Economy vs. Community: A Century of Land Use at the Rieger Armory Grounds

Cylas L. Barbieri
Dr. Stephanie Russell, Faculty Mentor

This research paper aims to determine the primary motivating factors behind changes in land use at the site of the Rieger Armory in Kirksville, Missouri between 1925 and 2026. The paper uses primary source information from Adair County newspapers throughout the past century, with consideration given towards the site’s physical and temporal context, to explore the way that land usage of the Rieger Armory grounds has transformed over time, as well as to ultimately determine the reasons behind these varied utilizations. Findings show that the primary motivating factors behind the changes have been economic feasibility, environmental conditions, and community utility. This last, though influential in the history of the site, tended to have less power over outcomes due to the limiting factor of economic feasibility in a rural area.

Keywords: Land use, Kirksville, Missouri, Adair County, Armory, Environmental history, Rural history

Topic(s):History

Presentation Type: Oral Presentation

Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA