Hermann, Missouri

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Hermann, the county seat of Gasconade County, Missouri, was incorporated in 1845. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,674.

The city was founded by the Deutsche Ansiedlungs-Gesellschaft zu Pennsylvania (German Settlement Society of Philadelphia) in the 1830s, partly influenced by Gottfried Duden, who wrote about the area in his Bericht über eine Reise nach den westlichen Staaten Nord Amerikas (Report of a Journey to the Western States of Northern America). The party of settlers was lead by George Bayer, who bought the land and is considered by many to be the founder of the town. The town was platted after the society sold shares in the 11,300 acres (45.73 km²) of Gasconade River valley land it had purchased. The society had almost utopian goals of a "heart of German-America" wherein it could perpetuate traditional German culture and establish a self-supporting colony built around farming, commerce, and industry. The town is named after Hermann der Cherusker, a German leader who defeated the Romans in a battle in the year 9.

Hermann is the sausage-making capital of Missouri, and is home to Stone Hill Winery, the largest winemaking business in the state. The town also hosts a Maifest during the third weekend in May and an Oktoberfest the first four weekends in October.

The Katy Trail, a 225 mile long bike path, passes through McKittrick, which is just across the Missouri River.

[edit] Geography

Hermann is located at 38°41′57″N, 91°26′21″W (38.699226, -91.439046)^GR1, on the Missouri River and in the Gasconade River valley.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 km² (2.5 mi²). 6.0 km² (2.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (6.88%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,674 people, 1,149 households, and 698 families residing in the town. The population density was 448.9/km² (1,161.5/mi²). There were 1,285 housing units at an average density of 215.7/km² (558.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.80% White, 0.22% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 1,149 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,634, and the median income for a family was $44,621. Males had a median income of $27,426 versus $20,372 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,428. About 5.0% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.