During the Civil War the town served as a transportation hub for Confederate forces.

[4] The line was subsequently operated by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway until closed in 1940.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.35 square miles (0.9 km2), all land.

29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

About 21.9% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 17.9% of those 65 or over.