Republic is a city in Christian and Greene counties in the U.S. state of

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 18,750. In 2019, its population was 16,938, making it the second largest city in Greene County in the U.S. state of

. It is part of the

Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Springfield metropolitan area, which had an esti ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...

History

Early settlement in southwest Greene County centered on the community of Little York. When the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad built a line through the area in the early 1870s, Little York was not on the route. Settlement moved two miles away to

Brookline Brookline may refer to: Places in the United States * Brookline, Massachusetts, a town near Boston * Brookline, Missouri * Brookline, New Hampshire * Brookline (Pittsburgh), a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania * Brookline, Vermont See ...

which was on the rail line's route. Another group of settlers decided to take up residency at another area along the tracks just four miles southwest of Brookline. This village eventually became known as Republic, and was incorporated in 1871 While the railroad did go through Republic, there initially was no switch or depot located in the city. A public subscription of $1000 raised the funds to build a depot in the city. Subsequent growth is attributed to the depot's completion.

Consolidation with Village of Brookline

In 2005, the cities of Republic and

consolidated as Missouri State laws allow after a vote of the residents of both communities approved the consolidation with Republic taking over all aspects of city government. Originally, Brookline was to retain its own identity, but the city limit signs have since been changed to Republic's. However, according to Section I (b) of the Intergovernmental Agreement:

"Name of Consolidated Municipality - The name of the consolidated municipality shall be "City of Republic." To help preserve the identity of the Village, the City will place signs with text “Village of Brookline” at the current corporate limits of the Village. Placement of signage is subject to State sign regulations when placed in State right-of-way. The City of Republic will work with the United States Postal Service to help preserve the history and operation of the Brookline Station Post Office.

While the Village of Brookline no longer exists as an independent, incorporated community, the post office and associated ZIP Code of 65619 remain in operation. In addition,

BNSF Railway BNSF Railway is one of the largest freight railroads in North America. One of seven North American Class I railroads, BNSF has 35,000 employees, of track in 28 states, and nearly 8,000 locomotives. It has three transcontinental routes that ...

continues to designate Brookline as a station point on its network map and system timetables.

Geography

Republic is located at (37.121652, -93.471440). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Most of the city lies in Greene County, and the other is in Christian County.

Demographics

July 1st 2018 Census Estimate (Latest)

As of the July 1st 2018 Census Estimate, there were 16,510 people living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was . The racial makeup of the city was 94.6%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 0.1%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.3% Native American, 1.7% Asian, and 2.9% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2010, there were 14,751 people, 5,516 households, and 3,999 families living in the city. The

was . There were 6,139 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.6%

, 0.7%

, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population. There were 5,516 households, of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.5% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age in the city was 32.2 years. 29.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.9% were from 25 to 44; 20.5% were from 45 to 64; and 10.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 8,438 people, 3,148 households, and 2,379 families living in the city. The

was 1,508.1 people per square mile (581.8/km²). There were 3,298 housing units at an average density of 589.4 per square mile (227.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.43%

, 0.24%

, 0.56% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.02%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 0.24% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population. There were 3,148 households, out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were

living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.04. In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $34,611, and the median income for a family was $37,622. Males had a median income of $30,849 versus $21,725 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $15,212. About 5.8% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Republic is located on U.S. Highway 60. Through the city limits, U.S. 60 runs concurrent with Missouri Route 413. Interstate 44 skirts the northern city limits. Missouri Route 360 (future Interstate 244), also known as James River Freeway, begins at an interchange with I-44 north of the city limit and heads east to the U.S. 60 interchange. From here, eastward, the freeway takes on the U.S. 60 designation. The city is served by BNSF Railway, formerly the Burlington Northern Railroad. The railroad's Cherokee Subdivision runs through the community on its route between Tulsa, Oklahoma and Memphis, Tennessee. When combined with other subdivisions, this route makes up an important corridor linking California with Birmingham and Atlanta. Primary commodities carried on trains include freight and intermodal shipments. Passenger trains stopped running through the community in 1967.

Education

Primary and secondary education

Republic is part of Republic School District. The district has the following schools: * Republic High School * Republic Middle School * Lyon Elementary * McCulloch Elementary * Price Elementary * Schofield Elementary * Sweeny Elementary * Republic Early Childhood Center There are school sports and other activities available for middle and high school students, including football, volleyball, band, choir, academic and specialty clubs, and robotics.

Controversies

On July 25, 2011, the school board elected to ban two books from the school library. ''Twenty Boy Summer'' by Sarah Ockler and '' Slaughterhouse-Five'' by Kurt Vonnegut were slated for removal in deference to a complaint by a local resident, a professor at Missouri State University whose own children are homeschooled. The resident claimed the contents of the book are profane and violate the teachings of the

Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus ...

. The books were removed on grounds of violating the board's guidelines on book content.

Higher education

Ozarks Technical Community College Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) is a public community college in Springfield, Missouri. It was established by Springfield and thirteen surrounding public school districts on April 3, 1990. It has six locations in southern Missouri. St ...

opened its Republic Center in August 2020. The center serves as a satellite campus offering multiple degree programs to Republic and the surrounding communities.

Notable people

Charles Harrison Brown Charles Harrison Brown (October 22, 1920 – June 10, 2003) was a two-term U.S. representative from Missouri's 7th congressional district from 1957–61, and is the most recent Democrat to serve from that district. Brown was born in Coweta, ...

, two-term U.S. representative from

Missouri's 7th congressional district Missouri's 7th congressional district consists of Southwest Missouri. The district includes Springfield, the home of Missouri State University, and the popular tourist destination city of Branson. Located along the borders of Kansas, Oklahom ...

from 1957–1961. * Ross Carter,

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...

player *

Stephen R. Bough Stephen Rogers Bough (born December 1970) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Biography Bough was raised in Republic, Missouri and graduated with a Bachelor of Science d ...

Federal Judge Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state/provincial/local level. United States A US federal judge is appointed by the US President and confirmed by the US Senate in accordance with Article 3 ...

Western District of Missouri

References

External links

City of Republic

Republic Mo News
local newspaper
Republic School District
* Historic maps of Republic in th
Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection
at the University of Missouri {{authority control Populated places established in 2005 Cities in Christian County, Missouri Cities in Greene County, Missouri Springfield metropolitan area, Missouri Cities in Missouri