10 SMALLEST Towns in MISSOURI

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This is my 3rd "Top-10 Smallest Towns" video (previously did Kansas and Oklahoma). It's hard to believe Missouri's smallest towns are smaller than KS and OK, but it's true! And to be honest, they have some of the most unique stories as well. As you'll find in the video, 3 of them have ZERO people left but are still towns, so I added a few bonus towns. They range from the normal ghost town type stories to towns where just one family lives there to towns that have virtually no information at all available. Even though it was all over the state and confusing at times, I still had a blast exploring them! I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did making it!

T-shirt: Story by Larry David

MUSIC
You are the Only - TrackTribe
Under the Wire - The Mini Vandals
All Hail the Queen - Dan Lebowitz
Michigan Greens - Dan Lebowitz
Jeremiah's Song - Dan Lebowitz
Log Cabin - SIlent Partner
5-O-July - Dan Lebowitz

0:00 Intro
0:49 Champ
2:57 Three Creeks
6:18 Dalton
8:44 Pinhook
10:51 Florida
13:17 Bigelow
14:43 Friedenswald
17:02 River Bend
19:44 Corning
21:53 Baker
24:41 Lakeside
25:59 Cave
27:19 Goss
29:17 Final thoughts

[carolcalton]

The concrete pads with numbers are for skeet (clay disk) shooting. The numbers are positions to shoot from.

[patricprice]

Fascinating video. I am from Missouri myself and it was really interesting to find out about places I have never been within my own state.

[michaelp]

I helped my dad put up those grain bins in Bigelow when I was a teenager in the 80s. We lived in Mound City at the time. My 5th grade teacher lived in Corning in 1980, but her house along with many others was destroyed by repeated flooding of the Missouri River, which is really what has brought Bigelow down as well.

[raimeyewens]

I live in Missouri near a old abandoned town. It’s called Missouri Town in Jackson County. They have kept it as an attraction to visit. We go there in the fall for a small festival. Some locals dress up in period clothes and live there for the weekend. It’s interesting to see.

[itsericthompson]

Great video!! I made this same trip my self a few years ago using the 2000 census. One thing to note is that when Florida, Mo was settled there was no lake, it was the Salt river at that time. There wouldn't be a lake till 1983, when the Clarence Cannon Dam was completed flooding the surrounding area. Johnny Cash played at the dams dedication.

[bobbydale]

I have traveled through Missouri a few times. This was very interesting. I liked the old couple who had a great view of the river.

[Inxx]

Future history buffs will be so grateful you made this video!

[tonycoleman]

Florida Mo....just an added tidbit, the white house with the copper roof and vinyl fence in your video, was once home to the area phone company. We just recently recovered the original switchboard that was used in the house and returned it to the community. It still has the directory of people's names on it. Pretty awesome!! There is so much history here in this area.

[andrewwebb]

So many stories and no one left to tell them. Great effort John

[AvidantMusic]

Wow, I learned so much from this video and the comments! Thank you to the OP and the knowledgable people in the comments!

I’m from Jefferson City btw! Lol.

[dabean]

Thank you so much for highlighting these Missouri towns. So sad to see what's become of them, but the history will always live on. I've lived in Missouri most of my life, born and partly raised here. Military father and military husband kept me from being here time to time, but that's ok. We came back and retired here. I appreciate you for telling the stories of so many small towns in this beautiful state.🏚👏💚

[howardthurston]

I grew up in Dalton! My cousins lived footsteps away from the old vocational school on the hill. I knew the Hugh's family that owned the property very well. I ran around Dalton all through my years growing up. As I watched this, I told my cousin Chuck Harris. He said he is down there as we speak. His camper is set up just down the hill from the school. They live right beside the cemetery. His father Charles Harris was a grave digger for many years. Note: the cemetery is segregated as well. My Grandmother lived right behind the cemetery. My father still owns that property. I have very fond memories of Dalton.

[tumbleweed]

I’m from Cherry Box, Mo current pop. 3 located in Shelby County. Thanks for your video.

[deronshocklee]

Cave, MO is near the town of Troy. The story goes that Ed and Elsie Seyffert incorporated their farm so that if Troy ever got big enough, they would never be able to get annexed into the city. Yes there is supposed to be a huge cave on the property.

[AidenKimRagtime]

I am fascinated with small towns, and seeing people make videos of them have me very enticed. Very, very interesting little video, couldn't take my eyes off the screen, and I hope these towns regain their population and become thriving communities as they once were.

[kdavis]

The towns in northwest MO, were killed when I-29, which runs from KC to Omaha was built. Always a busy road, it got busier on weekends. Omaha had horse racing. On weekend end, a steady parade of cars took the route. Places like Corning was gas/snacks/bathroom stops. KC to Omaha were just far enough apart, you needed a bathroom stop. Drivers would look for short cuts. One was a county road. You drove right through a farmer's front yard, feet from their front door, while scattering chickens. I-29, except when the limit was 55, shortened the trip to about 2:05, from my house in western KC to friends in west Omaha, when I-435 was added. No need for a bathroom break. 55 lengthened the trip, that you usually needed a stop. Even the quickest of stops made the trip 3:30 or so.

[alanpeterson]

Greeneville, north of Poplar Bluff, was a town that got flooded a lot by the St. Francis River. They got tired of being flooded, so they moved the whole town a few miles. Old Greenville is now a park. The streets, house foundations, courthouse foundations, etc. are still there in the park.

[Mommee]

Two reasons why Champ failed, that area floods quite often and at the far end of where that landfill is (about 3 miles west, it was discovered that radioactive waste from the Manhattan project was buried.

[cheryla.wright]

I'm glad you take us along on your travels!! We aren't traveling as much right now and watching your videos helps. 😃
I liked Corning the best. I would like to go there sometime.
Tank you

[ozarklanding]

Moved to Missouri in summer of 2021. Really enjoyed this video - well done!