City of Doniphan

  • Pop: 1,781
  • Mayor: Dennis Cox - City Hall 573-996-2623
  • City Clerk: Marti Porter
  • City Treasurer: Chasity Mathis
  • Education: Elementary
    Middle School
    High School
    private Elementary
  • Recreation: Current River

The City of Doniphan, the Ripley County Seat, is administered by Mayor Dennis Cox and a four-member city council. City offices are located at 110 North Grand Avenue. Economic development for Doniphan is coordinated by its local chamber of commerce, the city government, and the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission.

According to the 2020 census, Doniphan has a population of 1,781. Doniphan has nine full-time policemen.

The City of Doniphan's median household income, in 2020, was $28,977. The unemployment rate of Ripley County is 5.3 percent.

The labor force in Ripley County consists of 7,330. The average hourly wage for the county is $12.85. The county's major employers include the Doniphan R-1 School District, with 220 employees; Vitronic, an industrial manufacturing facility employing 175; Current River Nursing Center, with 68 employees; and Missouri Forge, an industrial manufacturer, which employs 100 people.

Ozark Border Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Poplar Bluff, provides electric power for the City of Doniphan. The city provides water for its residents. The water plant has a capacity of 1.5 million gallons per day, with peak consumption at 456,000 gallons per day. The plant has a storage capacity of 480,000 gallons. Sewer services are provided by the city through its aerated lagoon. The plant has a capacity of 1,140,000 gallons. Residents obtain natural gas through Liberty Utilities in Caruthersville.

The residents of Doniphan obtain telephone and internet services from Windstream, AT&T, Big River, Boycom, Circle, T-Mobile, and Sparklight. 

The City of Doniphan has two medical clinics within the city limits. 

There are three public schools and one private school in Doniphan. The nearest public community college, Three Rivers College, is located in Poplar Bluff with approximate enrollment for the college at 2,700. Students wishing to attend a technical school can enroll in Current River Area Vocational School. Arkansas State University, a public four-year college located in Jonesboro, AR, is the nearest higher learning facility.

Residents in Doniphan and Ripley County travel U.S. Highways 160, 142 and 21 and Missouri Hwy. Y. It is 22 miles to the nearest four-lane thoroughfare and 80 miles to the nearest interstate interchange.

The Doniphan Municipal Airport, with a 3,000-foot runway, is seven miles outside the city. The nearest commercial airport is Jonesboro Municipal Airport, 80 miles outside of the city.

Residents have a choice of four local financial institutions: U.S. Bank, Peoples Community State Bank, Southern Bank, and the Bank of Grandin. Folks in Doniphan get their news from the weekly newspaper and a local radio station.

Doniphan residents' worship at either the Catholic Church or one of the 35 Protestant churches. Visitors to the area have a choice of five hotels/motels. There are also two shopping centers in town and a public library. Within a 20-mile radius, there is a country club, a private golf course, and four public parks.

Current River is the nearest public access stream. Residents and tourists enjoy camping, fishing, hiking/fitness/ nature trails, boating, canoe and tube floating, swimming, and water skiing. Average temperatures for Doniphan range from 26 degrees Fahrenheit in January to 91 degrees Fahrenheit in July. The area sees an average rainfall of 42 inches per year.

The city is represented by 153rd District State Representative Darrell Atchison (R) and 25th District State Senator Jason Bean (R).  U.S. Representative Jason Smith (R) represents Doniphan in the Eighth Congressional District.

Doniphan Municipal Airport info:
Doniphan Muncipal (X33). Location: 5 mi. NNE of city. Coordinates: N36-41.62; W090-47.09. Mag var: 3E. Telephone: 573/996-2623. Fax: 573/996-3303. Hours: Irregular Elevation: 635. Pattern altitudes: 1500 MSL all aircraft. Runways: 7-25 2,560 x 57, asphalt, treated; right tfc ry 25, trees W end, lights PCL (NSTD) Lights: 123.0 (5 clicks in 5 sec, low intensity). Obstructions: wildlife in vcnty a.m. & p.m. Fees: hangar, tiedown. FSS: Saint Louis 122.2, 122.65. Com freq: UNICOM 123.0; CTAF 122.9. Charts: St. Louis. Transportation: public.