Laclede, Missouri

Laclede, Missouri is a small city in Linn County, situated in the north-central part of the state. Founded in the mid-19th century, it is historically significant as the boyhood home of John J. Pershing, the famed United States Army general. The community is part of the Kansas City-St. Joseph combined statistical area and retains a quiet, rural character centered on its historic downtown and connection to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.

History

The town was platted in 1856 by the Laclede Town Company, named for the French explorer and fur trader Pierre Laclède, founder of St. Louis. Its early development was closely tied to the expansion of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad across northern Missouri. During the American Civil War, the area witnessed guerrilla activity common to the divided border state, with operations by pro-Confederate irregulars like those under William Quantrill. The city was officially incorporated in 1869. Its most profound historical association began in 1866 when the Pershing family moved to a farm near Laclede, where the future General of the Armies John J. Pershing spent his formative years. The Pershing Boyhood Home is now preserved as a State Historic Site. The arrival of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in the late 19th century solidified Laclede's role as a local agricultural shipping point.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.83 square miles, all land. Laclede is located in the Grand River watershed, within the physiographic region known as the Glacial Plains of northern Missouri. The terrain is characterized by rolling hills and fertile plains used predominantly for agriculture. The city is situated along Missouri Route 139, approximately 15 miles south of Chillicothe and 30 miles north of Moberly. Major geographic features nearby include the Thompson River to the west and several creeks that feed into the Grand River system.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 345. The 2010 United States Census recorded 345 residents, indicating stable numbers over the decade. Historically, the population peaked in the early 20th century, as recorded in the 1910 United States Census, with the decline typical of many rural Midwestern communities due to agricultural mechanization and urban migration. The racial makeup is predominantly non-Hispanic White, with small percentages of other groups. Household and family sizes are generally above the national average, reflecting the community's rural nature. The Census Bureau designates the area as part of the Kansas City-St. Joseph combined statistical area for economic reporting purposes.

Education

Public education in Laclede is administered by the Brookfield R-III School District, with students attending school in the nearby larger community of Brookfield. The district's mascot is the Brookfield Bulldogs. There are no institutions of higher education within the city itself; residents typically access post-secondary education at colleges such as the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, or North Central Missouri College in Trenton. The Pershing Boyhood Home also serves as an informal educational resource, offering programs on state and military history.

Notable people

* John J. Pershing (1860–1948), General of the Armies and commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, lived on a farm near Laclede during his youth. * Elias S. Stover (1837–1929), educator and first president of the University of New Mexico, was born in Laclede.

Category:Cities in Missouri Category:Linn County, Missouri Category:Populated places established in 1856