1803History
=== Background ===
After the United States acquired the Louisiana Territory west of the Mississippi in 1803, European-American settlers began to enter the area.
1819History
Hannibal was laid out in 1819 by Moses Bates and named after Hannibal Creek (later Bear Creek).
1835History
The river community was the mid-19th-century boyhood home of author Samuel Langhorne Clemens (aka Mark Twain, 1835–1910).
1843Government
In 1843 the city had also annexed the town of South Hannibal.
1845History
Hannibal gained "city" status by 1845.
1846History
But by 1846, Hannibal was Missouri's third-largest city when the Hannibal and St.
1850History
By 1850 it had 2,020 residents.
1876History
Twain drew from his childhood settings for his novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884).
1896Government
Hannibal High School was founded in 1896.
1931Government
Cement for the Empire State Building (completed 1931) and Panama Canal was manufactured at the Atlas Portland Cement Company in the nearby unincorporated company town of Ilasco.
1933Architecture
The Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse was constructed in 1933 as a public works project under President Franklin D.
1999Government
Moberly Area Community College (MACC-Hannibal Area Higher Education Center) is a two-year community college established in 1999.
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,757 people, 7,017 households, and 4,554 families living in the city.
2003Government
Hannibal Regional Airport (formerly Hannibal Municipal Airport) was renamed in 2003 as William P.
2010History
=== 2010 census ===
At the 2010 census, there were 17,916 people, 7,117 households, and 4,400 families living in the city.
2011Culture
In 2011, the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum released Mark Twain: Words & Music, a CD featuring entertainers who recount Mark Twain's life in spoken word and song.
2012Culture
The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum marked its 100th anniversary in 2012; it has had visitors from all 50 states and some 60 countries.
2016History
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $46,504 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,507) and the median family income wa...
2020History
According to the 2020 U.S.
2022Government
Robert Matz was elected the 18th president of Hannibal-LaGrange University in 2022.