Norchase

The Norchase is a region of Missouri consisting of the northern four counties (Atchison, Nodaway, Holt, and Andrew) of the Platte Purchase. The name "Norchase" is a contraction of of the words "Northern Platte Purchase." This name is used to distinguish the region from the more urban areas of Buchanan and Platte counties. The area's total land area is 2,319 square miles, with 12 square miles of water.

History

The first inhabitants of the Norchase belonged the Ioway, Sac, and Fox tribes. At the time of the Platte Purchase, the population of these native peoples was estimated to be about 1,000 in the area of the Norchase (with an additional 1,700 living in Buchanan and Platte Counties). In 1836, these tribes relocated to the western side of the Missouri River, in what would later become Kansas and Nebraska, when they sold the land to the state of Missouri. The Norchase then became part of Platte County, which encompased the entire Platte Purchase. In 1841, the Norchase was divided into Andrew and Holt counties. Four years later, the area was further divided when Atchison and Nodaway were carved from land to Holt and Andrew.

The largest number of new immigrants to the area were from Germany. Political uncertainty and the religious oppression caused by the Prussian Union drove many Germans to seek refuge on the fertile farmland of the Norchase. Many Lutherans from the Hanover area of Germany settled in Corning and northern Holt County, earning it the nickname "Kleindeutschland" or "Little Germany." Large numbers of Catholic Germans came to Maryville and Conception in eastern Nodaway County.

Another large influx of foreign settlers came from Ireland during the Great Hunger, which lasted from about 1845 to 1852. The largest number of Irish Catholics settled near the Catholic Germans in central and eastern Nodaway County.
The upheaval in the United Kingdom caused by the Napoleonic Wars eventually led to increased British migration. Craig, Fairfax, and large portions of Holt and Atchison counties were settled by many English and Welsh immigrants, most of whom were Methodist or Episcopalian.

A small number of Dutch settlers fleeing high taxes, Scots-Irish settlers fleeing political upheaval, and French settlers fleeing the Napoleonic Wars also came to farm land throughout the Norchase. Similarly, a large number of Americans from the Deep South relocated to the area, especially in southern Andrew County, also to take advantage of the availability of farmland. Their influence eventually led to the renaming of Union to Savannah in honour of the city in Georgia.

Community

The Seven Cities
There are seven cities in the Norchase with over 900 inhabitants. They are listed here in order of size.
*Maryville (Nodaway County Seat)
*Savannah (Andrew County Seat)
*Tarkio
*Country Club Village
*Rock Port (Atchison County Seat)
*Mound City
*Oregon (Holt County Seat)

Education
The largest educational institution in the Norchase is Northwest Missouri State University, located in Maryville and founded in 1905. The oldest educational institution in the region was Tarkio College, founded in 1883 and supported by the Presbyterian Church until its close in 1992. Conception Seminary College, founded in 1942, is located at Conception Abbey in Nodaway County. There are sixteen K-12 school districts located within the four counties of the Norchase. They include the following schools listed by size as of the 2007-2008 school year.
*Savannah R-III
*Maryville R-II
*Tarkio R-I
*North Andrew R-VI
*Rock Port R-II
*West Nodaway R-I
*South Holt R-I
*Mound City R-II
*North Nodaway R-VI
*Nodaway-Holt R-II
*Northeast Nodaway R-V
*South Nodaway R-IV
*Fairfax R-III
*Jefferson C-123
*Avenue City R-IX Elementary
*Craig R-III

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, the total population of the four county area was 50,095. Over 38% of Norchase residents are of German descent, while 19% claim Irish heritage. The third largest ethnic group is English, with 16% of the population. Less than 2% of the population claims non-European ancestry.

According to the 2000 census, the largest religious group in the Norchase is Southern Baptist, with over 6,000 adherents and 16 congregations. Methodism comes in second with over 5,800 adherents and 30 congregations. There are also about 4,360 Roman Catholics in the area, especially in Nodaway and Andrew counties. Historically, Lutherans have always had a sizeable population, especially in the Kleindeutscheland ("Little Germany") area surrounding Corning. Today, however, the Lutheran population comes in fifth (after the nearly 4,000-strong Disciples of Christ) with only 1,500 adherents and 6 congregations. Historic churches of the Norchase include:
*, founded in 1860 in Corning (NRHP)
*Conception Abbey, founded in 1873 in Conception
*Benedictine Sisters Monastery, founded in 1874 in Clyde
*St. Oswald's Protestant Episcopal Church, founded in 1875 near Skidmore (NRHP)

Places of Interest

Historic Places
The following are places in the Norchase located on the National Register of Historic Places.
*Andrew County Courthouse, Savannah
*Atchison County Memorial Building, Rock Port
*Caleb Burns House, Maryville
*Carroll Stagecoach Inn, Oregon
*Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Depot, Mound City
*City Hall, Forest City
*Frank House, Maryville
*J.F. Roberts Octagonal Barn, Rea
*John Dickinson Dopf Mansion, Rock Port
*Nodaway County Courthouse, Maryville
*Simpson's College, Graham
*Thomas Gaunt House, Maryville
*Walnut Inn, Tarkio

Parks and Reserves

*Big Lake State Park, Big Lake
*Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Mound City
*Mozingo Lake, Maryville

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See Also

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