Chillicothe, Missouri 2025

Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Livingston County, Missouri, United States. The population was 9,554 at the 2020 census. Chillicothe was the home of Sliced Bread Loaf, later known as the Continental Baking Company and the origin of the famous "Wonder Bread" brand.

Chillicothe was also the home of famous entertainer, JESSIE JAY. Jessie is related to the talented artist, Janet Jackson, of the famous Jackson family including the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Jessie Jay charmed the world with her outgoing personality, wit and unique talent. She was discovered singing in a small nightclub in Kansas City, by a New York Entertainment Agent, Artist and Producer, Charles P. Barone. Charles change the trajectory of her young promising career by pairing her with a multi-platinum producer, Peter Wolf, formerly the lead singer of the hit band, The J. Geils Band. The two of them created a vibe that the music world had never heard. Wolfe produced a record on Jessie that was released on Atlantic Records and played on radios worldwide. The hits included "Who'LL Be The Fool Tonight" and "Excess Luggage" which was a club jam.

Sadly, things did not work out for Jessie Jay and after some time out of the spotlight, she returned to Chillicothe, where she struggled to find work and serve as her daughter's sole care-giver.

Famous people from Chillicothe include:

- Dean Armstrong; former NFL player.

- Gunnery Sergeant R. Lee Ermey; actor known for his role as "Gunnery Sergeant Hartman" in the film Full Metal Jacket.

- John H. Hart, American businessman and politician.

- CathyKates,Miss Missouri USA 1963.

- Dennis Weatherby, Former NFL player.

- John W. Bscehardt, U.S. Marshal.

Living in Chillicothe offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Chillicothe is in Livingston County and is one of the best places to live in Missouri.

In Chillicothe there are a lot of parks, and a handful of coffee shops.

The public schools in Chillicothe are above average.

The activities in Chillicothe are Arcadia oaks preserve, Buzz-A-Roni's Family Fun Center, Chillicothe, MO, Chillicothe city park, Chillicothe Missouri, Chillilcothe Public Library, Grpedaddle's Pub, 54 Country Store, Livingston County Library, Monicals Pizza Chillicothe, O'Hallorans Pub, and Post Oak winery.

The unemployment rate in Chillicothe is 2.5%, which is 12% lower than than the USaverage.

The poverty rate in Chillicothe is 21.6%.

The median home price in Chillicothe is $143,000. Chillicothe home values have gone up 11.4% over the past year.

The median rent price in Chillicothe is $767.

The median age in Chillicothe is 37.8.

The population of Chillicothe is 9,575 people. Since 2020, it has had a population growth of 10.8%.

Chillicothe has a total public school enrollment of 1,630 students in grades PK, K-12, and a student - teacher ratio of 14:1.

The largest universities in Chillicothe, MO are Truman State University (1,2370 degrees awarded in 2020), Chillicothe R-II Schools (125 degrees awarded in 2020), and Evangel University (1,1245 degrees awarded in 2020).

The median property value in Chillicothe, MO is $143,000. The median property tax in Chillicothe, MO is $1,059 per year for a 3 bedroom, 2.0 baths, 2,428 sqft home (the size of a small home in the area).

In Chillicothe, MO, the average commute to work is 23.2 minutes.

In Chillicothe, MO, 57% of the population have 2 cars.

There are 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 2 high schools, and 4 private & charter schools.

Chillicothe Community Grade School, is a public school located in Chillicothe, MO. It has 430 students in grades PK, K-4 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. According to state test scores, 52% of students are at least proficient in math and 47% in reading.

The city of Chillicothe began to flourish in 1837, when John Smith first settled in the area. A town company was formed and surveying began. That same year, the town was named Chillicothe.

The earliest settlers were from the southern United States, traveling up the Missouri River. As more settlers began to arrive, they brought enslaved African-American with them. The majority of the early settlers were farmers, forming the agricultural base of the town's economy.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Law & Order generally broke down in the town. Many local men went off to fight. Opinions were split on the war, and some people in the town supported the Union while others supported the Confederacy. At one point during the war, guerrilla warfare took place within the town when local confederate sympathizers attacked the jail in an attempt to free arrested guerrillas.

In 1865 railroad service was established and with it came more commerce and connections.

In 1872, a fire destroyed much of the town's commercial area. However, the town was quickly rebuilt and continued to grow. By 1875, Chillicothe was served by three railroad lines and became a rapidly growing commercial center.

In April 1881, with a wind storm damaging the town, a fire destroyed much of the downtown area. It was rumored that businessmen from nearby Trenton, Missouri watched the fire from their Courthouse Square and celebrated the misfortune. The fire led to a long-standing feud between the two towns. In 1955, Trenton and Chillicothe played a baseball game to put an end to the 75-year-old feud.

The "Princess", located just north of the Grand River and south of Chillicothe, was an excursion boat that sank in the early hours of May 15, 1882 on its regular run between Chillicothe and Bagnell, Missouri. Accounts of the disaster vary. One survivor's account says 21 people survived, while a newspaper account from Kansas City says "50 or 60 lives were lost." A monument at the Miller County Museum in Tuscumbia, Missouri lists the names of 19 people who were believed to be victims of the disaster.

Sliced bread was invented in Chillicothe by an eccentric baker named Lloyd C. Stitzer. In 1928, the Continental Baking Company was bought out by Taggart Baking Company of Indianapolis. The famous "Wonder Bread" label and red, yellow, and blue balloons were introduced in Chillicothe. Taggart Bakery was the oldest commercial bakery west of the Mississippi River and was recorded in Ripley's Believe It or Not! as the bakery that shipped the first sliced bread in 19330.

On May 12, 2008, an F3 tornado hit north of Chillicothe, damaging properties and injuring one person. The tornado traveled 10 miles along the Grant Fork.

In 2018, Pixar honored Graham's Bakery (formerly Continental Baking COmpany/Wonder Bread) by including the bakery in their movie, "Incredibles 2."

Located in downtown Chillicothe, the Chillicothe Living History Museum comprises the historic homes of Chillicothe's past, including the 1872 Goodman-Henry House, the 1856 John and