Doniphan, Missouri

Overview

• Location: Ripley County, Missouri
• Legal status: Fourth-class city
• Population: 1,932 (Change since 1990: +12.8%)
• Founded: 1847
• Name origin: Col. Alexander W. Doniphan

Geography

• Located on US 160 near the east bank of Current River
• Latitude: 36°37'20" N   (+36.6221)
• Longitude: 90°49'20" W   (-90.8222)
• Public Land Survey: T. 23 N., R. 2 E., Sec. 26
• Civil township: Doniphan
• Land area: 1.4 square miles

As the crow flies, Doniphan is...

• 6.4 miles N of Pratt
• 7.7 miles W of Oxly
• 7.9 miles SW of Flatwoods
• 8.0 miles NW of Purman
• 8.5 miles NE of Poynor
• 8.5 miles E of Briar
• 8.9 miles N of Current View
• 8.9 miles N of Minorca, AR
• 9.6 miles E of Ponder
• 9.9 miles N of Pitman, AR
• 84.9 miles SW of Cape Girardeau
• 142.6 miles S of St. Louis

History

Name origin

Named for Col. Alexander W. Doniphan, of the Mexican War. The name was suggested by George Lee, who donated land for the town.

Timeline

ca. 1820

Lemuel Kittrell established a permanent settlement that later became Doniphan.

Apr. 26, 1847

Doniphan founded as a village one mile north of Kittrells Mill as the new county seat to replace Van Buren.

Sep. 19, 1864

Union troops burned and destroyed Doniphan, a Confederate stronghold.

May 1, 1891

Doniphan incorporated as a fourth class city.

Demographics