Hannibal

Hannibal Municipal Water Report Info
Hannibal, Missouri is situated along the Mississippi River in northeast Missouri, roughly 100 miles north of St. Louis. The city is crossed by Highway 61 (Avenue of the Saints) and Highway 36 (Chicago to Kansas City Expressway), offering convenient four-way interstate access to major metropolitan areas including St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Memphis, Des Moines, and Minneapolis.

Founded in 1819 by Moses D. Bates, this riverside community quickly thrived as a principal docking port for various watercraft traversing the upper Mississippi. By 1845, Hannibal had achieved city status, and by 1860, its population had more than doubled, establishing it as Missouri's second largest city and third business center. Early industries fueling the city's growth included pork processing, soap and candle production, coopering, and lumber processing.

As railway transportation declined in importance, other commercial ventures emerged, such as shoe manufacturing, button making, and cement production. Hannibal boasts an impressive roster of notable natives, including William Lear (creator of the Lear jet), Congressman William Henry Hatch, Navy Admiral Robert E. Coontz, sculptor John Rogers, Margaret Tobin (the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown), composer Egbert Van Alstyne, and artist Carroll Beckwith.

Hannibal's most celebrated son is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known worldwide as Mark Twain. Sam's family relocated to Hannibal from his birthplace in Florida, Missouri when he was just four years old. Many popular characters in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and other renowned works were inspired by individuals Sam knew during his childhood in Hannibal. Today, visitors can explore Mark Twain's boyhood home, the Becky Thatcher house, and the famous Mark Twain Cave.

Modern Hannibal is a community of approximately 17,000 residents and offers excellent opportunities for living, working, shopping, and tourism. The city hosts several local industries, including General Mills (ranked 69 among Fortune magazine's 100 best companies to work for in 2008), Watlow Electric, Buckhorn Rubber, Cosmoflex, Spartan Metal, Enduro Industries, Continental Cement, Hannibal LaGrange University, Hannibal Regional Hospital, the Hannibal Clinic, and nearby BASF.

The city also features a Collegiate League Baseball franchise, the Hannibal Cavemen, who play at Clemens Field in downtown Hannibal. Today, Hannibal operates under an advanced Home Rule Charter government system, providing comprehensive public services including police, fire, parks and recreation, public works, streets, inspections, tourism, library, and airport facilities.