Joplin, Missouri

Joplin, Missouri
City
Aerial view of downtown Joplin, 2009. The bridge is 2nd Street and the intersection is 2nd St. and Virginia Ave.
Motto:  "Proud of Our Past...Shaping Our Future'"
Location in the state of Missouri
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Counties	Jasper, Newton
Incorporated	1873
Government
• Mayor	Michael Seibert
Area
• Total	35.68 sq mi (92.41 km2)
• Land	35.56 sq mi (92.10 km2)
• Water	0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2)
Elevation	1,004 ft (306 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	50,150
• Estimate  (2014)	51,316
• Density	1,410.3/sq mi (544.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	64801-64804
Area code	417
FIPS code	29-37592
GNIS feature ID	0729911
Website	JoplinMO.org

Joplin (/ˈdʒɒplɪn/) is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150. Joplin is the main hub of the three county Joplin-Miami Metropolitan area.

History

19th century

Main Street, below 5th Street c. 1910

Lead was discovered in the Joplin Creek Valley before the Civil War, but it was only after the war that significant development took place. By 1871, numerous mining camps sprang up in the valley and resident John C. Cox filed a plan for a city on the east side of the valley. Cox named his village Joplin City after the spring and creek nearby, which had been named for the Reverend Harris G. Joplin, who settled upon its banks about 1840.

The Carthage resident Patrick Murphy filed a plan for a city on the opposite side of the valley and named it Murphysburg. While the nearest sheriff was in Carthage, frontier lawlessness abounded in Joplin. The historic period was referred to as the "Reign of Terror." The cities eventually merged into Union City, but when the merger was found illegal, the two cities split. Murphy suggested that a combined city be named Joplin. The cities merged again on March 23, 1873, this time permanently, as the City of Joplin.

While Joplin was first settled for lead mining, zinc, often referred to as "jack," was the most important mineral resource. As railroads were built to connect Joplin to major markets in other cities, it was on the verge of dramatic growth. By the start of the 20th Century, the city was becoming a regional metropolis. Construction centered around Main Street, with many bars, hotels, and fine homes nearby. Joplin's three-story "House of Lords" was its most famous saloon, with a bar and restaurant on the first floor, gambling on the second and a brothel on the third. Trolley and rail lines made Joplin the hub of southwest Missouri. As the center of the "Tri-state district", it soon became the lead and zinc mining capital of the world.

As a result of extensive surface and deep mining, Joplin is dotted with open pit mines and mine shafts. Mining left many tailings piles (small hills of ground rock), which are considered unsightly locally. The open pit mines pose both hazards, but some find them to have a kind of beauty as well. The main part of Joplin is nearly 75% undermined, with some mine shafts well over 100 ft (30m) deep. These mine shafts have occasionally caved in, creating sink holes. The mining history and geology are well documented in the mineral museum in town.

20th century

Panorama of Joplin, circa 1910

Joplin began to add cultural amenities; in 1902 residents passed a tax to create a public library, and gained matching funds that enabled them to build the Carnegie Library. It was seen as the symbol of a thriving city. In 1930 the grand commercial Electric Theater was built, one of the many movie palaces of the time. It was later purchased and renamed the Fox by Fox Theatres corporation. With the Depression and post-World War II suburban development, moviegoing declined at such large venues.

Bonnie & Clyde, photo developed by the Joplin Globe after the shoot out.

In 1933 during the Great Depression, the notorious criminals Bonnie and Clyde spent some weeks in Joplin, where they robbed several area businesses. Tipped off by a neighbor, the Joplin Police Department attempted to apprehend the pair. Bonnie and Clyde escaped after killing Newton County Constable John Wesley Harryman and Joplin Police Detective Harry McGinnis; however, they were forced to leave most of their possessions behind, including a camera. The Joplin Globe developed and printed the film, which showed now-legendary photos of Bonnie's holding Clyde at mock gunpoint, and of Bonnie with her foot on a car fender, posed with a pistol in her hand and cigar in her mouth. The Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation nominated the house where the couple stayed, at 34th Street and Oak Ridge Drive, for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places on February 13, 2009.

After World War II, most of the mines were closed, and population growth leveled off. The main road through Joplin running east and west was designated as part of U.S. Route 66, which became famous as more Americans took to newly constructed highways. The roads provided improved access between cities, but they also drew off population to newer housing and eventually retail centers.

In the 1960s and 1970s, nearly 40 acres (16 hectares) of the city's downtown were razed in an attempt at urban renewal, as population and businesses had moved to a suburban fringe along newly constructed highways. The Keystone hotel and Worth Block (former home of the House of Lords) were notable historic structures that were demolished. Christman's Department Store stands (converted into loft apartments), as does the Joplin Union Depot, since railroad restructuring and the decline in passenger traffic led to its closure. Other notable historic structures in Joplin include the Carnegie Library, Fred and Red's Diner, the Frisco Depot, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, and the Crystal Cave (filled in and used for a parking lot). The Newman Mercantile Store has been adapted for use as City Hall. The Fox Theatre has been adapted for use as the Central Christian Center.

On May 5, 1971, Joplin was struck by a severe tornado, resulting in one death and 50 injuries, along with major damage to many houses and businesses.

Historic district at 6th and Main, looking north, 2010.

On November 11, 1978, Joplin's once-stately Connor Hotel, which was slated for implosion to make way for a new public library, collapsed suddenly and prematurely. Two demolition workers were killed instantly. A third, Alfred Sommers, was trapped for four days, yet survived.

21st century

The city has two major hospitals which serve the Four States region, Freeman Hospital West and Mercy Hospital -- Joplin, the latter replacing St. John's Regional Medical Center which was destroyed in the May 22, 2011 tornado. Freeman Hospital East and Landmark Hospital serve more specialized community health needs. The city's park system has nearly 1,000 acres and includes a golf course, three swimming pools, 15 miles of walking/biking trails, the world's largest remaining globally unique Chert Glades and Missouri's first Audubon Nature Center located in Wildcat Park. A waterfall, Grand Falls, the highest continuously flowing in the state, is on Shoal Creek on the southern end of the city. Included in Schifferdecker Park is the Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Museum and Dorothea B. Hoover Historical Museum, which holds a significant collection of minerals from the era of lead and zinc mining in the region.

Numerous buildings in Joplin have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places for their historic and architectural significance. Recently, the city has undertaken a major project to revitalize its Main Street downtown district, which lies on the historic Route 66. It has refurbished building facades, sidewalks, and added old-styled lamp posts, flower baskets, and benches to highlight the historic center of the city. A gasoline powered citywide trolley system evokes images of the towns vibrant past.

Numerous trucking lines such as CFI (now Con-Way Truckload) are headquartered in town, as the city is situated near the geographic and population centers of the nation. Eagle-Picher Industries, TAMKO Building Products, AT&T Communications and FAG Bearings are noted employers in Joplin, and Leggett & Platt (Fortune 500) is located in nearby Carthage. The city is served by the Joplin Regional Airport located in the north of town near Webb City.

In the 1990s, the city continued to expand eastward toward I-44. Large-scale development occurred along Range Line Road, particularly around Northpark Mall. Numerous suburbs adjacent to the city include Carl Junction, Duquesne, Airport Drive, Oronogo, Carterville, Redings Mill, Shoal Creek Drive, Leawood, and Saginaw.

Due to its location near two major highways and its many event and sports facilities, Joplin attracts travelers and is a destination for conferences and group events. Joplin offers nearly 2,500 hotel rooms, the majority located within a 1/4 mile area of Range Line Road and I-44. It has the 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m²) John Q. Hammons Convention and Trade Center, which serves as the primary event facility for conventions, associations, and large events.

Each June, Joplin hosts the Boomtown Run, a half marathon, 5K and children's run. The event attracts runners from across the country, and features USTA certified courses which start and end in the historic downtown area. Celebrity runners featured at the pre-race banquet have included Bart Yasso, Sarah Reinerston, Suzy Favor-Hamilton and Jeff Galloway. In 2011, due to the devastating EF-5 tornado that struck Joplin on May 22, just three weeks before the run, the event was transformed in the Boomtown Run Day of Service. More than 270 individuals registered for the race after the tornado struck, knowing their proceeds would benefit tornado recovery. On June 11, approximately 320 registered runners and volunteers turned out to help clean debris and sort donations, contributing more than 1,200 hours of service. On August 7, 2012, The Village of Silver Creek and the City of Joplin, voted to have Silver Creek annexed into Joplin City limits.

2011 tornado

President Obama greets Hugh Hills, 85, in front of his home on May 29, 2011. Hills hid in a closet during the tornado, which destroyed the second floor and half the first floor of his house.

See also: 2011 Joplin tornado

On May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado first touched down near the western edge of the city among large, newer homes, at about 5:21 pm CDT (22:34 UTC) and tracked eastward across the city and across Interstate 44 into rural portions of Newton and Lawrence counties. Its track was reported to have been about 0.75 miles (1.21 km) in width and 22.1 miles (35.6 km) long. About 8,400 houses, 18,000 cars, and 450 businesses were flattened or blown away in Joplin, particularly in the section between 13th and 32nd streets across the southern part of the city. The tornado narrowly missed the downtown area. St. John's Regional Medical Center was destroyed and demolished in 2012. The Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) temporarily replaced the demolished St. John's Regional Medical Center with a mobile hospital until the permanent hospital was rebuilt. The local high school, Joplin High School was totally destroyed as well. A total of 161 people died from tornado-related injuries as of the end of July 2011. The Weather Channel video showed entire neighborhoods flattened. Communications were lost and power was knocked out to many areas. An official statement from the National Weather Service has categorized the Joplin tornado as an EF5. On Sunday, May 29, 2011, President Barack Obama, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate visited and toured Joplin to see what the damage looked like and attended a memorial service for the deceased. Later that day, the city held a moment of silence at 5:41 pm, to mark the time the tornado struck. The area was declared a federal disaster area.

In July 2011, the City of Joplin entered into a contractual agreement with Wallace Bajjali Development Partners, L.P., a master developer company out of Sugar Land, Texas, hired to assist in nearly $800 million in reconstruction efforts over the next five years. Priority construction projects include residential districts and senior and assisted living facilities; 7,500 residential dwellings in the City were damaged or destroyed by storm. Approved by the citizens, additional projects intended to spur expansion and economic growth include the construction of a $40 million performing and cultural arts center, a new and expanded public library and theatre facility, renovation of the historic downtown Union Depot, and a consolidated post office and state government complex, among other city amenities of trails, sidewalks, transportation and park enhancements. A variety of additional major projects will follow, greatly enhancing and expanding all aspects of the community's development. City Manager Mark Rohr said that "this effort is the greatest opportunity the city has ever seen." Among other resources and support from governmental agencies, the Federal Economic Development Administration provided $20 million to construct a new Joplin Library and a two-year funding agreement to hire a disaster recovery coordinator to help coordinate the city's nearly $850 million in immediate restoration and recovery efforts. In the summer of 2012, the federal Housing and Urban Development Department awarded a $45 million Community Development Block Grant for reconstruction efforts and in 2013 awarded another $113 million. In May 2013, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources awarded Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center $500,000 for help with the restoration of the urban forest, which was passed through to the City of Joplin as a subgrant. 1,500 large-caliper trees were planted in the tornado zone and along an urban stream, Joplin Creek.

Government

Local government for the City of Joplin is provided through a nine-member City Council, whose members are elected by voters citywide, with four seats being assigned to designated geographic zones of the city. City Council members include the city's mayor, who is responsible for serving as meeting chair and official spokesman for the City Council; and the mayor pro tem, who is responsible for performing the mayor's duties in the latter's absence. Both positions are elected every two years by their fellow council members.

Following the April 2014 city elections, the City Council members included:

• Michael Seibert (Mayor)
• Morris Glaze (Mayor Pro Tem)
• Melodee Colbert-Kean
• Bill Scearce
• Miranda Lewis
• Ryan Stanley
• Mike Woolston
• Gary Shaw
• Benjamin Rosenberg

Law enforcement services are provided by the Joplin Police Department. On the state-level, the city is represented in the Missouri House of Representatives by Republican Bill White of the 161st District, although a small portion of the city lies within the 162nd District represented by Republican Charlie Davis, and in the Missouri Senate by Republican Ron Richard. The city also lies within Missouri's 7th congressional district, currently represented by Billy Long (R-Springfield).

Geography

Joplin is located at 37°4′40″N 94°30′40″W (37.077760, −94.511024). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.68 square miles (92.41 km²), of which 35.56 square miles (92.10 km²) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.31 km²) is water. The city is drained by Joplin Creek, Turkey Creek, Silver Creek and Shoal Creek. Joplin is the center of what is regionally known as the Four State Area: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas.

Nieghborhoods

Blendville Gateway Drive Iron Gates Midway Murphysburg Silver Creek Sunnyvale

Joplin is located north of I-44, its passage to the west into Oklahoma. In recent years, the residential development of Joplin has spread north to about Webb City. The now-decommissioned U.S. Route 66 once passed through Joplin, and the city is mentioned in the song "Route 66".

Climate

Joplin has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa), as defined by the Köppen climate classification system, with cool, dry winters and hot, humid summers; the severe weather season from April through June is the wettest time of year. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 34.9 °F (1.6 °C) in January to 80.2 °F (26.8 °C) in July. On average, there are 51 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs, 3.5 days of 100 °F (38 °C)+ highs, 14 days where the high fails to rise above freezing, and 1.9 nights of sub-0 °F (−18 °C) per year. It has an average annual precipitation of 46.5 inches (1,180 mm), including an average 11.9 inches (30 cm) of snow. Extremes in temperature range from −21 °F (−29 °C) on February 13, 1905 up to 115 °F (46 °C) on July 14, 1954; the last −10 °F (−23 °C) or below and the last 110 °F (43 °C)+ reading occurred on February 3 and August 2, 2011, respectively.

Climate data for Joplin, Missouri (1981–2010 normals)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	79 (26)	87 (31)	94 (34)	96 (36)	96 (36)	104 (40)	115 (46)	110 (43)	105 (41)	94 (34)	87 (31)	74 (23)	115 (46)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	44.9 (7.2)	50.5 (10.3)	60.1 (15.6)	70.0 (21.1)	77.7 (25.4)	85.8 (29.9)	90.6 (32.6)	91.0 (32.8)	82.3 (27.9)	71.3 (21.8)	58.9 (14.9)	47.0 (8.3)	69.2 (20.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	25.0 (−3.9)	29.2 (−1.6)	37.7 (3.2)	46.9 (8.3)	56.2 (13.4)	65.1 (18.4)	69.9 (21.1)	68.4 (20.2)	59.3 (15.2)	48.3 (9.1)	37.9 (3.3)	27.5 (−2.5)	47.6 (8.7)
Record low °F (°C)	−12 (−24)	−21 (−29)	−5 (−21)	19 (−7)	30 (−1)	44 (7)	50 (10)	46 (8)	30 (−1)	18 (−8)	7 (−14)	−15 (−26)	−21 (−29)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	2.01 (51)	2.29 (58)	3.33 (85)	4.46 (113)	5.71 (145)	5.91 (150)	3.80 (97)	3.32 (84)	4.96 (126)	4.08 (104)	3.77 (96)	2.83 (72)	46.47 (1,181)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	4.0 (10)	3.2 (8.1)	1.2 (3.0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	.4 (1.0)	3.1 (7.9)	11.9 (30)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	7.6	7.0	9.9	10.3	12.2	11.0	8.4	7.4	7.9	8.8	8.0	8.3	106.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	2.2	1.6	.9	0	0	0	0	0	0	.1	.4	2.0	7.1
Source: NOAA (extremes 1902–present)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	7,038		—
1890	9,943		41.3%
1900	26,023		161.7%
1910	32,073		23.2%
1920	29,902		−6.8%
1930	33,454		11.9%
1940	37,144		11.0%
1950	38,711		4.2%
1960	38,958		0.6%
1970	39,256		0.8%
1980	39,126		−0.3%
1990	40,961		4.7%
2000	45,504		11.1%
2010	50,150		10.2%
2014 (est.)	51,316		2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 2012 Estimate

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $30,555, and the median income for a family was $38,888. Males had a median income of $28,569 versus $20,665 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,738. About 10.5% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 50,150 people, 20,860 households, and 12,212 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,448.4 people per square mile (559.2/km²). There were 23,322 housing units at an average density of 678.9 per square mile (262.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 43,954 White, 1,657 African American, 911 Native American, 801 Asian, 154 Pacific Islander, 875 from other races, and 1,798 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race is 2,241 of the population.

There were 20,860 households of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 25.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.21% under the age of 19, 9.4% from 20 to 24, 25.12% from 25 to 44, 22.16% from 45 to 64, and 13.18% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males.

Economy

Top employers

According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Freeman Health System	3,139
2	Con-way Truckload	2,677
3	Mercy Hospital Joplin	2,480
4	Joplin School District	1,200
5	Eagle-Picher	1,022
6	Walmart	920
7	Systems & Services Technologies	751
8	Missouri Southern State University	733
9	AT&T Mobility	688
10	Empire District Electric Company	568
11	Tamko	645
12	Aegis	575
13	City of Joplin	563
14	General Mills	471
15	Tri-State Motor Transit	417
16	Jasper Products	400
17	LaBarge	395
18	FAG	338
19	Able Manufacturing & Assembly	280

Education

Primary and secondary education

Joplin is home to thirteen public elementary schools in the Joplin R-VIII School District: Cecil Floyd, Columbia, Duenweg, Duqeusne, Eastmorland, Emerson, Irving, Jefferson, Kelsey Norman, McKinley, Royal Heights, Stapleton, and West Central. It has three public middle schools, East, North, and South and one high school, Joplin High School. The first high school was founded in 1885 and was located at the intersection of West 4th Street and Byers Ave. The JHS student population was nearly 2,200 children in the 2008–2009 school year. A school bond issue for $57.4 million was passed in April 2007, allowing the district to build two new middle schools (East and South Middle Schools) to replace the old Memorial and South Middle schools, and to give a major renovation and double the size of North Middle School. Joplin also has many private schools, such as College Heights Christian School, Martin Luther School, Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School, Christ's Community Discovery School and more. St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School, St. Peter's Middle School, McAuley Catholic High School are private Catholic schools established in 1885.

Carnegie Library in Joplin, 2009

College

The Joplin College of Physicians and Surgeons operated from 1880 to 1884. Today Joplin is home to Missouri Southern State University, founded in 1937 as a junior college and expanded in the following decades. There is also one Bible college, Ozark Christian College. Messenger College also operated in Joplin until 2012; the Pentecostal Church of God moved the campus to Euless, Texas that year.

Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences announced in March 2015 its intention to establish a campus in Joplin with a large Doctor of Osteopathy program, to be located in Mercy Hospital-Joplin's former long-term temporary location near the site of the destroyed St. John's Regional Medical Center.

Joplin, MO is also home to technical schools including Franklin Technology Center, Vatterott College, and WTI.

Library

Joplin is served by the Joplin Public Library, situated on Main Street between the intersections of 3rd and 4th Streets. Built in 1981, the current library sits on the historic location of Joplin's most famous landmark, the Connor Hotel, which came crashing down in 1978, one day before its scheduled demolition. In 2013 the Economic Development Administration awarded the city $20 million to relocate the dated library to a new facility along 20th Street, in the heart of the tornado area.

Transportation

Joplin is served by the mainline of the Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroad, as well as by branchlines of the BNSF Railway and Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA). The city was once a beehive of railroad activity; however, many of the original railroad lines serving Joplin, such as the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad, were abandoned after the demise of the mining and industrial enterprises. The Missouri and North Arkansas had connected Joplin with Helena, Arkansas. Passenger trains have not served the city since the 1960s. The Joplin Union Depot is still intact along the KCS mainline, and efforts are underway to restore it. Despite the decline in some rail lines in and around Joplin during the past five decades, many of the original lines still remain. Aside from the former Frisco Railroad route from Joplin to Webb City and the Carthage to Wichita, KS lines that have since been converted into bike/hike trails, most of the original routes still remain in place under the control of the BNSF, KCS, and M&NA rail road companies.

Interstate 44 connects Joplin with Springfield and St. Louis to the east and Tulsa and Oklahoma City to the west. U.S. Route 71 runs east of the city, connecting Joplin to Kansas City to the north and Fort Smith, Arkansas, to the south. The segment from Kansas City to Joplin was designated Interstate 49 on December 12, 2012.

Previously, there was strong support for an extension of Interstate 66 along the current Interstate 44 alignment from St. Louis and extending along the U.S. 400 alignment to Wichita, Kansas, but, despite lobbying by both Missouri and Kansas, the project is currently stalled due to resistance farther east along the proposed extended alignment.

Joplin once boasted an extensive trolley and inter-urban rail system. Today, part of the city is served by the Sunshine Lamp Trolley, which commenced service in July 2007, and expanded to three routes in 2009.

In addition, the Joplin Regional Airport provides multiple daily roundtrip flights to Dallas/Fort Worth operated by Envoy Air as American Airlines.

People

1890 Schifferdecker Home in Joplin, 2010.

Scottish Rite Cathedral in Joplin, 2010.

• Ferrell Anderson, baseball player; died in Joplin
• Harvey Bailey, Depression-era criminal, the "Dean of American Bank Robbers"; spent his last years in Joplin, and died there in 1979. He is buried in Joplin
• Thomas Hart Benton, painter and muralist; as a teenager made cartoons for the Joplin American
• Lonny Chapman, actor; graduated from Joplin High School and Joplin Junior College (now Missouri Southern State University)
• Alan Cockrell, coach for the Seattle Mariners; attended Parkwood High School
• Bill Grigsby, sportscaster; began career broadcasting Joplin Miners baseball games
• T.J. Holmes, journalist; began reporting career at KSNF
• H. Dale Jackson, Baptist minister and ethicist; lived in Joplin with his wife when they were newly married in 1949
• Oliver Winfield Killam, Texas oil industrialist, former Oklahoma state legislator; lived in Joplin
• Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees outfielder and first baseman; played with the Class C "Joplin Miners" minor league baseball team in 1950
• J. Eddie Peck, actor; was raised in Joplin, graduated from Parkwood High School
• Rod Smith, wide receiver for the NFL's Denver Broncos; graduated from Missouri Southern State University
• Jeff Speakman, actor; graduated from Missouri Southern State University
• Gabby Street, manager of the St. Louis Cardinals; adopted Joplin as his hometown
• Alvin Clarence Thomas, better known as Titanic Thompson American Road Gambler, Golfer and Hustler. Married first wife Nora Trushel in Joplin.
• James Thrash, wide receiver for the NFL's Washington Redskins; graduated from Missouri Southern State University
• Brian Williams, broadcaster; lived in Joplin for his first TV job at KOAM-TV

People born in Joplin

• Tony Alamo, religious evangelist, convicted child sexual abuser and polygamist
• John Whitby Allen, photographer and model railroading pioneer
• Emily Newell Blair, was an American writer, suffragist, national Democratic Party political leader, a founder of the League of Women Voters and feminist.
• Christofer Drew, musician
• Billy Cook, a spree killer
• Robert Cummings, actor
• Scott Elbert, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Langston Hughes, poet and writer, for whom Langston Hughes Broadway in Joplin is named
• Hale Irwin, golfer
• Jack Jewsbury, captain of the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer
• Tito Landrum, baseball player
• Jamie McMurray NASCAR driver
• Charles McPherson, jazz musician
• Darryl R. Matthews, Sr., Past General President, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
• Elva Miller, singer
• Lisa Myers, broadcast journalist
• Charles Plumb, cartoonist of the syndicated Ella Cinders comic strip
• Carl Pomerance, mathematician
• Darrell Porter, baseball player
• Mel Purcell, tennis player
• Pattiann Rogers, poet
• Frank Shellenback, baseball pitcher in Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame
• Pauline Starke, silent film actress
• William Tobin, journalist
• Dennis Weaver, actor
• Percy Wenrich, composer
• Grant Wistrom, former NFL defensive end

International relations

Joplin is twinned with:

• Bethlehem, Palestine

References

Historic district at 5th and Main in Joplin, 2010.

External links

• City of Joplin
• Historic Joplin - website on Joplin history.
• Historic maps of Joplin in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri
• http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html