Taos, Missouri

Taos is a city in Cole County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,150 at the 2020 census.^[3] It is part of the Jefferson City metropolitan statistical area.

History

Taos was laid out in 1849.^[4] The city was named after Taos, New Mexico.^[5] A post office called Taos was established in 1848, and remained in operation until 1907.^[6]

The St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and Rectory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.^[7]

Geography

Taos is located in eastern Cole County on Missouri Route M between Wardsville to the west and Schubert to the east.^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.27 square miles (5.88 km²), of which 2.23 square miles (5.78 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) is water.^[9]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[10] of 2010, there were 878 people, 331 households, and 249 families residing in the city. The population density was 393.7 inhabitants per square mile (152.0 /km²). There were 340 housing units at an average density of 152.5 inhabitants per square mile (58.9 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.7% White, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 331 households, of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 24.8% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median age in the city was 37.7 years. 28.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 870 people, 312 households, and 238 families residing in the city. The population density was 386.5 inhabitants per square mile (149.2 /km²). There were 315 housing units at an average density of 139.9 inhabitants per square mile (54.0 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.66% White, 0.11% Native American, and 0.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.11% of the population.

There were 312 households, out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,333, and the median income for a family was $55,714. Males had a median income of $32,202 versus $22,356 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,481. About 0.8% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Much of Taos is in the Blair Oaks R-II School District. A portion is within the Jefferson City Public Schools school district.^[11]

Notable people

• Ferdinand Helias, Roman Catholic clergyman; served as priest in Taos^[12]
• Tom Henke, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher^[13]

Partnership

The German municipality Twist is twin town of Taos.^[14]

References

1. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. ^
3. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
4. ^ Ramsay, Robert L. (1952). Our Storehouse of Missouri Place Names. University of Missouri Press. p. 27. ISBN 9780826205865.
5. ^ "Cole County Place Names, 1928–1945 (archived)". The State Historical Society of Missouri. Archived 24 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
6. ^ "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
7. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 3/21/16 through 3/25/16. National Park Service. 2016-04-01.
8. ^ Missouri Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, 1998, First edition, p. 38, ISBN 0-89933-224-2
9. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
11. ^ Geography Division (January 12, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cole County, MO. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2025-05-31. - Text list
12. ^ Nies, Jay (August 16, 2024). "Remembering Fr. Helias 150 years later". The Catholic Missourian. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
13. ^ Pollock, Bill (January 25, 2011). "Missouri native Henke elected to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame". Missourinet. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
14. ^ "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung". Newspaper article. June 2017. Retrieved 2021-10-16.