Missouri

Atchison

5,305
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Atchison

Atchison, Missouri, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 1,678. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,305.

Its recorded population peaked at 16,501 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 68 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Yellow Creek Skirmish (Atchison County), Skirmish at Atchison County, Missouri, Rockport MO Guerrilla Raid (Atchison County), and 8 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,305
20105,685
20006,430
19907,457
19808,605
19709,240
19609,213
195011,127
194012,897
193013,421
192013,008
191013,604
190016,501
189015,533
188014,556
18708,440
18604,649
18501,678
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Atchison

Military engagements that took place in Atchison, Missouri.

Yellow Creek Skirmish (Atchison County)
1861
Skirmish at Atchison County, Missouri
1862
Rockport MO Guerrilla Raid (Atchison County)
1862

Historic places in Atchison

National Register of Historic Places listings in Atchison, Missouri.

Atchison County Memorial Building
Rock Port
Rankin Hall
Terkio
St. Oswald's Protestant Episcopal Church
Skidmore
Thompson-Campbell Farmstead
Langdon
Walnut Inn
Tarkio
Browse all Missourihistoric sites ›

Other counties in Missouri

Explore census history and historic records for more Missouri counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Atchison County, Missouri

This page charts the census history of Atchison County, Missouri. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Atchison

When does Atchison first appear in the US census?
Atchison, Missouri first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 1,678.
What is the population of Atchison?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Atchison had a recorded population of 5,305.
When did Atchison's population peak?
Atchison's recorded population peaked at 16,501 in 1900.
Were any battles fought in Atchison?
3 documented military engagements took place in Atchison, including Yellow Creek Skirmish (Atchison County), Skirmish at Atchison County, Missouri, Rockport MO Guerrilla Raid (Atchison County).
How many historic places are in Atchison?
8 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Atchison, Missouri.
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