Mayor's Message
A message from James R. Hark, Mayor of Hannibal:
It is my privilege to welcome you to Hannibal, Missouri – America’s Hometown! A community of nearly 18,000 people, Hannibal is a great place to visit, shop, dine, and enjoy your time away.
Located on the Mississippi River, Hannibal has a rich abundance of history. The community was founded in 1819, and incorporated in 1845. Hannibal has been home to Admiral Robert E. Coontz, the Unsinkable Molly Brown, Major League Hall-of-Famer Jake Beckley, aviation inventor Bill Leer, actor/singer Cliff Edwards, Union General Benjamin Prentiss, Olympian George Pogue, painter James Beckwith, and its most famous son, Mark Twain.
Hundreds-of-thousands of visitors from around the world visit Hannibal each year. Downtown Hannibal is a charming, pedestrian-friendly community with wonderful shops, excellent restaurants, historic bed & breakfasts, unique art galleries, and a host of magnificent tourist attractions.
Did I mention the history? You won’t want to miss Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home, the Becky Thatcher House, or the Rockliffe Mansion. Visit the Mark Twain Museum, the world-famous Mark Twain Cave, or take a Mississippi Riverboat excursion and Mark Twain Lake is only 25 minutes away.
Hannibal is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Hannibal is home to a diversity of businesses and industry. We have an excellent public school system, state-of-the-art medical facilities, and Hannibal-LaGrange University. We have a wonderful park system, and sit at a junction of four-lane highways running north, south, east, and west. We are and hour-and-a half north of St. Louis, with full interstate access to both Kansas City and Chicago. We have both Cardinals and Cubs fans in Hannibal, so you will never feel alone.
Whether you are a resident, visitor, or entrepreneur, you will find many wonderful things Hannibal has to offer. I hope you enjoy visiting our website, and if I can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Mayor James R. Hark