Hillsboro, Missouri

Hillsboro, Missouri
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Settled	1839
Population	2,821 (2010 census)
Area (sq mi)	3.65 mi²
Current mayor	Buddy Russell

Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Missouri. It had a population of 2,821 at the 2010 census.

History

The future site of Hillsboro first drew attention around 1800, as it lay along the direct path from St. Louis to Potosi--the latter by then an important center of lead production--and included a convenient spring for overland travelers. Otherwise, it was not of particular significance in itself, but early settlers recognized the fertility of the land in the region. The first to permanently settle there was Peter Huskey, who arrived around 1804 and whose son, John, would become a member of Jefferson County's first circuit court upon its organization in 1819. The farm laid out by the Huskey family on Belews Creek is still maintained by their descendants today, and is said to be the oldest continuously-operated family farm in Missouri.

The town itself was first laid out in the 1830s and was initially named Monticello, in honor of the home of Thomas Jefferson, the county's namesake. Already in 1831, the Jefferson County court had decided to move the county seat from Herculaneum, and eventually settled on Monticello as it lay near the geographic center of the county. This decision was confirmed by the Missouri legislature in 1839; before this change occurred, it was also decided to change the community's name, since there was already a town called Monticello further north in Lewis County. Local leaders settled on "Hillsboro" after a prominent hill to its south.

The first courthouse in Hillsboro was built in 1840, and served until the construction of a replacement in 1865, after which it was used for the town's first public school. The 1865 courthouse is in operation to this day.

Incorporated in 1873, Hillsboro remained an isolated country town for many decades, with government its main function, not lying on a railroad line. This did not change significantly until 1940, with the completion of Highway 21, providing a direct road connection with St. Louis. Beginning in the 1960s, its growth accelerated significantly with the suburbanization of much of Jefferson County, as new arrivals began using it as a "bedroom community" for work in the St. Louis area. The establishment of Jefferson College in 1963 additionally diversified its economy and community life. Its status as the county seat, though, continues to be a major part of its character.

Geography

Hillsboro is located in central Jefferson County, mostly just to the east of Missouri State Highway 21 (the original route is now part of its main avenue). It is about six miles north of De Soto, and about nine miles west of Festus. Its exact coordinates are 38°13’56”N 90°33’48”W.

The city lies in hilly terrain between the Big River to the northwest and Joachim Creek, which drains directly into the Mississippi River, to the southeast. Several natural clearings, known as "glades," are preserved in nearby conservation areas. Hillsboro has a total land area of 3.65 square miles, and an average elevation of 802 feet.

Demographics

At the 2010 census, Hillsboro had a total of 2,821 inhabitants, grouped into 900 households, with a population density of 772.9 people per square mile. This figure represented a dramatic increase from the 2000 census, when Hillsboro had a population of 1,675. 94.54% of the inhabitants were White, 2.80% were African-American, 0.43% were Native American, 0.46% were Asian, 0.04% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.46% were from some other race, and 1.28% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 1.99% of the population.

The median age in Hillsboro was 29.2 years, with 27.9% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 13.8% between 18 and 24 years old, 31.2% between 25 and 44, 19.0% between 45 and 64, and 8.2% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 48.0% male, 52.0% female.

According to the 2018 American Community Survey, Hillsboro had a median household income of $54,784, and a median family income of $63,750. The unemployment rate was 7.4%. The per capita income was $21,130. About 15.3% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 21.3% of people under the age of 18 and 10.6% of people 65 years old or older.

Education

The Hillsboro R-III School District was formed in 1939 through the consolidation of several smaller schools, and today serves the town and much of central Jefferson County. It has almost 500 faculty and staff and a total enrollment of about 3,400 students. Its mascot is the Hawks, and the school colors are blue and white.

The school became the center of considerable media attention in 2015, when a so-called transgender student, "Lila" Perry, demanded that he be allowed to use the girls' locker room and restrooms, resulting in protests by many students and their parents.

The Roman Catholic Church operates one private school in Hillsboro, Good Shepherd Catholic School, serving grades K-08.

Hillsboro is also home to the main campus of Jefferson College, a two-year community college mainly serving students within the county. Established in 1963, it held its first classes at Hillsboro High School until the construction of a permanent campus along Highway 21 in 1965. Today it has more than 4,000 students, and is one of the better-known community colleges in Missouri.

Churches

• Christian Outreach Center
• Christ's Church of Hillsboro
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
• First Assembly of God
• First Baptist Church of Hillsboro
• Good Shepherd Catholic Church
• Highland Southern Baptist Church
• Hillsboro First Christian Church
• Hillsboro United Methodist Church
• Peace Tabernacle
• Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro
• Raintree Church
• Sandy Baptist Church
• Zion Lutheran Church