This small village in the Missouri boot hill is where small single story houses mingle with mobile homes. It is distinct because it is rated as the poorest community in four counties. Once it had the nickname of The Sands because of it's soft sand roads, also known as Hay-wood, among some of it's past names.
The people here are well below the poverty line as is their wages and their homes. Little would set it apart from the rest of the small Missouri villages, well kept gardens share with plots covered in rusty old cars.
In the 2000 Census Figures:
The average household income was a paltry $14,000 a year giving it its dubious position of being so far below the poverty line. Although it is a small improvement as in 1990 census the average income was a mere $8,453.
Haywood City Mayor:
Has stated that the reason Haywood is so far below the poverty line is because of a number of reasons, the population has been stated as 239 but he said it could in reality be slightly higher. Also the age of residents does not help, as there is a great many elderly residents that live on Social Security income. The mayor moved to Haywood City when he was a child in 1967, and has been mayor for a few years now although even he has to go to work in Aquila.
What's There?
The town boasts only two-day cares and a small candy store; it seems a shame that most people have to go to neighboring villages to work. He said the town was due for a new water and sewage system that should be finished shortly.
The Towns Topography:
The towns sandy terrain came in useful recently when there was local flooding, as the sand soaked up the moisture and left the people reasonably dry, though of course the same sand in summer can be quite a problem if you want to open your window because of the heat. Just goes to prove what is bad one day can sometimes be a blessing the next.
Jobs for men:
Drivers, sales workers and truck drivers, Cooks or food preparation assistants, Laborers, and hand material movers. Then there are agricultural workers and supervisors as well as Metal workers and plastic workers.
Jobs for Women:
Production and supervisors, Child Care workers, Nursing, psychiatric and home health aides, Food preparation assistants and cooks, Health Technicians and Technologists.
