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Higginsville, Missouri
A description of Higginsville from 1891:
"This is the second town in size in Lafayette
County. In stirring business push and enterprise, it ranks second to none.
Located centrally, in one of Missouri's "river counties," which, in the
Western part of the State particularly, ranks with any other part of the world
in richness of soil, and productiveness of agricultural and fruit crops; it is
specially favored as to situation. About it, fruit trees blow into flower, and
are weighed down with fruit. Mines furnish coal for the furnaces of the vast
manufactories so certainly destined to come here. The prairies bring forth
cereals in abundance, and the sound of the reaper is heard in the land—that
land whose requirements of tillage form a large sale each year for
agricultural implements.
Higginsville is fifty-five miles East of Kansas City, at the junction of the
Chicago & Alton, and Missouri Pacific Railroads.
It was founded in 1869 and named after Harvey J. Higgins, when the Lexington &
Sedalia Railroad, now a link in the main line of the Missouri Pacific, was
built.
It got a postoffice in 1870, with Mr. A.B.E. Lehman as postmaster. The town
was incorporated in 1876. The first mayor was Mr. Abram Wade. It was first
incorporated as a city, nearly ten years later. The building of the Alton
Railroad through Higginsville seemed to give the town a new lease of life, and
since then, 1879, its growth has been steady and assured. Since that time the
population has been more than tripled, and now numbers 3,000. Higginsville,
while surrounded with a fourteen to thirty-five inch vein of splendid coal, is
immediately underlaid with sandstone, which obviates any danger of sinking in,
that might result from excavation. The abundant pure water supply is but
another evidence that, even though unintentionally so, the location of
Higginsville is an especially fortunate one. The surrounding landscape is a
pleasing picture of broad river bottoms, bold rugged bluffs, wooded mounds and
valleys and charming districts of high rolling prairie. With such splendid
transportation facilities, such superior educational advantages, not to
mention her natural resources, Higginsville has the assurance of a great
future. Her past has predicted it, and her present confirms the belief in it.
Already manufacturing interests have cast their fortunes in with hers to the
number of fourteen or fifteen, the press is ably represented, and the
professions have enthusiastic and conscientious votaries. Three banks do a
good business, fourteen mining companies have been formed.
Here is located the State Home for Confederate Soldiers. Lafayette County gave
$5,500, leaving the net cost of the home $13,052. The management at present
has only sixty acres, 300 more being leased, the home receiving one-third of
the crops raised thereon. Seven ex-soldiers are now in the home, which aims to
be self-sustaining. Ten cottages are under process of erection, and it is
expected each county in the State will erect one. An elegant and attractive
boulevard is being built from the town to the grounds.
Nine churches point their spires heavenward in mute imitation of their
teaching. Push and enterprise rule the day. Old fogyism, in what ever form,
finds no abiding place, and folding its tent like the Arab, as silently steals
away. Last spring the citizens voted bonds for both electric light plant and
waterworks, and these will be in operation in the very near future. To capital
and labor, investigation and development of her great natural resources,
Higginsville has ever extended and still extends the welcoming hand of
encouragement and assistance. To this fact is traceable the secret of her
success." (from: Historical and Descriptive Review of Missouri,
Jno. Lethem, 1891, Kansas City)
An early postcard view of Main
Street Looking North, Higginsville, MO.
Quick facts:
Founded: August 1869, post
office established in 1870
Named After: Harvey J. Higgins
County: Lafayette County, Missouri
The City of Higginsville has the
second largest population in Lafayette County
Population (2000 Census): 4,682
White 91.6%
Black 5.3%
Hispanic 1.5%
Two or more races: 1.5%
Zip Code: 64037
Area Code: 660
Higginsville is in central Lafayette County, about 50 miles east of Kansas City.
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