Nevada ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Vernon County,

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

, United States. The population was 8,386 at the 2010 census, and 8,254 in the 2018 estimate. The local government has a council-manager model.

History

When French explorers entered the region in the late 17th century, they encountered the indigenous

Osage people The Osage Nation ( ) () is a Midwestern United States, Midwestern Native Americans in the United States, Native American nation of the Great Plains. The tribe began in the Ohio River, Ohio and Mississippi River, Mississippi river valleys arou ...

, who controlled a vast area extending west from present-day Saint Louis, including territories now within several states. The

Osage Village State Historic Site The Osage Village State Historic Site is a publicly owned property in Vernon County, Missouri, maintained by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The historic site preserves the archaeological site of a major Osage village, that once ...

, formerly known as the Carrington Osage Village Site, is located on a hilltop above the

Osage River The Osage River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed May 31, 2011 tributary of the Missouri River in central Missouri in the United States. The eighth-largest river in ...

valley. Archeological evidence shows an Osage band had nearly 200 lodges and an estimated population of 2000 to 3000 here; they occupied the area from about 1700–1775. They were the most influential people in the region and were integral to the

fur trade The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal ecosystem, boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals h ...

. After the United States acquired the territory west of the Mississippi River in the

Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase () was the acquisition of the Louisiana (New France), territory of Louisiana by the United States from the French First Republic in 1803. This consisted of most of the land in the Mississippi River#Watershed, Mississipp ...

, through the rest of the 19th century, it gradually forced the Osage to cede their lands and remove to

Indian Territory Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the Federal government of the United States, United States government for the relocation of Native Americans in the United States, ...

. This site has been designated as a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

for its significance to the

and American history. Nevada was originally called "Hog Eye" by European-American settlers, and under that name was

plat In the United States, a plat ( or ) (plan) is a cadastral map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. United States General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Survey System, Public Lands Surveys to ...

ted in 1855. The town's name was changed to Nevada by circuit and county clerk DeWitt C. Hunter, after

Nevada City, California Nevada City is the county seat of Nevada County, California, United States, northeast of Sacramento, California, Sacramento, southwest of Reno, Nevada, Reno and northeast of San Francisco. The population was 3,152 as of the 2020 United States ...

, where he had been a gold miner. From 1897 to 1933, Nevada was home to the

Weltmer Institute of Suggestive Therapeutics The Weltmer Institute was an American business with trained staff that practiced weltmerism, a kind of electromagnetic healing using laying-on-of-hands combined with the power of suggestion and hypnosis. It was devoted to "mind cures" of illnesse ...

, founded by

Sidney Abram Weltmer Sidney Abram Weltmer (July 7, 1858 – December 6, 1930) was an author best known for the ''Weltmer Method'' (also known as "Weltmerism") and as founder of the Weltmer Institute of Suggestive Therapeutics. Weltmer claimed his method could cure ...

and Joseph H. Kelly. Weltmer bought a 17-room mansion, built in 1886 by Frank P. Anderson, a successful railroad builder. They wanted a facility large enough so that they could have patients stay for extended periods in a kind of boarding house. During the early 20th century, this healing institute attracted thousands of clients who believed in Weltmer's cures by mental healing. People paid $100 to stay for a 10-day course of treatment. They also paid for instructional classes. The institute also conducted a large mail-order business for classes and a kind of treatment by mail. It held lectures attracting several hundred people at a time. The Institute attracted so many clients that the railroad added new trains to its schedule serving the town. In addition, the volume of mail associated with the institute's business resulted in the post office being classified as first class, and the government building a new, larger post office to handle it. The Weltmer Institute became the center of associated wellness systems and practitioners in town, which increased in prosperity. It attracted clairvoyants and psychotherapists, emerging as a new profession. It also attracted people promising various types of miracle cures for such illnesses as

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

, which then had no cure. In the early 20th century, the town attracted many enthusiasts of what was known as the New Thought Movement. In 1905 the Weltmer Auditorium was the site of the Fifth Annual Convention of the New Thought Federation, held on September 26–29, 1905. Ernest Weltmer, the eldest son of Sidney A. Weltmer, was Secretary of the Federation and helped open the convention. Among the several speakers from across the country was Grace Mann Brown, and entertainment was provided by singers including the Weltmer Quartette. Mrs. Brown served as President of the Federation the following year. In 1916, New Thought followers returned to Nevada for the second International Conference of the movement, and Sidney A. Weltmer was among the speakers. After Weltmer's death and the institute's closure in 1933, the mansion was sold for use as a funeral home. By late 2004, the building was slated for demolition to redevelop the site. Although some residents were interested in its history and the Weltmer Institute, the building was never nominated as a significant historic building or classified for preservation. The City Council approved it being scheduled to be demolished in late 2004 for other development. Significant historic properties in Nevada include the Infirmary Building, Missouri State Hospital Number 3, Vernon County Courthouse, and Vernon County Jail, Sheriff's House and Office, which are also listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

2025 tornado

On April 2, 2025, an EF1 tornado struck the city, damaging homes and other buildings in Nevada.

Geography

Nevada is located in central Vernon County at the intersection of US routes 71 and 54.

I-49 Interstate 49 (I-49) is a north–south Interstate Highway with multiple segments. The original portion is entirely within Louisiana with an additional signed portion extending from I-220 in Shreveport to the Arkansas state line, three ne ...

runs through Nevada concurrent with US 71. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 8,212 people, 3,676 households, and 1,933 families in Nevada. The population density was 914.5 per square mile (352.9/km). There were 4,297 housing units at an average density of 478.5 per square mile (184.7/km). The racial makeup was 88.92% (7,302)

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.19% (98) black or African-American, 1.06% (87) Native American, 0.68% (56) Asian, 0.11% (9)

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 1.57% (129) from other races, and 6.47% (531) from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race was 2.3% (187) of the population. Of the 3,676 households, 20.7% had children under the age of 18; 38.3% were married couples living together; 42.5% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 39.6% consisted of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.0 and the average family size was 2.8. 20.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 81.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 75.1 males. The 2016-2020 5-year

American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...

estimates show that the median household income was $37,451 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,204) and the median family income was $50,920 (+/- $11,441). Males had a median income of $30,625 (+/- $9,230) versus $24,931 (+/- $5,327) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,080 (+/- $3,745). Approximately, 10.2% of families and 19.9% 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 29.7% of those under the age of 18 and 10.7% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 8,386 people, 3,491 households, and 1,908 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...

was . There were 4,018 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.1%

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

, 1.1%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.8% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population. There were 3,491 households, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.9% were

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

living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.3% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16, and the average family size was 2.88. The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 23.3% of residents were under 18; 11.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.3% male and 54.7% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 8,607 people, 3,463 households, and 1,973 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 3,857 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.79%

, 1.03%

, 0.94% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05%

, 0.49% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population. There were 3,463 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were

living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 38.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22, and the average family size was 2.95. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $25,774, and the median income for a family was $36,639. Males had a median income of $28,939 versus $17,424 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $15,118. About 13.7% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the

, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education in Nevada is administered by the Nevada R-V School District, which operates Nevada High School. Nevada has a lending library, the Nevada Public Library. Nevada is home to

Cottey College Cottey College is a Private college, private Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Nevada, Missouri. It was founded by Virginia Alice (Cottey) Stockard in 1884. Since 1927, it has been owned and supported by the P.E.O. Siste ...

which is a private women's college. It was founded by Virginia Alice (Cottey) Stockard in 1884. Since 1927 it has been owned and supported by the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic women's organization based in

Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...

. It was founded as a preparatory school for girls and women, and by 1932 was a two-year liberal arts college. In 2011, it achieved accreditation as a four-year baccalaureate-granting college. Nevada also has a Crowder College Branch.

Transportation

Intercity bus service to the city is provided by

Jefferson Lines Jefferson Lines (JL or JLI) is a regional intercity bus company operating in 14 states in the Midwest and the West of the United States. History The company is operated by Jefferson Partners L.P., located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jefferson P ...

. Nevada is served by

US 71 U.S. Route 71 or U.S. Highway 71 (US 71) is a major north–south United States highway that extends for over 1500 miles (2500 km) in the central United States. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Intersta ...

and 54 along with

. I-49 runs concurrent with US 71.

Notable people

* Russell Alexander — circus band composer, performer, and entertainer *

Eva Bowring Eva Bowring (née Kelly; January 9, 1892January 8, 1985) was a U.S. Senator from Nebraska. Bowring was born in Nevada, Missouri. In 1928, she married Arthur Bowring. They made their home at the Bowring Ranch near Merriman in Cherry County, Neb ...

−

United States Senator The United States Senate consists of 100 members, two from each of the 50 U.S. state, states. This list includes all senators serving in the 119th United States Congress. Party affiliation Independent Senators Angus King of Maine and Berni ...

for Nebraska *

Patricia Breckenridge Patricia Breckenridge (born October 14, 1953) is a former judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri. She was first appointed to the court in 2007 and served as chief justice from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2017. Breckenridge was the fourth woman to b ...

− former

Associate Justice An associate justice or associate judge (or simply associate) is a judicial panel member who is not the chief justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the Supreme Court of the United States and some ...

Supreme Court of Missouri The Supreme Court of Missouri (SCOMO) is the highest court in the state of Missouri. It was established in 1820 and is located at 207 West High Street in Jefferson City, Missouri. Missouri voters have approved changes in the state's constituti ...

Harvey C. Clark Harvey C. Clark (September 7, 1869 – April 11, 1921) was an American attorney and military officer from Missouri. A Democratic Party (United States), Democrat in politics, he served as prosecuting attorney of Bates County, Missouri , for two ter ...

, U.S. Army brigadier general * Forrest DeBernardi − member of the

Basketball Hall of Fame The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts. It serves as basketball's most complete library, in addition to promoting and pres ...

* Ed Emery — state senator and former state representative *

Clark Griffith Clark Calvin Griffith (November 20, 1869 – October 27, 1955, ), nicknamed "the Old Fox", was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher, manager and team owner. He began his MLB playing career with the St. Louis Browns (1891), Boston Re ...

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

pitcher and co-founder of the

American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western L ...

John Huston John Marcellus Huston ( ; August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987) was an American film director, screenwriter and actor. He wrote the screenplays for most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered classics. He rec ...

− actor, director, screenwriter, and producer (born there) *

Walter Huston Walter Thomas Huston ( ; April 6, 1883 or 1884 – April 7, 1950) was a Canadian actor and singer. Huston won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in '' The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'', directed by his son John Huston. He ...

− actor of stage and screen (lived there 1905-09) *

Frank James Alexander Franklin James (January 10, 1843 – February 18, 1915) was a Confederate States Army, Confederate American Civil War, soldier and Guerrilla warfare in the American Civil War, guerrilla; in the Reconstruction era, post-Civil War p ...

− guerrilla and outlaw, brother of

Jesse James Jesse Woodson James (September 5, 1847April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, Bank robbery, bank and Train robbery, train robber, guerrilla and leader of the James–Younger Gang. Raised in the "Little Dixie (Missouri), Little Dixie" area of M ...

* George Lyons -

pitcher * Brett Merriman —

player, Nevada High School 1984 graduating class. * Bill Phelps − former

lieutenant governor of Missouri The lieutenant governor of Missouri is the first person in the order of succession of the U.S. state of Missouri's executive branch, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal, impeachment, absence from the state, ...

Kimbrough Stone Kimbrough Stone (January 15, 1875 – February 27, 1958) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Education and career Stone was born on January 15, 1875, in Nevada, Missouri, to Louise and ...

- United States Circuit judge *

Anne Swainson Anne Swainson (1888–1955) was an American product and graphic designer who became the head of design at the national retail company Montgomery Ward in Chicago, which was second in size only to Sears, Roebuck & Company at the time. There, she fou ...

− Head of product and graphic design at

Montgomery Ward Montgomery Ward is the name of two successive U.S. retail corporations. The original Montgomery Ward & Co. was a mail-order business and later a department store chain that operated between 1872 and 2001; its common nickname was "Monkey Wards". ...

* Marion Talley - An American opera coloratura soprano, and was in '' Follow Your Heart'' * Sue Thompson − country and pop singer, born Eva Sue McKee * Sidney Weltmer - founder of the

References

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou or MU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Univers ...

* * {{authority control Cities in Vernon County, Missouri County seats in Missouri Populated places established in 1855 Cities in Missouri 1855 establishments in Missouri