Sugar Creek, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Sugar Creek is a city in Clay and Jackson
counties in the U.S. state
of Missouri
. The population was 3,839 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23.2 km2), of which, 8.3 square miles (21.4 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (7.61%) is water.
From the town's home page: In the early 1800s, the area that is now Sugar Creek served as an important link in America's westward expansion. Known at the time as Wayne City Landing, the territory along the Missouri River served as a port to receive supplies for early pioneers.
On June 25, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition
camped on an island in the Missouri River opposite what is modern day Sugar Creek.
Wayne City, which is now on the national historic register, also received travelers who were headed west along the Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails. In 1850, the first railroad west of the Mississippi River was constructed to join Wayne City and nearby Independence.
From the early 1890s to the 1930s, the Sugar Creek area was home to a first-class pleasure resort, Fairmount Park. Among the park's attractions were a hotel, theater, lake, and carnival rides, including a roller coaster that at one time was the world's largest. A streetcar line brought visitors to the park from nearby Kansas City.
In 1903, Standard Oil of Indiana purchased land at the northern edge of the city. A new oil refinery was opened a year later and quickly spurred growth in the townsite of Sugar Creek. A number of immigrants from Eastern Europe came to work in the plant, and by 1918, the town had grown to more than 800 residents.
Shortly after World War I, businessmen and residents founded the Sugar Creek Improvement Association. The Association installed streetlights, set city limits and petitioned for incorporation as a city. On November 15, 1920, the City of Sugar Creek was officially born. The new town consisted of 564 acres (2.3 km²) and had a population of around 1,800 residents.
The city continued to grow and prosper in its early years. In 1958, an additional 294 acres (1.2 km²) were annexed on the eastern side of the city, bringing new opportunities for development.
The Liberty Bend Bridge
, in northeastern Sugar Creek, carries Route 291 across the Missouri River
. The northbound bridge was built in 1949 when a new channel for the river was completed, and replaced the 1927 Liberty Bend Bridge which was about two miles to the north and crossed over the former river channel. Construction began in 1996 on the southbound bridge, which opened in 2001, and the northbound bridge was completely rehabilitated. It was part of an upgrade that changed Route 291 into a four-lane divided highway.
In 2009, BP Oil N America, settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit for extreme polluting and causing unusual cancers in many people.
In 2009, a large portion of the population was harassed by prank callers. This harassment was covered by Fox News, titled "Nightmare on Burton Street."
of 2000, there were 3,839 people, 1,633 households, and 1,048 families residing in the city. The population density
was 465.0 people per square mile (179.4/km2). There were 1,753 housing units at an average density of 212.4 per square mile (81.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.83% White, 0.81% African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.44% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races
, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.06% of the population.
There were 1,633 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,967, and the median income for a family was $46,208. Males had a median income of $35,341 versus $23,686 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,784. About 10.3% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18.
. The far eastern portions of Sugar Creek are in the Fort Osage School District. Schools serving Sugar Creek residents include: Elm Grove, Sugar Creek and Mill Creek Elementary Schools; Bingham Middle School, Nowlin Middle School
and Osage Trail Middle School; and Fort Osage High School
, Van Horn High School
and William Chrisman High School
. Prior to Fall 2008, some of Sugar Creek and its schools were within the Kansas City, Missouri School District
.
Kansas City Public Library
operates the Sugar Creek Library.
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. The population was 3,839 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Sugar Creek is located at 39.118014°N 94.435630°W (39.118014, -94.435630).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 8.9 square miles (23.2 km2), of which, 8.3 square miles (21.4 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (7.61%) is water.
History
Like many cities along the Missouri River, Sugar Creek shows evidence of having once been the home of the American Indian. History attributes the name "Sugar Creek" to Indian folklore and a creek lined with sugar maples that ran through the city.From the town's home page: In the early 1800s, the area that is now Sugar Creek served as an important link in America's westward expansion. Known at the time as Wayne City Landing, the territory along the Missouri River served as a port to receive supplies for early pioneers.
On June 25, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
camped on an island in the Missouri River opposite what is modern day Sugar Creek.
Wayne City, which is now on the national historic register, also received travelers who were headed west along the Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails. In 1850, the first railroad west of the Mississippi River was constructed to join Wayne City and nearby Independence.
From the early 1890s to the 1930s, the Sugar Creek area was home to a first-class pleasure resort, Fairmount Park. Among the park's attractions were a hotel, theater, lake, and carnival rides, including a roller coaster that at one time was the world's largest. A streetcar line brought visitors to the park from nearby Kansas City.
In 1903, Standard Oil of Indiana purchased land at the northern edge of the city. A new oil refinery was opened a year later and quickly spurred growth in the townsite of Sugar Creek. A number of immigrants from Eastern Europe came to work in the plant, and by 1918, the town had grown to more than 800 residents.
Shortly after World War I, businessmen and residents founded the Sugar Creek Improvement Association. The Association installed streetlights, set city limits and petitioned for incorporation as a city. On November 15, 1920, the City of Sugar Creek was officially born. The new town consisted of 564 acres (2.3 km²) and had a population of around 1,800 residents.
The city continued to grow and prosper in its early years. In 1958, an additional 294 acres (1.2 km²) were annexed on the eastern side of the city, bringing new opportunities for development.
The Liberty Bend Bridge
Liberty Bend Bridge
The Liberty Bend Bridge is the common name for the two cantilever truss bridges on Route 291 over the Missouri River in Sugar Creek, Missouri in the Kansas City metropolitan area....
, in northeastern Sugar Creek, carries Route 291 across the Missouri River
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...
. The northbound bridge was built in 1949 when a new channel for the river was completed, and replaced the 1927 Liberty Bend Bridge which was about two miles to the north and crossed over the former river channel. Construction began in 1996 on the southbound bridge, which opened in 2001, and the northbound bridge was completely rehabilitated. It was part of an upgrade that changed Route 291 into a four-lane divided highway.
In 2009, BP Oil N America, settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit for extreme polluting and causing unusual cancers in many people.
In 2009, a large portion of the population was harassed by prank callers. This harassment was covered by Fox News, titled "Nightmare on Burton Street."
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 were 3,839 people, 1,633 households, and 1,048 families residing in the city. 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...
was 465.0 people per square mile (179.4/km2). There were 1,753 housing units at an average density of 212.4 per square mile (81.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.83% White, 0.81% African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.44% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.06% of the population.
There were 1,633 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were 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, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,967, and the median income for a family was $46,208. Males had a median income of $35,341 versus $23,686 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 was $20,784. About 10.3% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18.
Education
The majority of the city is within the Independence Public School DistrictIndependence Public School District
Independence Public School District is a school district headquartered in Independence, Missouri, United States. The district serves most of Independence and Sugar Creek.-Superintendent:...
. The far eastern portions of Sugar Creek are in the Fort Osage School District. Schools serving Sugar Creek residents include: Elm Grove, Sugar Creek and Mill Creek Elementary Schools; Bingham Middle School, Nowlin Middle School
Nowlin Middle School
Clifford H. Nowlin Middle School is a comprehensive middle school located at 2800 Hardy in Independence, Missouri, United States. It is part of the Independence School District....
and Osage Trail Middle School; and Fort Osage High School
Fort Osage High School
Fort Osage Senior High School is a high school located at 2101 N. Twyman Rd. in Independence, Missouri, belonging to the Fort Osage R-1 School District. It currently serves approximately 1,500 students from grades 9-12...
, Van Horn High School
Van Horn High School
Van Horn High School is a comprehensive high school located at 1109 Arlington in Independence, Missouri, United States. It is part of the Independence School District.- School Background :...
and William Chrisman High School
William Chrisman High School
William Chrisman High School is a high school located in Independence, Missouri as part of the Independence School District. The school was founded in 1888 and was originally known as Independence High School. The first building was located at the intersection of Pleasant and Truman Road, the...
. Prior to Fall 2008, some of Sugar Creek and its schools were within the Kansas City, Missouri School District
Kansas City, Missouri School District
Kansas City, Missouri School District, or KCMSD is a school district headquartered at 1211 McGee Street in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri.- Boundaries:The school district primarily serves residents within Kansas City....
.
Kansas City Public Library
Kansas City Public Library
The Kansas City Public Library is a public system headquartered in the Central Library in Kansas City, Missouri.The system operates its Central Branch and neighborhood branches located in Kansas City, Independence, and Sugar Creek...
operates the Sugar Creek Library.