Rocheport, Missouri

Rocheport was a trading post for both settlers and Native Americans. After the purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to lead an expedition to explore the western territories. On June 7, 1804, their journey led them to the convergence of the Missouri River and Moniteau Creek near the future settlement of Rocheport. Clark noted the features of the land, flora, fauna and native pictographs on the bluffs in his journal. The Sauk leader Quashquame led a village of Sauk, Meskwaki, and Ioway near Rocheport, along Moniteau Creek in the first decade of the 19th century;^[4] this village was noted by Zebulon Pike in 1806.^[5] Rocheport became a permanent settlement in the early nineteenth century. Rocheport is a French name meaning "rocky port".^[6]

The Moses U. Payne House is a historic structured located just outside Rocheport.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.27 square miles (0.70 km²), all land.^[7]

As of the census^[9] of 2010, there were 239 people, 121 households, and 63 families living in the city. The population density was 885.2 inhabitants per square mile (341.8/km²). There were 128 housing units at an average density of 474.1 per square mile (183.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.2% White, 3.8% African American, 2.1% Native American, 0.8% Asian, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 121 households, of which 19.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.9% were non-families. 39.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.60.

The median age in the city was 49.3 years. 16.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 34.7% were from 45 to 64; and 20.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 208 people, 101 households, and 55 families living in the city. The population density was 774.7 inhabitants per square mile (299.1/km²). There were 122 housing units at an average density of 454.4 per square mile (175.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.94% White, 3.37% African American, 1.44% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.48% from other races, and 4.33% from two or more races.

There were 101 households, out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.6% were non-families. 37.6% 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 2.06 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the city the population was spread out, with 17.8% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,188, and the median income for a family was $45,156. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $20,313 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,483. About 3.5% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 7.0% of those 65 or over.

 

Rocheport offers a variety of shops, art galleries, restaurants and outdoor activities. Rocheport is near the middle of the Katy Trail, a 225-mile-long bike path stretching across the state of Missouri, that was built on a former railroad right-of-way.

• David W. Alexander, 19th century Los Angeles, California, politician and sheriff