Joplin is a city located in parts of southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. The City of Joplin has a total population of 49,024 [1] and the surrounding Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 166,178. [2]
Modern JoplinIt is the home to the area's major hospitals including Freeman West, Freeman East, and St. John's. The city also has a fine park system that includes a golf course, three swimming pools, walking trails, the world's largest Chert Glades, and Missouri's largest natural waterfall, Grand Falls, on Shoal Creek just south of town. Included in Schifferdecker Park is the Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Museum and Dorothea B. Hoover Historical Museum.
Numerous buildings still exist in Joplin that are on the National Register of Historic Places.[7] Recently, the city has undertaken a project to revitalize its Main Street downtown district. It has refurbished its sidewalks and added new lamp posts. Joplin remains a regional economic powerhouse, with numerous trucking lines such as CFI headquartered in town, as it is situated strategically near the geographic and population centers of the nation. Eagle-Picher Industries and F.A.G. Bearings are noted employers in Joplin, and Leggett & Platt (Fortune 500) is located in nearby Carthage. The city is served by the Joplin Regional Airport located in the north of town near Webb City, in a small village known as Airport Drive.
In the nineties the city continued to expand eastward towards U.S. 71 (future I-49), and largescale development occurred along Range Line Road, particularly around Northpark Mall. Growth has also occurred in many of the 'bedroom communities' surrounding Joplin. Webb City, Neosho, Pittsburg, and Carthage all have populations of at least 10,000. There are numerous other suburbs that touch the city itself including Carl Junction, Duquesne, Airport Drive, Oronogo, Carterville, Redings Mill, Shoal Creek Drive, Leawood, and Saginaw.
Due to its location near two major highways and its many event and sports facilities, Joplin is a major stopping place for travellers and a destination point for groups. With nearly 2,500 hotel rooms, the majority located within a 1/4 mile area of Range Line and I-44, Joplin offers many lodging choices. In addition, Joplin is home to the 30,000 square foot John Q. Hammons Convention and Trade Center which serves as the primary event facility for conventions, associations, and large events.
GeographyJoplin is located at (37.077760, -94.511024)GR1.
Joplin is located just to the north of Highway I-44, its passage to the west into Oklahoma. In recent years the settlements of Joplin have spread north to about Webb City. Route 66 passes through Joplin and town's name is mentioned in the lyrics to the song, 'Route 66'.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 81.6 km˛ (31.5 mi˛). 81.4 km˛ (31.4 mi˛) of it is land and 0.2 km˛ (0.1 mi˛) of it (0.25%) is water.
Joplin is the center of what is regionally known as the Four State Area: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas.
EducationThe college of 'Physicians and Doctors' opened in an early day, and today Joplin is home to Missouri Southern State University, and two bible colleges, Ozark Christian College and Messenger College. Joplin is also served by the Joplin Public Library, which is situated on Main Street in between the intersections of 3rd and 4th Streets.
DemographicsAs of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 45,504 people, 19,101 households, and 11,517 families residing in the city. The population density was 559.2/km˛ (1,448.4/mi˛). There were 21,328 housing units at an average density of 262.1/km˛ (678.9/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city was 91.44% White, 2.67% African American, 1.53% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.98% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.51% of the population.
There were 19,101 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 13.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,555, and the median income for a family was $38,888. Males had a median income of $28,569 versus $20,665 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,738. About 10.5% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
TransportationJoplin is served by the mainline of the Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroad, as well as by branchlines of the BNSF Railway and Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA). The city was once a beehive of railroad activity, however, many of the original railroad lines serving Joplin were abandoned after the demise of the mining and industrial enterprises. Passenger trains have not served the city since the 1960s. The city's Union Depot is still intact along the KCS mainline and efforts are underway to restore it.
Interstate 44 connects Joplin with Springfield and St. Louis to the east and Tulsa and Oklahoma City to the west. U.S. Route 71 runs east of the city, connecting Joplin to Kansas City on the north and Shreveport, LA to the south. It has been proposed to convert 71 into Interstate 49 in the future; the highway is already built to four-lane freeway and expressway standards from Kansas City, south through Joplin to Ft. Smith, AR. However, at this time, the road remains from Pineville, Missouri to Jane, Missouri a two lane highway while construction on a four lane segment continues.
Famous people born in Joplin, MissouriIn addition to frequent public references to their hometown by Joplin's famous residents, Joplin is also mentioned in the script of The Music Man and in the lyrics of the song (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Joplin was referenced in at least one episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show (flashback episode #6, November 6, 1961 that shows Rob and Laura falling in love while Rob was stationed at Camp Crowder in Neosho, Missouri) and in The Beverly Hillbillies (indicated to be a big town to the Clampetts and friends). These regular mentions of Joplin in multiple mass media led the City fathers to erect a billboard that described Joplin as 'the town you've heard so much about.'
