Belton, Missouri

Belton, Missouri
City
Location of Belton, Missouri
Coordinates: 38°49′09″N 94°32′01″W
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Cass
Area
• Total	14.31 sq mi (37.07 km2)
• Land	14.24 sq mi (36.90 km2)
• Water	0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2)
Elevation	1,099 ft (335 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,953
• Density	1,681.50/sq mi (649.22/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	64012
Area code	816
FIPS code	29-04384
GNIS feature ID	2394125
Website	belton.org

Belton is a city in northwestern Cass County, Missouri, United States. The population was 23,953 at the 2020 census.

History

Belton was platted in 1871. The city was likely named for surveyor Capt. Marcus Lindsey Belt. A post office called Belton has been in operation since 1872.

Geography

Belton is located in northwest Cass County and is four miles from the Missouri-Kansas border. The city is on Missouri Route 58 west of I-49/U.S. Route 71. Raymore lies four miles to the east, Peculiar is seven miles to the southeast along Route 71 and Grandview is five miles to the north in Jackson County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.32 square miles (37.09 km²), of which 14.25 square miles (36.91 km²) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km²) is water.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	552		—
1890	988		79.0%
1900	1,005		1.7%
1910	922		−8.3%
1920	899		−2.5%
1930	992		10.3%
1940	971		−2.1%
1950	1,233		27.0%
1960	4,897		297.2%
1970	12,270		150.6%
1980	12,708		3.6%
1990	18,150		42.8%
2000	21,730		19.7%
2010	23,116		6.4%
2020	23,953		3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2013, there were 23,175 people, 8,623 households, and 6,083 families living in the city. The population density was 1,622.2 inhabitants per square mile (626.3/km²). There were 9,440 housing units at an average density of 662.5 per square mile (255.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.7% White, 6.0% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.1% of the population.

There were 8,623 households, of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.15.

The median age in the city was 33.6 years. 28.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.2% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 10.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,730 people, 7,945 households, and 5,807 families living in the city. The population density was 1,622.2 inhabitants per square mile (626.3/km²). There were 8,411 housing units at an average density of 627.9 per square mile (242.4/km²).

The racial makeup of the city was 91.95% White, 3.85% Black, 0.60% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.08% from other races, and 1.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.69% of the population.

There were 7,945 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.15.

The population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,581, and the median income for a family was $51,268. Males had a median income of $35,518 versus $25,542 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,572. About 6.5% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Largest employers

According to the city's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	QuikTrip Distribution	1,005
2	Belton School District	637
3	Belton Regional Medical Center	286
4	Hy-Vee	269
5	City of Belton	185
6	ROM	161
7	Price Chopper	150
8	Beautiful Savior Home	150
9	Adesa Kansas City	122
10	Home Depot	112

Education

Belton School District #124 includes most of Belton. It operates six elementary schools, two middle schools, and Belton High School.

A portion of eastern Belton is in the Raymore-Peculiar School District.

Belton has a public library, a branch of the Cass County Public Library.

Notable people

• Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People (parents moved to community when he was adult but he is buried in Belton)
• Emmett Dalton, of the bank-robbing Dalton Gang
• Ben Hardaway, storyboard artist, animator, voice actor, gagman, writer, and director during the Golden Age of American animation.
• Kevin Hern, businessman and member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district
• Carrie Nation, leader of temperance movement
• Tate Stevens, 2012 winner of The X Factor
• Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States.
• Brad St. Louis, played 10 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League.

Sister Cities

• Manzanillo, Mexico
• Selkirk, Canada

External links

• City of Belton
• Historic maps of Belton in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri