Nixa, Missouri

History

The area was first settled by farmers who located their farms along the wooded streams near present-day Nixa. The area became a crossroads, as it was a half-day ride with a team of horses from Springfield. An early resident, Nicholas A. Inman, was a blacksmith from Tennessee, who set up a shop in 1852. When a post office was opened, a town meeting was held to decide on a name for the new community. Because of his years of service to the community, the town was suggested to be named for him. Another suggestion was "nix" because the community was "nothing but a crossroads". The name Nix was finally decided upon, and Inman's middle initial "a" was added to get the unique name of Nixa. The village incorporated on June 10, 1902.

Geography

Nixa is located at (37.045253, -93.298755). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.48 sqmi, all land. The modern city rests on and around seven hills. It sits six miles south of Springfield, six miles west of Ozark, eight miles north of Highlandville and eight miles east of Clever.

Demographics

|align-fn=center

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 23,257 people, 8,170 households, and 5,899 families in Nixa. The population density was 2,500.8 per square mile (965.8/km). The 8,711 housing units had an average density of 936.7 per square mile (361.8/km). The racial makeup was 88.32% White, 1.13% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 1.26% from other races, and 7.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race was 3.9% of the population.

Of the 8,170 households, 38.1% had children under 18; 58.0% were married couples living together; 23.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.2% consisted of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.2.

The city's age distribution was 24.8% under 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 104.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and older, there were 97.3 males.

The 2016-2020 five-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $63,176 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,286) and the median family income was $69,874 (+/- $4,707). Males had a median income of $41,770 (+/- $3,651) versus $26,480 (+/- $3,003) for females. The median income for those above 16 was $35,059 (+/- $3,052). About 6.1% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under 18 and 6.9% of those 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, 19,022 people, 7,264 households, and 5,280 families lived in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 94.4% White, 0.9% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.1% of the population.

Of the 7,264 households, 41.6% had children under 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.3% were not families. About 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age in the city was 34.2 years; 28.8% of residents were under 18; 7.2% were between 18 and 24; 30.4% were from 25 to 44; 21.2% were from 45 to 64; and 12.3% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 US Census, 12,124 people, 4,654 households, and 3,448 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,969.1 PD/sqmi. The 4,962 housing units averaged 805.9 per square mile (311.0/km). The racial makeup of the city was 97.43% White, 0.46% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.26% of the population.

Of the 4,654 households, 40.4% had children under 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were not families. About 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city, the population was distributed as 28.4% under 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,655, and for a family was $44,556. Males had a median income of $33,636 versus $21,737 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,774. About 8.1% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Nixa Public Schools district operates four elementary schools for students in kindergarten through fourth grade: Helen-Matthews Elementary, Espy Elementary, Century Elementary, and the newest, High Pointe Elementary (named because it sits on the highest elevation in Christian County), opened in August 2007. Two intermediate schools serve students in the fifth and sixth grades: Inman Intermediate and Summit Intermediate. One junior high school, Nixa Junior High, and one high school, Nixa Public High School are in the district. A magnet school, John Thomas School of Discovery, hosts kindergarten through sixth grade. Ozarks Technical Community college Richwood Valley Campus is in the Nixa zip code.

Infrastructure

The city of Nixa began construction on the largest solar farm in Missouri in June 2017, which was completed and operational in November 2017. The solar farm has 33,288 solar panels located on 72 acres and provides an estimated 9% of the city's power needs. Former Sen. Jay Wasson owns the land on which the solar farm is being built. The farm has a life expectancy of 25 years.

Economy

Nixa is home to Accurate Plastics and another plastic service located nearby named Diversified Plastics. Nixa is home to a train part manufacturer, Snyders Equipment Company, a division of New York Air Brake. Also in the community is Aire-Master, a deodorizer brand that specializes in commercial applications, such as restroom air-freshener dispensers, Jordan Essentials, a magnesium product company, and Nixa Hardware, established in 1899.

In 2011, B&B Theatres built a cinema between Ozark and Nixa along Route 14.

Nixa has a bowling alley named Century Lanes, a go-cart track, named 160 Grand Prix, and Southwest Missouri's first food court, 14 Mill Market.

Politics

Nixa is part of Missouri's 7th congressional district.

A petition was submitted in June 2021 to set a recall election for Mayor Brian Steele. The Christian County Clerk certified enough valid signatures to trigger the recall election on November 2, 2021. The petition claimed that Steele should be recalled for abuse of emergency powers by enacting a mandatory mask mandate and other restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which have since expired. The vote failed, with 75% of the vote going in favor of Steele.

Annual Sucker Day

Finis Gold, mayor of Nixa, a barber and local American Legion commander, started the annual Nixa Sucker Day in 1957. It has been a longstanding tradition. Locals often close up shop or skip school for the day to go "grabbin’ for suckers". The fish are then frozen until enough are available for a big fish fry. The event is held annually during May. It is a family-friendly event held on Nixa's Main Street, with live entertainment and local crafts. Sucker fish and other kinds of food are sold by vendors. Proceeds from Sucker Day activities help fund local causes such as scholarships for graduates from Nixa High School, Project Graduation, and Nixa JROTC.

Notable people

• William F. Austin, CEO of Starkey Hearing Technologies

• Dean Deetz, professional baseball pitcher

• Courtney Frerichs, American middle-distance runner and Olympian

• Jim Kreider served as speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives

• David Krol, professional bowler

• Mickey Owen, professional baseball player and coach

• Chase Allen. former NFL player, current UFL player

• Jackson Cantwell, (Offensive Lineman) Current national football standout, #1 ranked nationally for class of 26’, Miami Hurricanes commit for football

In popular culture

In the Robert Ludlum novels and films (fiction), Nixa is the birthplace of Jason Bourne/David Webb. The Bourne Supremacy revealed that Bourne's real name was David Webb and that he was born in Nixa, Missouri.

Several streets in a residential neighborhood northeast of downtown are named for performers on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee, including Nixa native Slim Wilson. They include Slim Wilson Boulevard, Red Foley Court, Zed Tennis Street, Bill Ring Court, Speedy Haworth Court, and Ozark Jubilee Drive. M

A 2013 episode of the Investigation Discovery television series Beauty Queen Murder featured a murder in Nixa. The 1985 death of Jackie Johns was not solved until 2010, when DNA evidence proved that fellow Nixa resident Gerald Carnahan had raped and murdered the young woman.

Radio stations

• KGBX-FM

References

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau.
2. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. {{GNIS. 723380
4. "Explore Census Data".
5. "History of Nixa". City of Nixa, Missouri.
6. Michelle Korgis-Fitzpatrick. (July 2002). "A Trip Back into the History of Time". Michelle Korgis-Fitzpatrick.
7. (2011-02-12). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
9. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Nixa city, Missouri".
10. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nixa city, Missouri".
11. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nixa city, Missouri".
12. "Explore Census Data".
13. "Explore Census Data".
14. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. "Nixa to finally break ground on massive solar farm as sun power grows in Missouri". Springfield News-Leader.
16. Schmitt, Will. (November 14, 2017). "Nixa's massive new solar farm is part of the shift to responsible, renewable power policy".
17. "Nixa Solar Farm {{!}} Nixa, MO".
18. "B & B Ozark-Nixa 12 with Marquee Suites". [[B&B Theatres]].
19. (6 July 2021). "Missouri mayor who required masks faces recall vote".
20. "Nixa Sucker Day".
21. "William F. (Franklin) Austin".
22. (16 August 2007). "Bourne in Missouri". [[The Pitch (newspaper).
23. Bologna, Giacomo. (2016-08-08). "That time someone added 'Home of Jason Bourne' below Nixa city limit sign". [[Springfield News-Leader]].
24. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
25. "Carnahan Found Guilty of Jackie Johns Rape, Murder".