THE COMMUNITY
Hannibal, Missouri is located in Marion County along the Mississippi River's west bank. The city and adjacent area comprise an area over ten square miles and contain approximately two-thirds of the Marion County population. The city and surrounding area population is over-20,000, and over 176,000 people live within a radius of fifty miles.
Hannibal is located 116 miles northwest of St. Louis, 206 miles east-northeast of Kansas City, and 300 miles southwest of Chicago. Main transportation links include railroad, river barge, and three federal highways.
The area has been strongly influenced by the presence of the Mississippi River and especially by the historical significance of being the residence of Mark Twain. Many buildings in the city reflect the "river boom town" era construction. Several magnificent homes and community buildings show that era's influence with ornate structural and decorative characteristics that add charm, warmth, and a sense of history to their surroundings.
The city is located along the river plain and on high bluffs featuring beautiful vistas of the river below. The geography of the area has had a significant influence on construction of buildings, including school facilities, requiring special attention to appropriate landscape work, foundation and retaining wall construction.
Hannibal boasts a unique blend of tourism and light industry as a stable economic base. Hannibal is best known as the boyhood home of Mark Twain. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) spent his younger years in Hannibal, and many of the things he experienced became an important part of his books. The Mark Twain influence has made tourism a major industry in Hannibal with approximately 400,000 visitors per year to the Twain related sites. In addition to tourism, a variety of light industries occupy Hannibal's thriving Industrial Park. Major industries include Watlow, General Mills Incorporated, Buckhorn Rubber, Continental Cement, and Enduro Industries.
In Hannibal and the surrounding community there are numerous services that enhance the quality of life in the area.
The Hannibal Regional Hospital is a new state of the art health care facility and the city has many doctors of varying specialties.
Hannibal-LaGrange University is a four-year liberal arts college that draws a significant number of Hannibal High School graduates.
The tourist industry has been influenced by the recreational opportunities offered in Hannibal and the surrounding area. Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake State Park, located approximately 20 miles from Hannibal, provide notable tourist attractions. Tourists visiting the lake are drawn to the Hannibal area to visit the many Mark Twain-influenced attractions. The Mississippi River provides added recreational opportunities for residents. Hannibal also boasts an excellent YMCA facility that enables a wide variety of community recreational and educational programs. A summer city recreation program is very comprehensive and provides many activities for youth ages 3-18.