The Biggest Cities in Missouri 125 Years Ago

In 1900, Missouri was the 5th Most Populous State

In 1900, Missouri was a powerhouse of the American Midwest. This era marked the height of the “Gilded Age” influence on the state, with St. Louis preparing to host the 1904 World’s Fair and Olympics. Kansas City was also rapidly expanding as a major rail hub. But the biggest cities in the state of Missouri ended up being much different than what was seen 100 years later.

Largest Cities in Missouri in 1900

Rank	City	1900 Population	Current Rank
1	St. Louis	575,2382	2
2	Kansas City	163,752	1
3	St. Joseph	102,979	8
4	Joplin	26,023	12
5	Springfield	23,267	3
6	Sedalia	15,231	33
7	Hannibal	12,780	46
8	Jefferson City	9,664	16
9	Carthage	9,416	50
10	Webb City	9,201	59
11	Moberly	8,012	60
12	Nevada	7,461	97
13	St. Charles	7,982	8
14	Aurora	6,191	103
15	Clinton	5,061	86

The 10 Most Populous States in 1900

Rank	State	Population as of 1900 census
1	New York	7,268,894
2	Pennsylvania	6,302,115
3	Illinois	4,821,550
4	Ohio	4,157,545
5	Missouri	3,106,665
6	Texas	3,048,710
7	Massachusetts	2,805,346
8	Indiana	2,516,462
9	Michigan	2,420,982
10	Iowa	2,231,853