Bethany, Missouri
| Bethany, Missouri | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Harrison County Courthouse in downtown Bethany
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 Location of Bethany, Missouri |
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| Coordinates: 40°16′0″N 94°2′2″W / 40.26667°N 94.03389°WCoordinates: 40°16′0″N 94°2′2″W / 40.26667°N 94.03389°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Harrison |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.48 sq mi (11.60 km2) |
| • Land | 4.44 sq mi (11.50 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 892 ft (272 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 3,292 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 3,197 |
| • Density | 741.4/sq mi (286.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 64424 |
| Area code(s) | 660 |
| FIPS code | 29-05068 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0730057 |
| Website | bethanymo.com |
Bethany is a city in and the county seat of Harrison County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,292 at the 2010 census.
The settlement of Harrison County began around 1838, although the land was not surveyed and opened for entry until 1842. The county is named after Albert C. Harrison, a 19th-century Missouri political figure. Many of the early settlers to the area homesteaded along Sugar Creek and in the Bethany area. Three commissioners deliberated for several days to determine a site for the county seat, and voted to site it in the southern part of the county. The original name of the community was Dallas.
In June 1845, John S. Allen was appointed to survey the town into lots and offer the same for sale. The plat, covering 19 acres (7.7 hectare), was completed on 27 June 1845.
The name Dallas apparently did not meet with the general approval of the residents of the community and the issue was brought before the county court. It was decided that the court and county officials present would select a new name by ballot. The names of Bethany and Carthage were proposed. The vote favored "Bethany"; accordingly the town's name was changed. It was incorporated as a city by an act of the General Assembly dated 6 January 1860. The first mayor was T.H. Templeman.
The first home constructed in the community was built by John S. Allen. Although built as a residence, it was primarily used to store the first stock of goods brought to the community. It was destroyed by fire in 1864.
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad reached Bethany in 1880. Two other railroad lines were also later laid into the county. The railroad influenced the economy and environment of the community until the early 1980s, when the last train pulled out of the Bethany Depot and the tracks were removed. Transportation was an important industry to the community and the population grew to its greatest level around the turn of the century when over 24,000 persons lived in Harrison County.
Industry played a vital role in Bethany's growth starting with Colonel C.L. Jennings who erected the first steam mill around 1854 in the northwest part of town; it produced both lumber and flour. Because the country was so new, little need for towns existed. For several years, only a few retail shops existed and development and growth of the town was slow but by 1855, Bethany was known as one of the best trading places in Northwest Missouri. An industrial park was established in the 1960s by the Harrison County Industrial Development Authority; the Bethany Memorial Airport was opened in 1968. The first tenant in the industrial park was Calhoun Manufacturing, making agriculture machinery. Lambert Manufacturing opened a facility in 1971 and Place's Discount Stores also became a resident of the industrial park until 1999 when they sold to Pamida, with the distribution center remaining active in the park until its 2002 closure. The 120,000 square foot building was purchased by the home grown Bethany business Gumdrop Books following Pamida's closure. Later additions to the park include Superior Waste, and Tri-State Carports, which opened for business in 2001. The 1990s were a period of aggressive growth, especially within the service industry with the addition of several motels and restaurants. There has been several million dollars investment each year during the 90's and an increase of nearly 100 jobs annually.
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