Advance, Missouri

Advance is a 4th-class city in northern Stoddard County, Missouri, approximately 25 miles southwest of Cape Girardeau and 20 miles north of Dexter. The population was 1,347 at the 2010 Census. The city's name is pronounced with a stress on the first syllable: "AD-vance."

History

Advance was incorporated in 1883. It was established close to the site of an older community known as Lakeville, due to the many small lakes in the area. Originally called New Lakeville, it received its current name in 1910 after the extension of Louis Houck's railroad to the settlement, when the postmaster suggested "Advance" in honor of the advancement. The origin of the unusual pronunciation is unclear.

During the early 20th century, State Highway 25, a major thoroughfare, was run through Advance; this allowed the town to avoid the economic and population decline that later happened in many towns of Southeast Missouri, as it could serve as a hub for the surrounding area.

Geography

Advance is in northern Stoddard County, just south of the boundary line with Bollinger County. Highway 25, the main road in the area, gives the town direct connection to Cape Girardeau as well as to other Stoddard County towns such as Bloomfield and Dexter. The city has a total land area of 1.12 square miles, and its average elevation is 358 feet.

Like the rest of Southeast Missouri, Advance has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers, cool winters, and moderate to high rainfall. Its average January temperature is 33°F and its average July temperature is 79°F. It typically receives 46.5 inches of rain per year.

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census reported a total population in Advance of 1,347 people. This was a slight increase from the 2000 population figure of 1,244. 98.74% of the population was White, 0.07% was African-American, 0.30% Native American, 0.15% Asian, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 0.64% of the population.

The sex ratio in Advance was 46.7% male and 53.3% female. The median age in the city was 41.6 years old, with 21.2% of the population under the age of 18, 9.5% between 18 and 24, 21.8% between 25 and 44, 22.8% between 45 and 64, and 24.8% 65 years of age or older. The population density was 1,202.7 people per square mile.

Community Life

Most of the adult population in Advance is employed in health care, manufacturing, retail trade, and education. The Advance R-4 School District provides a considerable chunk of overall employment, in addition to being an important center of community activity. It is a K-12 public school with an average enrollment of around 500 students. School colors are orange and black, and its mascot is the Hornet. The Hornets have recently won distinction in state athletic championships, with the boys' basketball team winning second place at the Class 1 State Tournament for the 2016-2017 season, and the girls' volleyball team winning the Class 1 State Championship for the 2018-2019 season, the school's first-ever state championship.