locations across the United States. The population grew rapidly.
", with numerous prostitutes who did business with the men.
As more families settled in the area, the culture changed. In the 20th century, structural changes in the railroads meant the loss of many industrial jobs. The city and region have had to create a new economy, and they have built on the colorful history of the town, identifying many significant historic structures. People enjoy shopping for good quality retail and craft items in the historic districts and buildings of the city.
:
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 12 square miles (31 km²), all land.
climate. As with most continental climates, the micropolitan area has four seasons. Springs in Sedalia are noted for their rainy days and variable temperatures. Thunderstorm
s are common and tornado
es occur during this time of year. Summers are usually hot and dry, with drought
s occurring during several summers. Autumns are usually cool and rainy, although several days of warm weather are not uncommon. Winters are generally cold, with snow accumulating several days of the winter season. Although not as common, ice storms occur as well.
of 2000, there are 20,339 people in the city, organized into 8,628 households and 5,228 families. The population density
is 1,700.8 people per square mile (656.6/km²). There are 9,419 housing units at an average density of 787.6 per square mile (304.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 88.62% White, 4.95% African American, 0.40% Asian, 0.39% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.75% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 5.55% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 8,628 households out of which 28.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% are married couples
living together, 12.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% are non-families. 33.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.32 and the average family size is 2.94.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,641, and the median income for a family is $34,938. Males have a median income of $28,208 versus $19,520 for females. The per capita income
for the city is $15,931. 15.3% of the population and 12.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.8% of those under the age of 18 and 10.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
awarded in Missouri. The Board of Trustees received word of the $50,000 grant in the fall of 1899. After securing the property on which to build, and having gained voter approval of a tax to support the library, the Board laid the cornerstone in 1900. The building was completed in July 1901. Dedicated in 1901, the library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
campus, is home to the works of many famous artists including Dale Chihuly
(1941-), Sam Francis
(1923–1994), Helen Frankenthaler
(1928-), Sol LeWitt
(1928–2007), Robert Motherwell
(1915–1991), Julian Schnabel
(1951-), and Andy Warhol
(1928–1987).
The 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²) museum, designed by St. Louis-based Gunn & Smith Architects, features three stories of gallery space—including a 3400 square feet (315.9 m²) main gallery with a translucent clerestory
, a cantilever
ed stairway, a two-story atrium
, and an open-air sculpture court.http://www.daummuseum.org/index.cfm?section=collection&page=results&cat=sculpture It features both permanent displays as well as temporary displays from world renowned artists.
has been held in Sedalia every August, with the exception of 1943 and 1944 because of World War II. Many singers and actors make the annual trip to the fair. Ronald Reagan
, George W. Bush
, and other presidents have given speeches on the fairgrounds, though not during the State Fair.
In 1974, the Missouri State Fairgrounds was the site of the Ozark Music Festival
, one of the largest but least remembered major music festivals of the 1970s. While the plan was for the pop/rock/bluegrass festival's selling about 50,000 tickets, an influx of about 184,000 fans and many rock bands strained the capacity of the fairgrounds and the city. Some estimates put the crowd count at 350,000 people. It counts as one of the largest music events (Rock Festivals) in history. The festival, hosted by Wolfman Jack
, took out a full-page ad in Rolling Stone
magazine and attracted people from outside the region.
television movie
The Day After
(1983), aired by ABC
, Sedalia is destroyed when enemies attack the Minuteman II Missile silos around the area. At the time of the movie's release, 150 of the missiles were located in the Sedalia area in underground silos. They had been sited there since activation in early 1964 of the first Minuteman missiles under the control of the 351st Missile Wing
located at Whiteman Air Force Base
. The release of the movie led to a significant (if belated) increase in local community concern about the missiles. Concern remained higher until all the missiles were dismantled between 1992 and 1997 as a result of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the U.S. and Russia.
Sedalia was featured in two widely seen 1977 films: Heroes
, starring Henry Winkler
and Harrison Ford
; and the made-for-TV movie Scott Joplin
, starring Billy Dee Williams
.
Sedalia was mentioned briefly in the motion picture MASH
. Parts of the 1941 film Bad Men of Missouri are set in Sedalia. The city was mentioned in Old Yeller
.
series Rawhide
, which ran on CBS
from 1959
to 1966
, featured Sedalia as a destination for cattle drives. It starred Eric Fleming
as the "trail boss", Gil Favor, and the emerging Clint Eastwood
as the "ramrod" (i.e., second in charge), Rowdy Yates.
.
In 1935, in the midst of the depression which affected Sedalia severely, music loving citizens
formed the Sedalia Symphony Society and established a Symphony orchestra, which, as the second oldest in Missouri, celebrated its 75 season in 2009-2010.
Sedalia has been the host to several rock and roll events, such as the Ozark Music Festival in 1974, and the Delicious Rox Festival in 2006.
"—the Boy Scouts of America
donated two hundred 8 ft 6in (260 cm) copper replicas of the Statue of Liberty
, which were known collectively as the "Little Sisters of Liberty", to various communities in 39 states of the U.S. The project was the brainchild of the Scout Commissioner of the (then) Kansas City Area Council, Kansas City businessman, J.P. Whitaker.
One of the two hundred replicas was donated to Sedalia; and it was installed at the County Courthouse.
, a historically black college (HBCU), operated from 1894 until it burned down on April 26, 1925.
The land for the college had been donated by the Smith sisters Sarah and Martha Elizabeth. They also donated land for Dunbar Park. Sarah Smith-Cotton's family home was torn down and the land was then used for the building of Smith-Cotton High School
.
The Sedalia Business College and Institute of Penmanship was founded in 1881. It was the predecessor of Robbins' Business College, founded by Clark W. Robbins (1858–1918) in 1883. This evolved into Central Business College.
State Fair Community College
is a public two-year institution offering post-secondary college level courses.
, Sacred Heart High School
, and St. Paul's Lutheran are also located in Sedalia.
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
in Pettis County, Missouri
Pettis County, Missouri
Pettis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was organized in 1833 and is named for U.S. Congressman Spencer Darwin Pettis. As of 2000, the population was 39,403...
. U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 intersect in the city. As of 2006, the city had a total population of 20,669. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Pettis County
Pettis County, Missouri
Pettis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was organized in 1833 and is named for U.S. Congressman Spencer Darwin Pettis. As of 2000, the population was 39,403...
. The Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Pettis County. Sedalia is the location of the Missouri State Fair
Missouri State Fair
The Missouri State Fair is the state fair for Missouri which has operated since 1901 in Sedalia, Missouri. It lasts 11 days. It includes daily concerts, exhibits and competitions of animals, homemade crafts, shows, and many food/lemonade stands. Its most famous event, which has run since its...
and the Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin was an American composer and pianist. Joplin achieved fame for his ragtime compositions, and was later dubbed "The King of Ragtime". During his brief career, Joplin wrote 44 original ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas...
Ragtime Festival.http://www.scottjoplin.org/festival.htm. On May 25, 2011, a tornado ripped through Sedalia, causing significant damage to much of the southern side of the city.
History
Indigenous peoplesIndigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
lived along the Missouri River and its tributaries for thousands of years before European contact. Historians believe the entire area around Sedalia was first occupied by the Osage
Osage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
(among historical American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes). When the land was first settled by European Americans, bands of Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
who had migrated from the East lived in the vicinity of Sedalia.
The area that became the city of Sedalia was founded by General George Rappeen Smith (1804–1879), who went on to found nearby Smithton, Missouri
Smithton, Missouri
Smithton is a city in Pettis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 510 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Smithton is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of or 192 acres....
. He filed plans for the official record on November 30, 1857, and gave the area the name Sedville. The original plat included the land from today's Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
south to Third Street. In addition, the version filed jointly by General Smith and David W. Bouldin (?-1893) on October 16, 1860, displayed the city spreading from Clay Street to the north and to Smith Street (i.e., today's Third Street) in the south, and from Missouri Street in the west to Washington Street in the east. Smith and Bouldin anticipated that the city would grow to the north; however, it grew in a southern direction.
During the American Civil War, the military had an installation in the area, adding to its boomtown atmosphere. With the coming of two railroads connecting it to other locations, in the post-Civil War period, Sedalia grew at a rapid pace, with a rough energy of its travelers and cowboys. From 1866-1874, it was a railhead terminus for cattle drives and stockyards occupied a large area. At the same time, the town established schools for both white and black children, churches, and other civic amenities.
In the 19th century, Sedalia was well known as a center of vice, especially prostitution, that accompanied its large floating class of railroad workers and commercial travelers. In 1877 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch called Sedalia the "Sodom and Gomorrah of the nineteenth century." Middle-class businessmen made money off illegal prostitution as building owners and lessees; others did business with people in the industry, who banked, used lawyers, etc. in town. Reluctant to raise taxes, residents allowed money to run the city and provide services to be raised from fines charges to prostitutes. In the 1870s brothels were distributed throughout the city, but in the 1890s, they became more concentrated above businesses on West Main Street, as the middle class tried to isolate less desirable elements.
While the city attracted many commercial travelers and railroad workers, its population of married couples also grew. By 1900 having a population over 15,000, it was the fifth-largest city in the state. It had developed an entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
ial middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
that created separations between its residential areas and those of working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
and African Americans.
During World War II, the military built Sedalia Glider Base in Johnson County
Johnson County, Missouri
Johnson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 52,595. Its county seat is Warrensburg. The county was formed 13 December 1834 from Lafayette County and was named for Vice President Richard M...
to the west. After the war, this was passed to the Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
and converted to a bomber base, the Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately south of Knob Noster, Missouri; east-southeast of Kansas City, Missouri....
, named after a man from Sedalia killed in the 1941 Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. After a massive construction program, the base became the center of 150 ICBM silos and administrative offices. These were decommissioned in the 1990s.
Name
Until the city was incorporated in 1860 as Sedalia, it had only existed "on paper" (i.e., from November 30, 1857 to October 16, 1860). According to local lore, the town council changed the name from Sadieville to Sedalia in part because "towns that end in -ville don't amount to anything." (Lawrence Ditton, Sr.). Here is another account:Growth
According to Ihrig et al., (1960 p. 123) Sedalia's population grew as follows:
- 1870: 4,560
- 1880: 9,561
- 1890: 14,068
- 1900: 15,231
- 1910: 17,8221
- 1920: 21,144
- 1930: 20,806
- 1940: 20,428
- 1950: 20,354
- 1960: 28,000-30,000 (estimated)
Railhead
Following a victory for those proposing the "ridge route" for the railway over those advocating the "river route", the railway reached Sedalia in January 1861. Sedalia's early prosperity was directly related to the railroad industry. Many jobs were associated with men maintaining tracks and operating large and varied machine shops run by both the Missouri Pacific and the Missouri-Kansas-Texas RailroadMissouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad
The Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad was incorporated May 23, 1870. In its earliest days the MKT was commonly referred to as "the K-T", which was its stock exchange symbol; this common designation soon evolved into "the Katy"....
lines. The Missouri-Kansas & Texas Railroad was most widely known as the "KATY", from its "K-T" stock exchange code.
Sedalia was an important railhead
Railhead
The word railhead is a railway term with two distinct meanings, depending upon its context.Sometimes, particularly in the context of modern freight terminals, the word is used to denote a terminus of a railway line, especially if the line is not yet finished, or if the terminus interfaces with...
for the massive Texas cattle drive of 1866 and maintained stockyards to receive cattle from drives and shipping through much of the 19th century.
Feedlot
A feedlot or feedyard is a type of animal feeding operation which is used in factory farming for finishing livestock, notably beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens or ducks, prior to slaughter. Large beef feedlots are called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations . They...
, roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
and the hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
for employees working on the Sedalia Division were among the Katy’s properties in Sedalia.
Today the "KATY Trail" is the nickname of the 225-mile-trail following the railroad right-of-way through much of Missouri. It is used by bikers, walkers, and horseback riders. This has been the largest in the nation among the late 20th-century federal and state "Rails to Trails" projects.
Civil War
During the Civil War, despite the presence of the Union soldiers guarding the railroad, Sedalia was almost taken by the Confederate forces of Major General Sterling PriceSterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
. Some 1,500 of General Joseph O. Shelby's
Joseph O. Shelby
Joseph Orville Shelby was a noted Confederate cavalry general in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War.-Early life and education:...
Iron Brigade
Iron Brigade
The Iron Brigade, also known as the Iron Brigade of the West or the Black Hat Brigade, was an infantry brigade in the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Although it fought entirely in the Eastern Theater, it was composed of regiments from Western states...
cavalry associated with Price's Missouri Expedition surrounded Sedalia, overpowered the Union militia that were under the command of Colonel John D. Crawford and Lieutenant Colonel John [?D.] Parker, and began to loot and sack the town on October 15, 1864. Once Confederate General M. Jeff Thompson
M. Jeff Thompson
Meriwether Jeff Thompson was a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard during the American Civil War. He served the Confederate Army as a cavalry commander, and had the unusual distinction of having a ship in the Confederate Navy named for him.-Early life:*Father: Meriwether Thompson b....
arrived in Sedalia, he ordered his men to stop the destruction, and moved them on, leaving Sedalia once again in Union hands.
While the Civil War delayed the building of the town, it also meant that Sedalia was the terminus of the railroad for three years. Once the war was over, many of the thousands of Union soldiers who had been stationed more or less permanently at Sedalia and recognized its potential, made the choice to migrate there from their pre-war homes in other locations across the United States. The population grew rapidly.
20th century - present
The expansion of the railroad and cattle drives in the late 19th century brought many male laborers to the rough town on the frontier. It sparked the related rise of a notorious "red light districtRed Light District
Red Light District may refer to:* Red-light district - a neighborhood where prostitution is common* The Red Light District - the title of the 2004 album by rapper Ludacris* Red Light District Video - a pornography studio based in Los Angeles, California...
", with numerous prostitutes who did business with the men.
As more families settled in the area, the culture changed. In the 20th century, structural changes in the railroads meant the loss of many industrial jobs. The city and region have had to create a new economy, and they have built on the colorful history of the town, identifying many significant historic structures. People enjoy shopping for good quality retail and craft items in the historic districts and buildings of the city.
Registered Historic Places
The following Sedalia locations have been listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
:
- Building at 217 West Main Street, former brothel http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/96001189.pdf
- C.C. Hubbard High School http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/97000628.pdf
- Harris House http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/79001387.pdf
- Hotel Bothwell http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/89001406.pdf
- McVey School http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/99001255.pdf
- Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad Depot http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/79001388.pdf
- Missouri/Sedalia Trust Company http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/83001034.pdf
- Missouri State Fairgrounds Historic District http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/91000853.pdf
- Sedalia Commercial Historic District http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/01000687.pdf
- Sedalia Public Library http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/80002389.pdf
- William H. Gentry House http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/97001434.pdf
Geography
Sedalia is located at 38°42'11" North, 93°13'52" West (38.702918, -93.231147).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 12 square miles (31 km²), all land.
Climate
Sedalia has a typical temperateTemperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
climate. As with most continental climates, the micropolitan area has four seasons. Springs in Sedalia are noted for their rainy days and variable temperatures. Thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
s are common and tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
es occur during this time of year. Summers are usually hot and dry, with drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
s occurring during several summers. Autumns are usually cool and rainy, although several days of warm weather are not uncommon. Winters are generally cold, with snow accumulating several days of the winter season. Although not as common, ice storms occur as well.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there are 20,339 people in the city, organized into 8,628 households and 5,228 families. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is 1,700.8 people per square mile (656.6/km²). There are 9,419 housing units at an average density of 787.6 per square mile (304.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 88.62% White, 4.95% African American, 0.40% Asian, 0.39% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.75% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 5.55% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 8,628 households out of which 28.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% are married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% are non-families. 33.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.32 and the average family size is 2.94.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,641, and the median income for a family is $34,938. Males have a median income of $28,208 versus $19,520 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city is $15,931. 15.3% of the population and 12.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.8% of those under the age of 18 and 10.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Carnegie Library
The Sedalia Public Library was the first Carnegie GrantCarnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
awarded in Missouri. The Board of Trustees received word of the $50,000 grant in the fall of 1899. After securing the property on which to build, and having gained voter approval of a tax to support the library, the Board laid the cornerstone in 1900. The building was completed in July 1901. Dedicated in 1901, the library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Museums
Sedalia is home to the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art,http://www.daummuseum.org/index.cfm named after its primary benefactor, Sedalia radiologist and art collector Harold Daum. The museum, located on the State Fair Community CollegeState Fair Community College
State Fair Community College is a two-year institution of higher learning located in Sedalia, Missouri, adjacent to the Missouri State Fairgrounds. In addition to the Sedalia campus, there are extended campus locations in Lake of the Ozarks, Clinton, Warsaw, and Whiteman AFB. Marsha K...
campus, is home to the works of many famous artists including Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly is an American glass sculptor and entrepreneur.-Biography:Chihuly graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Tacoma, Washington. He enrolled at the College of the Puget Sound in 1959...
(1941-), Sam Francis
Sam Francis
Samuel Lewis Francis was an American painter and printmaker.-Early life:...
(1923–1994), Helen Frankenthaler
Helen Frankenthaler
Helen Frankenthaler is an American abstract expressionist painter. She is a major contributor to the history of postwar American painting. Having exhibited her work in six decades she has spanned several generations of abstract painters while continuing to produce vital and ever-changing new work...
(1928-), Sol LeWitt
Sol LeWitt
Solomon "Sol" LeWitt was an American artist linked to various movements, including Conceptual art and Minimalism....
(1928–2007), Robert Motherwell
Robert Motherwell
Robert Motherwell American painter, printmaker and editor. He was one of the youngest of the New York School , which also included Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, and Philip Guston....
(1915–1991), Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel is an American artist and filmmaker. In the 1980s, Schnabel received international media attention for his "plate paintings"—large-scale paintings set on broken ceramic plates....
(1951-), and Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
(1928–1987).
The 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²) museum, designed by St. Louis-based Gunn & Smith Architects, features three stories of gallery space—including a 3400 square feet (315.9 m²) main gallery with a translucent clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
, a cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
ed stairway, a two-story atrium
Atrium (architecture)
In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
, and an open-air sculpture court.http://www.daummuseum.org/index.cfm?section=collection&page=results&cat=sculpture It features both permanent displays as well as temporary displays from world renowned artists.
State Fair
Since 1901, the Missouri State FairMissouri State Fair
The Missouri State Fair is the state fair for Missouri which has operated since 1901 in Sedalia, Missouri. It lasts 11 days. It includes daily concerts, exhibits and competitions of animals, homemade crafts, shows, and many food/lemonade stands. Its most famous event, which has run since its...
has been held in Sedalia every August, with the exception of 1943 and 1944 because of World War II. Many singers and actors make the annual trip to the fair. Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, and other presidents have given speeches on the fairgrounds, though not during the State Fair.
In 1974, the Missouri State Fairgrounds was the site of the Ozark Music Festival
Ozark Music Festival, (1974)
The Ozark Music Festival was held in July 1974 on the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, Missouri. While the Woodstock Festival from 1969 is the most well-known rock festival, the Ozark Music Festival was one of the largest music festivals ever held, while at the same time, it was also one of...
, one of the largest but least remembered major music festivals of the 1970s. While the plan was for the pop/rock/bluegrass festival's selling about 50,000 tickets, an influx of about 184,000 fans and many rock bands strained the capacity of the fairgrounds and the city. Some estimates put the crowd count at 350,000 people. It counts as one of the largest music events (Rock Festivals) in history. The festival, hosted by Wolfman Jack
Wolfman Jack
Robert Weston Smith, known commonly as Wolfman Jack was a gravelly voiced US disc jockey who became famous in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early career:...
, took out a full-page ad in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine and attracted people from outside the region.
Film
In the AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
The Day After
The Day After
The Day After is a 1983 American television movie which aired on November 20, 1983, on the ABC television network. It was seen by more than 100 million people during its initial broadcast....
(1983), aired by ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, Sedalia is destroyed when enemies attack the Minuteman II Missile silos around the area. At the time of the movie's release, 150 of the missiles were located in the Sedalia area in underground silos. They had been sited there since activation in early 1964 of the first Minuteman missiles under the control of the 351st Missile Wing
351st Missile Wing
The 351st Missile Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit, which was last based at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. Assigned to Strategic Air Command for most of its existence, the wing supported LGM-30F Minuteman ICBMs...
located at Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately south of Knob Noster, Missouri; east-southeast of Kansas City, Missouri....
. The release of the movie led to a significant (if belated) increase in local community concern about the missiles. Concern remained higher until all the missiles were dismantled between 1992 and 1997 as a result of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the U.S. and Russia.
Heroes (film)
Heroes is a 1977 comedy drama film directed by Jeremy Kagan and starring Henry Winkler and co-starring Sally Field and Harrison Ford...
, starring Henry Winkler
Henry Winkler
Henry Franklin Winkler, OBE is an American actor, director, producer, and author.Winkler is best known for his role as Fonzie on the 1970s American sitcom Happy Days...
and Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford is an American film actor and producer. He is famous for his performances as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and as the title character of the Indiana Jones film series. Ford is also known for his roles as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, John Book in Witness and Jack Ryan in...
; and the made-for-TV movie Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin (film)
Scott Joplin is a 1977 biography film directed by Jeremy Kagan and based on the life of composer and pianist Scott Joplin. It stars Billy Dee Williams and Clifton Davis...
, starring Billy Dee Williams
Billy Dee Williams
William December "Billy Dee" Williams, Jr. is an American actor, artist, singer, and writer.-Early life:Williams was born in New York City, New York, the son of Loretta...
.
Sedalia was mentioned briefly in the motion picture MASH
MASH (film)
MASH is a 1970 American satirical dark comedy film directed by Robert Altman and written by Ring Lardner, Jr., based on Richard Hooker's novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. It is the only feature film in the M*A*S*H franchise...
. Parts of the 1941 film Bad Men of Missouri are set in Sedalia. The city was mentioned in Old Yeller
Old Yeller (1957 film)
Old Yeller is a 1957 Walt Disney Productions film starring Tommy Kirk, Dorothy McGuire and Beverly Washburn, and directed by Robert Stevenson. It is about a boy and a stray dog in post-Civil War Texas. The story is based upon the 1956 Newbery Honor-winning book Old Yeller by Fred Gipson. Gipson...
.
Television
The classic, long running WesternWestern (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
series Rawhide
Rawhide (TV series)
Rawhide is an American Western series that aired for eight seasons on the CBS network on Friday nights, from January 9, 1959 to September 3, 1965, before moving to Tuesday nights from September 14, 1965 until January 4, 1966, with a total of 217 black-and-white episodes...
, which ran on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from 1959
1959 in television
The year 1959 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1959:For the American TV schedule, see: 1959-60 American network television schedule.-Events:...
to 1966
1966 in television
The year 1966 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1966.For the American TV schedule, see: 1966-67 American network television schedule.-Events:...
, featured Sedalia as a destination for cattle drives. It starred Eric Fleming
Eric Fleming
Eric Fleming was an American actor, known primarily for his role as Gil Favor in the long running CBS television series Rawhide.-Early life:...
as the "trail boss", Gil Favor, and the emerging Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
as the "ramrod" (i.e., second in charge), Rowdy Yates.
Music
Sedalia is well known as the adopted home of ragtime music's most well known musician and stylist Scott JoplinScott Joplin
Scott Joplin was an American composer and pianist. Joplin achieved fame for his ragtime compositions, and was later dubbed "The King of Ragtime". During his brief career, Joplin wrote 44 original ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas...
.
In 1935, in the midst of the depression which affected Sedalia severely, music loving citizens
formed the Sedalia Symphony Society and established a Symphony orchestra, which, as the second oldest in Missouri, celebrated its 75 season in 2009-2010.
Sedalia has been the host to several rock and roll events, such as the Ozark Music Festival in 1974, and the Delicious Rox Festival in 2006.
Little Sister of Liberty
In 1950, to celebrate its fortieth anniversary—which had the theme of "Strengthen the Arm of LibertyStrengthen the Arm of Liberty
The Boy Scouts of America celebrated their fortieth anniversary in 1950 with the theme of Strengthen the Arm of Liberty. The campaign was inaugurated in February with a dramatic ceremony held at the base of the Statue of Liberty....
"—the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
donated two hundred 8 ft 6in (260 cm) copper replicas of the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
, which were known collectively as the "Little Sisters of Liberty", to various communities in 39 states of the U.S. The project was the brainchild of the Scout Commissioner of the (then) Kansas City Area Council, Kansas City businessman, J.P. Whitaker.
One of the two hundred replicas was donated to Sedalia; and it was installed at the County Courthouse.
Boy Scouts of America in Missouri.
According to the 1937 book "The History of the Boy Scouts of America" by William D. Murray,Boy Scouts of America the first Boy Scout Troop in Missouri, and one of the first Boy Scout Troops in America was formed in Sedalia in 1909 by an Englishman, a year before the Boy Scouts of America was officially chartered on February 8, 1910.Media
Newspapers
A number of newspapers have been published in Sedalia, in alphabetical order:- The Daily Democrat (1871–1873)
- The Independent Press (1871–1873)
- The Pacific Enterpise (1863–1864)
- The Sedalia Advertiser (1864–1865)
- The Sedalia Bazoo (1881–1895)
- The Sedalia Capital
- The Sedalia Daily Democrat (1874–1925)
- The Sedalia DemocratSedalia DemocratThe Sedalia Democrat is a newspaper serving Sedalia, Missouri. It is published daily, and is owned by Freedom Communications.The Democrat was founded in 1868, and became part of the Freedom chain in 1995. Freedom reports that the Democrat's circulation is 13,200 for weekday editions, and 14,800 for...
(1949-) - The Sedalia News-Journal (2003-)
- The Sedalia Times
Radio Stations
- KSDL 92.3FM (Sedalia)KSDLKSDL is a radio station licensed to serve Sedalia, Missouri, USA. The station is owned by Double O Radio and the license is held by Double O Missouri Corporation. It broadcasts an adult hits music format.-History:...
http://www.ksdl.com - KSIS 1050 AM (Sedalia)KSISKSIS is a radio station licensed to serve Sedalia, Missouri, USA. The station is owned by Double O Radio and the license is held by Double O Missouri Corporation.-Programming:...
http://www.ksisradio.com - KXKX 105.7 FM (Sedalia)http://www.kxkx.com/
- KDRO 1490 AM (Sedalia)KDROKDRO is a radio station licensed to serve Sedalia, Missouri, USA. The station is owned by Benne Media and licensed to Mathewson Broadcasting Company.KDRO broadcasts a country music format.-History:...
http://www.kdro.com - KPOW 97.7 FM (Sedalia)KPOW-FMKPOW-FM is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits music format. Licensed to La Monte, Missouri, USA. The station is currently owned by Benne Media and licensed to Sedalia Investment Group, LLC.-On Air Schedule:6am - 10am Jack Daniels...
http://www.power977.com
Television Stations
- KMOS-TVKMOS-TVKMOS-TV is a PBS member public television station in Sedalia, Missouri, owned and operated by the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Although Warrensburg and Sedalia are part of the Kansas City media market , KMOS serves as the PBS member station for the Columbia/Jefferson City market...
(Channel 6) http://www.kmos.org - K11OJ-TV (Channel 11)
Education
Scott Joplin's alma mater, George R. Smith CollegeGeorge R. Smith College
George R. Smith College, located in Sedalia, Missouri, was attended by the famed and prolific American ragtime-music piano composer Scott Joplin famous for the piano music piece "Maple Leaf Rag."...
, a historically black college (HBCU), operated from 1894 until it burned down on April 26, 1925.
The land for the college had been donated by the Smith sisters Sarah and Martha Elizabeth. They also donated land for Dunbar Park. Sarah Smith-Cotton's family home was torn down and the land was then used for the building of Smith-Cotton High School
Smith-Cotton High School
Smith-Cotton High School is located in Sedalia, Missouri. The school is home to a fully accredited instrumental music program and the New Score and Cabaret singers. The current principal is Mr. Martin White. The school mascot is the tiger, and the school colors are black and gold...
.
The Sedalia Business College and Institute of Penmanship was founded in 1881. It was the predecessor of Robbins' Business College, founded by Clark W. Robbins (1858–1918) in 1883. This evolved into Central Business College.
State Fair Community College
State Fair Community College
State Fair Community College is a two-year institution of higher learning located in Sedalia, Missouri, adjacent to the Missouri State Fairgrounds. In addition to the Sedalia campus, there are extended campus locations in Lake of the Ozarks, Clinton, Warsaw, and Whiteman AFB. Marsha K...
is a public two-year institution offering post-secondary college level courses.
Secondary schools
Smith-Cotton High SchoolSmith-Cotton High School
Smith-Cotton High School is located in Sedalia, Missouri. The school is home to a fully accredited instrumental music program and the New Score and Cabaret singers. The current principal is Mr. Martin White. The school mascot is the tiger, and the school colors are black and gold...
, Sacred Heart High School
Sacred Heart High School (Missouri)
Sacred Heart School is a private elementary and secondary school in Sedalia, Missouri, providing education for grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. It is a Roman Catholic school, affiliated with the Sacred Heart Church Parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City.-Background:The...
, and St. Paul's Lutheran are also located in Sedalia.
Sedalia People
People born in, who live in, or are otherwise associated with Sedalia, are known as Sedalians.See also
- Ozark Music Festival
- Sedalia Air Force Base
- Sierra BulletsSierra BulletsFounded in 1947 in California, Sierra Bullets is an American manufacturer of bullets intended for firearms. Based in Sedalia, Missouri since 1990, Sierra manufactures a very wide range of bullets for both rifles and pistols. Sierra bullets are used for precision target shooting, hunting and defense...
2011 Tornado
On May 25, 2011 at roughly 12:30 CDT, a large tornado struck the southern side of the city. Significant damage was done to residential areas in the city, including two mobile home parks. Damage was also done to several businesses. The tornado was part of the most devastating tornado season in United States history which, by the date of the Sedalia tornado, had killed 500 people nationwide.Further reading
- Berlin, E.A., "Scott Joplin in Sedalia: New Perspectives", Black Music Research Journal, Vol.9, No.2, (Autumn 1989), pp. 205–223.
- Bird, Kenneth L." Rails To The Osage", Menwith Productions, 2009, Story of the Sedalia, Warsaw & Southern Railroad ISBN 978-1-61584-215-5
- Cassity, M.J., Defending a Way of Life: An American Community in the Nineteenth Century, Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1989. ISBN 0-88706-868-5
- Cassity, M.J., Defending a Way of Life: The Development of Industrial Market Society and the Transformation of Social Relationships in Sedalia, Missouri 1850–1890, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Missouri–Columbia, 1973.
- Chalfant, R., Down at the Junction: a study of Madam Lizzie Cook, a prostitute in Sedalia, Missouri, 1870–1879, M.A. Dissertation, University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, 1994. - Chalfant, R., Show me the fair : a history of the Missouri State Fair, Walsworth Publications, (Marceline), 2002. ISBN 1-57864-189-6
- Chalfant, R., "The Midland's Most Notorious": A Study of Prostitution in Sedalia, Missouri, 1860–1900, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Missouri–Columbia, 2005.
- Christensen, L.O.(ed), Dictionary of Missouri Biography, University of Missouri Press, (Columbia), 1999. ISBN 0-8262-1222-0
- Claycomb, W.B., On the Mainlines: Railroading in Sedalia, MO, W.B. Claycomb, (Hughesville), 1998.
- Claycomb, W.B., On the Mainlines: Railroading in Sedalia, Missouri, Sedalia Heritage Foundation, (Sedalia), 2003.
- Claycomb, W.B., Imhauser, B.C. & Nolen, R.M., Bothwell Regional Health Center: A Lifetime of Caring, 1930–2005, Bothwell Regional Health Center, (Sedalia), 2005.
- Conroy, M.S., The Cosmetics Baron You've Never Heard Of: E. Virgil Neal and Tokalon, Altus History LLC, (Englewood), 2009. ISBN 0-615-27278-9
- Crisler, R.M., "Cities of Central Missouri", Economic Geography, Vol.23, No.1, (January 1947), pp. 72–75.
- Demuth, I. M., The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with... biographical sketches..., F. A. North, (Sedalia), 1882.
- Dickson, T., There's a Town in Missouri: Hermann, Hannibal, Springfield, St. Joseph, Joplin, Cape Girardeau, Fulton, Sedalia, Lamar, Lexington, Independence, St. Louis, 1902, New Sunrise Publishing, 1979.
- Hale, L.L., Sedalia, Missouri: 100 Years in Pictures, Walworth Publishing, (Marceline), 1960.
- Harding, S.B., Life of George R. Smith, Founder of Sedalia, Mo., in its Relations to the Political, Economic, and Social life of Southwestern Missouri, Before and During the Civil War, Kessinger Publishing, 2007 (facsimile, reprint of 1904). ISBN 1-4304-4460-6
- Ihrig, B.B. et al. (eds), The First One Hundred Years, A History of the City of Sedalia, Missouri, 1860–1960, Centennial History Committee, Sedalia, 1960.
- Imhauser, R.C., Images of America: Sedalia, Arcadia Publishing, (Charleston), 2007. ISBN 0-7385-5087-6
- Lang, H.N., Life in Pettis County, 1815–1873, Hazel N. Lang, (Sedalia), 1975.
- McComb, D.G., Texas: A Modern History, University of Texas Press, (Austin), 1989. ISBN 0-292-74665-2
- Mueller, D.L., M. Jeff Thompson: Missouri's Swamp Fox of the Confederacy, University of Missouri Press, (Columbia), 2007. ISBN 0-8262-1724-9
- Murray, William D., "The History of the Boy Scouts of America" Boy Scouts of America (New York) 1937 - Page 21* North, F.A., Hand-Book of Sedalia, Including Its History and Business Directory, F. A. North, (Sedalia), 1882.
- Peters, J.A., Case Study of a Gathering: The Ozark Music Festival, M.A. Dissertation, Central Missouri State University, 1992.
- Ruger, A., "Bird's eye view of the city of Sedalia, Pettis Co., Missouri 1869".http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl?data=/home/www/data/gmd/gmd416/g4164/g4164s/pm004490.jp2&itemLink=r?ammem/gmd:@field(NUMBER+@band(g4164s+pm004490))&title=Bird%26apos;s+eye+view+of+the+city+of+Sedalia,+Pettis+Co.,+Missouri+1869.+Drawn+by+A.+Ruger.&style=gmd&legend=
- Scotten, F.C., History of the Schools of Pettis County, Missouri, 1974; Prepared under the Direction of C. F. Scotten, C.F. Scotton, (Sedalia) 1974.
- Snider, R.L., The Show Must Go On. A Plan for Rehabilitating an Historic Theatre: Case Studies of Three Historic Theatre Rehabilitations in Missouri, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Missouri–Columbia, 1999.
- Swearingen, "Sedalia's Founding Mother", Preservation Issues, Vol.4, No.2, ?1995.
- Thelen, D.P., Paths of Resistance: Tradition and Dignity in Industrializing Missouri, Oxford University Press, 1986. ISBN 0-19-503667-0
- Whites, L., Neth, M. & Kremer, G.R. (eds), Women in Missouri History: In Search of Power and Influence, University of Missouri PressUniversity of Missouri PressThe University of Missouri Press is a university press founded in 1958 at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.-External links:*...
, (Columbia), 2004. ISBN 0-8262-1526-2 - United States Department of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places, 217 West Main Street Building, Sedalia
- Yanow, S., Jazz: A Regional Exploration, Greenwood Press, (Westport), 2005. ISBN 0-313-32871-4
External links
- City of Sedalia official website
- Missouri State Fair in Sedalia
- Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation in Sedalia
- Sedalia Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Sedalia Chamber of Commerce
- State Fair Community College in Sedalia
- The Katy Depot at Sedalia
- The Sedalia Democrat
- The Sedalia News-Journal
- The Political Graveyard: A Database of Historic Cemeteries
- http://www.sedaliapolice.com The Sedalia Police Department]
- The Sedalia Fire Department
- The Pettis County Sheriff's Office
- The Pettis County Fire Department
- Historic maps of Sedalia in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...