Bonne Terre, Missouri

Bonne Terre, Missouri
City
Motto: Good Earth, Good People
Location of Bonne Terre, Missouri
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	St. Francois
Area
• Total	4.10 sq mi (10.62 km2)
• Land	4.04 sq mi (10.46 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation	830 ft (253 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	6,864
• Estimate (2012)	7,052
• Density	1,699.0/sq mi (656.0/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	573 Exchange: 358
FIPS code	29-07102
GNIS feature ID	0755802

Bonne Terre (BON-TAYR) is a city in St. Francois County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6,864 at the 2010 census. The community was originally settled by the French in 1720 after lead ore was discovered. It was called La Bonne Terre, "the good soil." Bonne Terre was platted as a town in 1880.

Since 2005, Missouri has conducted all of its executions at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre.

Lead mining

Bonne Terre was long an active surface lead miners camp. Major lead mining operations from the 1870s included the Desloge Lead Company, St. Joe Lead and Doe Run. The Desloge mines in Bonne Terre were started by Firmin V. Desloge, and above-ground works were bounded approximately by present-day Division Street on the west, Benham Street on the south, Route 67 on the east, and the township line to the north.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.10 square miles (10.62 km²), of which 4.04 square miles (10.46 km²) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km²) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	3,719		—
1920	3,815		—
1930	4,021		5.4%
1940	3,730		−7.2%
1950	3,533		−5.3%
1960	3,219		−8.9%
1970	3,622		12.5%
1980	3,797		4.8%
1990	3,871		1.9%
2000	4,039		4.3%
2010	6,864		69.9%
Est. 2014	7,031		2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,864 people, 1,634 households, and 1,063 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,699.0 inhabitants per square mile (656.0/km²). There were 1,882 housing units at an average density of 465.8 per square mile (179.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.60% White, 18.72% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.10% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.

There were 1,634 households of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.14.

The median age in the city was 34.2 years. 17.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 37.1% were from 25 to 44; 22.3% were from 45 to 64; and 10.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 67.1% male and 32.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,039 people, 1,554 households, and 1,062 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,000.0 people per square mile (386.0/km²). There were 1,685 housing units at an average density of 417.2 per square mile (161.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.46% White, 0.30% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.

There were 1,554 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,929, and the median income for a family was $37,072. Males had a median income of $29,617 versus $18,310 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,062. About 11.7% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 21.8% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

Bonne Terre is home to the Bonne Terre Mine site. The mine was the first in the network of St. Joe Minerals lead mines that led to Missouri producing 70 percent of the United States' lead in the Southeast Missouri Lead District. The mine was a target of Price's Raid during the American Civil War. This mine is open for tours and is also known as a scuba diving attraction.

Bonne Terre is also home to The Space Museum. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The museum has a flag that went to the moon with astronaut Eugene Cernan on Apollo 17.

Notable people

• Dave Dallas
• Firmin V. Desloge
• Jon Simmons

External links

• City of Bonne Terre, Missouri
• The Space Museum
• Historic maps of Bonne Terre in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri