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!
Pinhook video: • The Tragic Story of Pi...
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

[@carolcalton4720]

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

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you!

[@Almighty_Hebers]

Yeah it's called "skeet" and "trap"

[@TheUnconscious1]

Not skeet.... Its just set up for Trap. Skeet has a high house, & a low house for throwing the targets... & several different stations for the shooter in a semi circle between the high house & the low house

[@dbekah72]

Sheet and trap the K is Kkk devil trap of hate we called clay pots in spiritual half circle not whole loops all this earth games has evil plots or traps this is truth they used us to get blame you are kept blameless by Jesus that miracle of blessed not cursed as forgive the makers of game as well players and puppet master of high house and low house that demon talk of hell and earth realities. Happy blessed life. Freedom of sorry done play win all.

[@aladdinsnightmare7375]

@@TheUnconscious1 So does that mean the "town" is a trap? LOL... actually, could be bunker stairs in those green "containers"

[@michaelp8794]

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.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

A lot of connections with these small towns! Yeah those two are very close to each other, and very different. Bigelow is pretty busy and more modern and Corning is a legitimate ghost town.

[@louismurphy7882]

Forgot about pumpkin center it’s only about 1/2 hour from bigelow

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@louismurphy7882 Pumpkin Center is not an incorportated town, so it's not eligible to be in this video.

[@aaronmortimore8303]

Grew up close by there as kids we went there running around like tom Sawyer

[@TheRealMagicBananaz]

@@louismurphy7882 pumpkin center is really just a place to park

[@raimeyewens7518]

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.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Sounds interesting! I’d like to visit it someday!

[@dennissledd9666]

That was not a real town , they put those buildings there in the early 1970s when I was in high school. They were taken apart and reassembled on site.

[@MJ-vt4nb]

I've been there, but I didn't know it was an actual town. I guess the name is literal lol.

[@raimeyewens7518]

@@dennissledd9666 that’s interesting because when we went there for a field trip they told us it’s the actual site of the old town. And some of the buildings are original and some moved there. Either way it’s a neat place to take the kids in the fall for the festival.

[@richardhafley3103]

Sounds like a rendezvous to me

[@patricprice9819]

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.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much for watching! It’s always fun to learn about the histories and visit these small towns!

[@adenmelton6834]

I'm also from Missouri and I didn't know about so much of this, pretty awesome video

[@deronshocklee6950]

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.

[@Mommee77]

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.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Oh wow! Such a fascinating area and unique concept for a “town”. Very unusual. Thank you for the info - appreciate it!

[@doniphan72ify]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy ... Yep, Bridgeton Missouri is nearby and they talk about radioactive waste quite a bit and a fire that has been burning under the ground since around 1970 I think. For some odd reason they have never been able to get to it to put it out. It smells horrible for about 5 square miles around there.

[@Mommee77]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy HBO has a documentary about the landfill -"Atomic Homefront"

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@Mommee77 Thanks!

[@pinetree2675]

On the st charles side of the river and a little bit south of bridge from what was to be"Champ" is Bangert Island, so I wonder if that was named after Mr Bangert

[@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.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Oh wow I figured I was the only one who would do something like this haha. Kindred spirits! And yeah I found out about the lake after I made the video unfortunately. I’m sure it won’t be the last mistake I make haha. Appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@kimwyatt2567]

I love Florida Missouri such a cute town.

[@kdavis1492]

Both Mark Twain and my grandfather were born near Florida

[@dabean5765]

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.🏚👏💚

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much for the nice comment! I agree it’s sad, and sometimes walking around these towns is disappointing, but I try to think of what they were like at their peak 😊 Appreciate you watching!

[@davidcox3076]

Pinhook's story should be told more often. The levee system, when it was installed, included fuse plugs. The Army Corps of Engineers had never made it a secret that they might have to blow the levee one day. In 2011 the Mississippi River flooded. The Corps decided that they had to save Cairo, IL, which is a bit upriver from Pinhook. Cairo has a small population but is still much larger than the sparse population in Mississippi County where Pinhook is located. Blowing the levee would flood the west side of the river and relieve pressure on Cairo on the east side. Pinhook also had the misfortune to be on the "wet" side of the mainline levee. There is a setback levee to the west and north. But once the mainline levee was blown, there was nothing between Pinhook and the swollen river. The surrounding area is pancake flat so Pinhook never stood a chance. The people there didn't receive any warning. In fact, the first anyone heard anything was from a call by a relative in Michigan who saw something on TV. The population evacuated but their homes were lost. I understand that some of them still live around East Prairie, the closest town.

[@carlagrisso6086]

My dad and his brother used to own land in Pinhook, but sold it in the 70's.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I agree! And that’s why I ended up making a separate video about Pinhook after visiting. It was a very eerier and somber feeling walking around town. I learned a lot that night and even more since. Appreciate the comment! Thanks!

[@davidcox3076]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Thank you! I will check out your video on Pinhook.

[@gregb6469]

@Lynda -- I hope they sued the shirts off whoever neglected to tell them that the levee was going to be opened.

[@bobbydale1957]

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.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Glad you enjoyed it - thank you!

[@darrenclements5431]

i don't believe that is a river...i think it is lake of the ozarks...i live about 65 mile from there.

[@jayedee8382]

A family friend is buried there in Dalton at that cemetery. A number of the black people who lived in Dalton were all related to our friend. I think that tree was the location of his grave. I went to the burial there. Big Gary loved Dalton!

[@tonycoleman8024]

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.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for the tidbit! Very cool area!

[@richardveatch8640]

Triple Creek across from Washington was an idea by a guy, who I don’t know, was bent on developing it. The radio station never got going. The concrete slabs are for skeet and trap.

[@alanpeterson4939]

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.

[@Linda-ji8qd]

The town of Greenville was moved for flood control and the US Army Corps of Engineers purchased the land to build Lake Wappapello.

[@sxh3527]

My family is from Greenville, I can confirm all of this to be true, my mom’s dad used to own one of the logging companies there in the early 70’s I wanna say. Beautiful scenery but good luck navigating if you aren’t local. The road that goes from a two way to a one way now fucked my mom up and she grew up there.

[@daphnemartin]

They have Old Greenville Days that is pretty fun! Old time set ups and reenactments gives a peek at what Greenville was from its inception until it was moved.

[@howardthurston8247]

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.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome post! Thanks for sharing 😊

[@vivianjdraper3119]

Another small town is Knob Noster, Missouri. The small community adjoins the Knob Noster State Park and Whiteman AFB. Fortunately, because of the Air Force Base we have a top school district.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I think I drove through there once because I was fascinated with the unusual name. A lot of history for that town! Population around 2700.

[@gertrudecooper9345]

I was stationed at Whiteman AFB back when they had missiles. The original town site was north of hwy 50. They moved town south of heat when they thought it would give the railroad a reason to stop there, which it didn't. Lol. I haven't been back there since I got orders to go to Arizona at the end of 1979/80. I remember noisy bugs, very hot, very cold, tornadoes &a huge crayfish. Lol.

[@alanmccalla6737]

Years ago I visited Davisville, Mo. 65456, aka Puckyhuddle pop 5. It's down by Cherryville. I just looled it up and now the general store is permanently closed. It housed the Post Office and most of the village.

[@geneballay9590]

another grrrrreat video (as usual). thank you for all the work, and sharing.

[@butchbrady5674]

I live in Missouri in a small town Savannah, there are some towns around here like those and they are interesting. I'm familiar with some of the town in this video. Thanks for bringing attention to some forgotten places.

[@markwilliams5606]

Thank God for the Ozarks Missouri 🙏🇺🇸🪖🤠

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Appreciate the nice comment! Yes I want to let people know about as many of these towns as I can. They are all unique and have a history of their own. Thanks for watching!

[@sherryrobinson2183]

Peace valley is a very small town one store one school two church one post office about 30 people live in peace valley Missouri

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Sounds nice 😊

[@andrewwebb17]

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

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks Andrew! I’ll do my best to tell as many of these stories as possible!

[@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.

[@queenpangaea3325]

I love history and enjoyed this video and the informative comments it generated. I enjoy stories from people who grew up in the country since I was born in St. Louis city, and my parents immigrated here in the early 1950's, so hearing what it was like for people whose families have been in Missouri for generations is interesting. Sad but interesting is seeing the changes brought by the interstate highway system in the 60's that rerouted traffic away from small towns and affecting the businesses there...restaurants, service stations, etc.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much for watching! I agree - I always find these stories of these small town interesting, and usually they’re not told very often. I’m interested in the history good or bad. Appreciate it!

[@diannaa7462]

My fav was #7 Friedenswald…has some hills and trees and a beautiful view of the river. Very nice.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It is very beautiful up there! And the family I met was very nice - they want others to visit as well! Thanks for watching!

[@TotallyNoCat]

Check out Rocheport, MO. Gorgeous river/bluff town, 208 population.

[@garytrent1]

Great video thank you for sharing

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@tumbleweed4185]

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

[@JD-pm9wx]

I love the vibe of that video ! Baker main street is my favorite . Man , the last 3 towns must be creepy at night !! Thanks for showing us these nice forgoten places. ....By the way your t-shirt is cool !! I'm a huuuuge Seinfeld fan. Cheers!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Yeah these are a lot of fun to go find and edit together. Haha I think I did some unofficial location scouting for anyone making a horror movie 😂😂 Seinfeld is so great. Always my favorite until I watched Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry David is a genius in my opinion 😊

[@juliaannegrider5734]

Great video thank you.

[@samanthabusch750]

I have driven across the bridge from Washington headed into Marthasville so I have gone through Three Creeks my whole life and never knew that it was there that's what it was called by the way I love this video is awesome I love small towns so thank you very very much safe travels and God bless

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cowgirl2]

I try to watch all your videos. I might very missed a few, but I love all the ones I've been able to watch. Thank you for all you do.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! You’re support is very appreciated!

[@davidprosser7278]

Thanks for uploading these videos on Kansas, and MO. They were very interesting.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Much appreciated! I am planning on one for Nebraska in a couple months!

[@TheRealMagicBananaz]

Flooding in the last few years have been devastating along the Missouri. Also interesting is how the Flood of '93 affected towns. Pattensburg in the north had to be completely relocated to the top of a hill because of that flood. Old Pattensburg is of course not incorporated, but looks a right ghost town.

[@AustinFinnern]

You should have added viburnum, Mo to the list! All of my family from my moms side is from Cuba, Steelville, viburnum, and the surrounding area! They are cool little towns with a lot of history!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

The video is actually the “smallest” towns, not necessarily the best towns. Viburnum seems like a great little town too!

[@codyumfress9969]

I grew up in Viburnum and Cuba. My moms side is from Viburnum and my dads from Cuba. My Grandpa ran the parts store in Viburnum for over 20 years. Nice little towns.

[@michaelporter9354]

Stationed at Ft.Leonard Wood during the 80's. Been through all the towns you mentioned.

[@cheryla.wright5348]

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

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Corning was definitely a heckuva ghost town!

[@sueelliott3206]

Very interesting video! I love the story behind Champ. Sort of brings to mind "build it and they will come" but unfortunately it never got built. Tfs

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yeah it would have been interesting to see them try to build it!

[@hayleyleitman1252]

Haha we have never quite understood the KRAP raido station ourselves. I had no idea it was a "town"!! We drive by frequently & never knew it was more than that!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

If you figure it out let me know 😂😂😂

[@crystalrock18]

Regarding three creeks Missouri; the town was incorporated to prevent the city of Washington to expand on their regional airport. The farmers in this area did that on purpose so city of Washington couldn’t claim “immanent domain” and expand the runway and taxi way for the airport. Also you were at a skeet and trap range. People who use their shotguns for this sport use those numbered positions on where they’re suppose to stand at in memory serves me right. Also that brick structure is the old “warco” building. Warco is a machine/tool and dye operation that’s still in marthasville; they just moved further inland from the floodplain. From what I can gather (just using logic and reasoning) the township is called threes creeks because in Warren county there are 3 creeks that feed into the Missouri River. The toque, charrette, and lost creek. Hopefully this information helps.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome info - thank you very much! So is the official “population” the farmers? It all makes much more sense now!

[@crystalrock18]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy from what I was told, who the farmers well that’s private information of course, only one of the 4 gamers I know only because he farmed with my grandpa in a nearby area. The farmers around here who have land in the Missouri River bottoms are very close knit and know each other well. Also the reason I know this portion is because I work at said airport you were nearby in the video.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@crystalrock18 Gotcha - thanks!

[@TiredMomma]

​@@crystalrock18 We were driving home one day last month, going towards Washington, and we wondered about that area. Washington likes to try to expand their property any chance they get. Any chance you know who operates the airstrip in Beaufort and how I can contact them? Btw, I think we heard a plane in distress one night recently. Its engine or something sounded aweful. No car, no atv, makes those sounds we heard.

[@crystalrock18]

@@TiredMomma I didn’t know there was an air strip in Beaufort actually so I learned something new. And yeah Washington is not the area I remember, I used to live there. Key words are “used to” hence why I reside in Warren county. As far as an aircraft in distress I didn’t know anything about that.

[@ziggenx79]

Thanks for traveling to the show me state! I live in another small town about 15 miles from corning and know all the backroads in this northern part of the state. Another former small township just up from corning used to be nishnabotna and my grandparents had a general store there.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

This was a fun video to make and Corning was one of the highlights for me. Such a strange town to visit. Thanks for watching!

[@kd78orangerangerpete79]

Great vid. It's always a great watch. 👍

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for watching! It was a lot of fun to do!

[@gfaithowens1790]

Interesting video! I'd love to see if you would do a video of more small towns in Central Missouri. I was not aware of the Missouri law that there must be a vote. That probably explains a few of the "towns" I'm familiar with and why they are just signs today. I would encourage you to check out: Henley, MO; Eugene, MO, Mary's Home, MO and Tuscumbia, MO. All located in Cole and Miller Counties, although the rural area is populated, at least enough for school districts, the actual "towns" themselves are mostly just a few old buildings that are often empty and may or may not be haunted.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome! I’ll add them to my growing list! I drive through Missouri a couple times a year so I’ll see if I can! Appreciate you watching my little video!

[@timavey3599]

Versailles

[@adamwallberg8285]

Florida was established on the banks of Salt River. It was the mid 1900s when the lake was dammed up. Some of my great Grandfather’s property is at the bottom of the lake

[@colingeorgeh]

I love your videos. Thanks again for sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! This was my longest one ever haha. Originally I had almost 2 hours of footage 😳

[@TrailoFire]

This is fantastic content, thanks so much for sharing. I'm subscribed now!!!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! Appreciate it!

[@sandramolina5068]

I'm Missouri Born and raised. There were many more smaller towns, with crazy names that they joined together.

[@betteeyer1589]

I was born & raised in small town about an hour from Florida, Cave, & Goss. These are childhood towns I have been through or visited. Once the lake was created (yes manmade) many moved to Wapappella due to jobs and the luxury life of living in the lake which is still a big attraction. Eventually Poplar Bluff became a huge "city" for that area so again citizens migrated to where there was more job opportunities. Rural Missouri life is not easy for some so they will relocate to bigger towns or cities.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Beautiful area to visit and some very interesting/unusual little towns!

[@susanbitner1103]

I live off of U between Florida and Goss.

[@HarryD738]

Florida, Cave, & Goss are nowhere near Poplar Bluff or Lake Wappapello. The lake you see in the "Florida" segment is Mark Twain Lake. It's in the northeast part of the state, 200 miles north of Poplar Bluff.

[@mikebritton8798]

It would be hard to pick a favorite from these beautiful places, but I'm kinda keen on the name Pinhook😜. I've just discovered your channel and am fascinated. The material and your presentation just relax my mind and body. Would love to go back in time and see these places in their prime, but they're peaceful the way they are now. Great video and channel. Thank you and be safe.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That’s very kind of you to say! Even though a place like Pinhook is basically abandoned, I still find beauty in what is left and what it used to be. And it was also a beautiful night when I was there! Thanks for finding my channel - hope you stay a while!

[@mikebritton8798]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy oh I'm staying. I drove truck for more than two decades until I lost my vision in one eye. I always sought out the small towns to pull over at night because you could visit with people, learn some local history, and have some peace. Your travels are taking me back out there again only without the stress and DOT and paperwork😄

[@janerkenbrack3373]

The census counts you only at your primary residence. So, if people spend 7 months somewhere else, and come to these small towns during the summer, you'll have people living there who officially (per US Census) live somewhere else. Further, the US Census is conducted every ten years, and that becomes the official figure until the next census. Representation and many government allocations are based upon that official number, regardless of how many people move in or out in between.

[@lovedadonald.]

Brother you always do a great job ! Thanx for taking us with you along your journeys.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks so much!!

[@dsa2591]

I noticed a lot of these towns were along railroads. They were probably what was known as "whistle stop" towns. We have a lot of them in SC where I'm from. One well-known one there is called Atkins. There is a sign that says Atkins, three oak trees and a small wooden structure, then another sign that says Atkins. The water tower is long since gone, but Atkins was a place where only one person lived and worked, and that was the guy who stayed in that little building and made sure the trains got water when they needed it. Someone said there used to be a house back off the road aways where the station master lived, but it's long since gone.

[@mabaldwin7955]

Baker was a small community of farm hands. Built around Baker plantation. Larger farm equipment and better technology decreased the demand for farm laborers. So the town's population decreased. Baker mansion is still there. And is in beautiful shape

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’m assuming the big house right there by Baker was the mansion you’re talking about. And I agree it was beautiful! Just so interesting how the decrease in population was so abrupt and significant!

[@kevinmanes9964]

That’s our shop and equipment!

[@kevinmanes9964]

There was a 10,000 square ft house about a mile east of where you are standing that was torn down last year.

[@michaelcooper1079]

Interesting video. I grew up in Missouri and my job allowed me to travel much of the state & I actually remember driving by a couple of these towns.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for watching!

[@tammyrizza9962]

I live in Missouri. Never heard of these places before. Thank you for sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! It was fun to explore!

[@i.b.blithe3263]

Florida, MO... I enjoyed your well done video, thank you. I lived in Shelbina in the late 50s and remember my father wanting to invest in Florida, MO property since it looked like the dam was finally going to be built. But he never made the investment. My friends and I would ride our bicycles and camp out (fish and swim) in the Salt River northeast of Shelbina.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! It’s certainly a beautiful area - I can see why he would’ve wanted to invest!

[@gordonlightfoot1333]

Me and my buddies spend a lot of our hunting season in Leonard ,mo close to shelbina . it would be interesting to see it in the 50s.

[@judybailey6797]

I thought I had lived in small towns. Enjoyable trip through tiny towns. Thank you.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I appreciate you watching! Thanks!

[@candaceshadowen790]

Just found your channel, I love it. I moved to Perryville Mo 9 months ago from Illinois. I'm learning a lot from watching. Godspeed on your travels.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome thank you so much for watching! Hope you’re enjoying your new home!

[@yolebrutus1396]

I really like your channel and I subscrib. Everyone want to leave in the city and there's so many abandoned town's.Thanks so much for this information

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for following! Much appreciated!

[@bannlaughlin3544]

Elsie and her son both died in 80s. Road was named after Miss Elsie. My mom UAE to know her full name. I was off in Navy, so I don't know specific years. Nice that you covered them.

[@greggthompson2051]

Wish you could've visited Riverton, MO. It's now listed as an extinct town, but has an interesting population sign.....5 to 500. It's on a river that sees seasonal visitors for floating, so 500 in summer, 5 in winter. Beautiful area.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’d love to visit! But yeah because it’s not officially a “town” anymore it doesn’t make this list. I’ve been down that way before and you’re right it’s very beautiful!

[@trolingertrucking9591]

Lol I live off a dirt road just down from that canoe rental place just when you think you are in the middle of nowhere you find it mentioned on KZbin lol

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@trolingertrucking9591 haha! :)

[@jacquedickson3981]

I grew up on The Mound State line for Kansas and Missouri. Riverton was in Kansas on spring river though Maybe a different town in Mo named riverton

[@brandonaveritt4918]

I live right behind Cave, MO. Awesome to see how close you were. I was wondering if it would be in your list.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That’s awesome! I love finding these quirky “towns” 😊

[@ForeverChanged7]

Oklahoma and Missouri are so different. I think I liked Lakeside the best. Great content. Thank you for sharing your videos

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Yes they are very different indeed!

[@SilverBackPreparedness]

The house in Corning at time stamp 21:21 is my home. My mother's grandfather was Cracker Bradley. I may need to add great Infront of grandpa but I think that's right. Anyway Cracker's Landing out is named after him. Lol, small world to stumble across your video and see the house I was raised in at a very young age. My little brother was still in diapers when we had to move. Can remember my grandpa John had to come get us out of the house in a boat. Thank you for doing this.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Oh wow that’s very interesting! Thank you for sharing that about you and your family. It was a unique feeling walking around Corning with no one there. I could see the potential of what it used to be. I appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@billywilliams5995]

You no down in southern mo. You can still find cannon balls and names carved in rocks for grave stones. Caves were they claimed they found bones of people that were 8 ft tall

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’ve done a few other videos in southern Missouri if you’re interested!

[@billywilliams5995]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy definitely

[@georgeenke4937]

Pea Rodge, AR as well.

[@danmayberry6717]

I live in Catawissa MO, about 20 minute drive from Washington. Enjoyed your video bro. Thanks for this little bit of information.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! It was a lot of fun to make! So many interesting places in Missouri 😊

[@chrislink4576]

Have you ever seen any of the old missile silos around there?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@chrislink4576 I haven't, but that would be very cool!

[@33Donner77]

Thanks for the video. I learned something about Champ, the town I live close to.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Very interesting history to that little town! Thanks for watching!

[@faithbuller4086]

I enjoy the history associated with these towns. Even is there is no one living in a town, it was still part of the history of the state. Yes they should still be on the town list. Tracking ones family history would be impossible if the town is no more. Thanks.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much for the comment! I love learning all about these tiny towns and their history. It’s fun putting it together in a video like this. Appreciate you watching!

[@tresawilkins7159]

I lived in Neosho, MO for a few decades. Just north of town was a small community called Fredville. One of its buildings was an abandoned gas station that appeared to be pre-1960s. Other than that everything seemed to be residential. A big tornado went through in the early 2000s and several homes were destroyed or nearly destroyed. The gas station held strong. Sadly though, soon after the cleanup the Fredville signs were removed. Every time I drove that route to Joplin I felt a little sad. It felt as if a little more of Missouri history was lost.

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

Nice , I'm from St.Louis and I have only been through a couple of these Places , Really Cool to see them , Liked , Shared , Thank You :) QC

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome thank you so much! I really appreciate the support!

[@MJ-vt4nb]

Your commentary is funny. Idk why you chose these random places in Missouri to go to, but I'm glad you did.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha thanks 😊 I just went where the Census said we’re the smallest towns haha

[@tammycox9789]

I live in Missouri born and raised here and I've never heard of these towns so far you have mentioned

[@larryclements3504]

I grew up in Mound City and remember catching the train in Bigelow to go to Kansas City in the mid 60’s. I can’t recall ever going to Corning , but living that close I’m sure I did at some point.

[@blackghostart308]

I thought willow springs would be on there, but when it wasn't and I looked it up I was stunned at how many more people live there than I initially thought. It's a fifth of the town, not quite big enough to be considered a city, I live in and I was genuinely surprised. Glad to know something new.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Looks like a town with some interesting history!

[@MsFancy1958]

I grew up in Willow Springs. Beautiful area

[@user-gc2op6mc7y]

Great video John! I met the nice man in Friedenswald! He told me the story about the town. My Uncle just actually moved to Lakeside, at the next census, "Lakeside: Population 1?"

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Oh wow that’s awesome! Why did your uncle move to Lakeside? I should go back and do a video about him being the only resident!

[@user-gc2op6mc7y]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy He did. Sadly, you probably won’t be able to see him there because he is out everyday until around 12:00 In the morning. But yes he actually is enjoying living in little lakeside!

[@71chadknight]

Well KRAP John!!!! You should have taken your car out on the race track!! 😆 I am surprised that you didn't find Ellis Prairie, Mo on research for the smallest towns. It's down around the bootheel of Missouri. My grandfather was around that area and they lived in Ellis Prairie. There was never much there that I can remember as a child. I don't think that the town ever really prospered to a whole lot but I do remember a gas station that had one pump and they had a post office. Not sure if there is alot of info on it or not. They moved from there in 1983 to Eskridge, KS and never went back. It's a beautiful area. But again another great video as always. Keep up the great work my friend!!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I didn’t find Ellis Prairie but I did find East Prairie on my way to Pinhook. That’s a very interesting part of Missouri I hadn’t really explored much before.

[@willdozier884]

Its east prairie ,mo 💯 town now growing bigger and more than sikeston,mo or Cape Girardeau Missouri 💯

[@willdozier884]

The station is called blumenbergs

[@chrisjohnson2790]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy you should check out risco Missouri its a pretty small town and has a couple of other small towns around it. Its where I grew up the town is dieing but at one point it had a drive in.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@chrisjohnson2790 Looks like it's down in the "boot" of Missouri and population around 350. Sounds like great little town!

[@kencooksey3355]

At the time Florida, MO was established Mark Twain Lake was Salt River. Florida sat near the confluence of three branches of the river.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Unfortunately I found out about that after I made the video, and it wasn’t in the info I had. I appreciate the correction!

[@margaretmcneil5282]

We have a hand full of towns in our area that are apparently 4 inches wide , because the sign for each direction is on one 4 x4 post.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂

[@kdavis1492]

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.

[@DasDutchman56]

Wow ! Thanks for this video.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

You’re welcome 😊 It was fun to do! Thanks!

[@andthatsthewayitis4173]

Here is something about Baker, MO that might shed some light on it's desolation: Baker, MO is a Very High Risk area for tornados. According to records, the largest tornado in the Baker area was an F4 in 1981 that caused 32 injuries and 1 deaths. *Tornado risk is calculated from the destruction path that has occured within 30 miles of the location.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! And that makes a lot of sense. It looks like it could be easily flooded as well. Interesting little town!

[@nenasummers-shanafelt5126]

I live within 25 miles of Baker 🥰 we live on Crowley ridge though where I am and the tornadoes hit bad all around us

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@nenasummers-shanafelt5126 That's too bad! I'm from Kansas so I know what you mean!

[@lawrencedickson8567]

Yes I’m not sure on the year but Baker was taken out by a tornado In your video from the drone where you see all that for machinery is actually where a few buildings used to be I guess would be the Main Street From what I heard and understand it to be the tornado that ripped through there was more than wider than the town so completely leveled it

[@madikays]

i love seeing the ghost towns... they are so creepy! also ur drone shots are great quality

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! I’ve got over 200 towns on my channel so far!

[@sandrarandazzo5172]

Very interesting. Thank you!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Appreciate you watching too! Thanks!

[@handyrandysgarage6929]

My grandfather was born in Corning. He and his brother farmed there for many years. I spent my summers through the 70’s there walking the beans and baling hay. When he retired and sold out in 1980 when I was in the Marines. I’ve never been back. But I will always have great memories of family reunions on the farm.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for sharing! Corning was one of the towns I’ll always remember visiting. A man walked up to me and said he was the only person who lives there now and told me a lot of history about the town too. Thanks for watching!

[@glencoe6305]

I grew up in a tiny town called Glencoe in St Louis county Missouri. We had a baptist and a Church of God(pentecostal) Church,a Post Office and a General Store with a Gas Pump est 1926. The town was laid out in 1854. It was changed to another part of a new incorporated city. All the businesses are gone. Everything tore down.

[@lisatruttmann6917]

I used to live in Glencoe! You could catch a train to take you there.

[@samanthabusch750]

I grew up in Pacific Missouri and we dealt with major flooding the house I grew up in flooded four times in the fourth time it was done there was no fixing it the part of the flooded house you walked through reminded me of my childhood home it's so sad the damage that a flood can do

[@brianstoner5597]

That is so cool! My Dad and several cousins grew up in Corning.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Wow that’s a heckuva small town now!

[@brianstoner5597]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy I don't know how it could even be considered a town now. After the flooding a couple of years ago I don't even know if anyone is still there, and I was back in the area just a few months ago.

[@barrybranson1260]

Trap shooting has a green house (to blend in to background), to keep the flinging machines protected and storage for blue rock. The 5 pads are for 5 shooters, Marked from the house is the 16 yard line to the 27 yard line. Many top trap shooters come from Mo. In Nebraska you can win a full ride college scholarship for shooting trap! Many small towns still have ranges.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much!

[@cowgirl2]

I was born and raised in Missouri and still live here. When I was young, my family took me to a family farm every summer, it was between Advance and Dexter (in SE Missouri). They had a well with the old fashioned hand pump. The water was clear and ice cold. We also had an outhouse, a 2 seater! I learned how to milk the cows and gather eggs from the chickens. Very good memories of those days long ago. I'm in my 70s now but I remember those days so well. The little town of Advance had a general store.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing! I grew up on a farm in Ohio and have fond memories of growing up there as well 😊

[@nowandthennn]

I was born and raised in Bloomfield mo . I now live in Sikeston mo , but I have lots of memories.

[@mikeanderson9230]

I was not aware that Champ was a town. When Bangert started the place it was called Champ Village.

[@Rebelmediainc]

Very Nice Video man! Dig it!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! It was fun!

[@QueenCityHistory]

Ever heard of Grogan MO? Was founded by my great great grandfather when they came from Tennessee in 1860s. The town died when my great grandfather died and the post office was moved to Elk Creek MO in 1955. All that's left is my great grandfather's house that's used as a haybarn....on a dirt road through a field. It's still on Google maps

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I hadn’t heard of it, but sounds like it has some interesting history! I think it’s cool that it’s still on Google maps. I’m the kind of person who always drives through a place like that if I see it on a map. Thanks!

[@StickyAudits]

is that down by Cabool and Houston? next to the Jacks fork river?

[@QueenCityHistory]

@@StickyAudits yes!

[@seanirby8838]

I'm only moderately surprised that Useful, MO didn't make the list. It's on Highway 50 between Mt. Sterling (itself a tiny town, but with an old-timey general store and a large farm equipment dealership in the middle of nowhere) and Linn (home to State Technical College of Missouri). Useful is unincorporated (I'm a new subscriber and don't know if that might be a rule), and up until some years ago, it was home to two antique shops: one that dealt in flea market-type things and one that dealt mostly in grandfather clocks and clock repair. In fact, the old metal sign "You just passed two antique shops" was still swaying in the wind along Highway 50 the last time I passed through.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Useful sounds like a place I need to visit! And yes since it’s unincorporated it doesn’t qualify for the smallest “towns” list, but it would make a great place for a ghost town video. Thank you for finding the channel and watching! Much appreciated!!

[@jasonkrause445]

They have a useful cemetary. I smile just about everytime I pass by.

[@kristenbagwill]

I believe Useful is just down the road from Freedom, MO, another super sweet tiny town with what used to be an adorable old timey general store/gas station.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@kristenbagwill Love it - thanks!

[@AppealToHeaven]

@@jasonkrause445 me too! I was gonna bring that up but you beat me to it :)

[@asmoday2838]

My favorite is probably Lakeside. Being born in Osage Beach and raised in Eldon, just a few miles down 54, we used to go through Lakeside all the time to cross the Bagnell Dam to get to Lake Ozark and the strip there.

[@julzounanian]

Interesting about the town of Champ and Bill Bangert. He was a good friend of my Dad. I had never heard about the town. Thank you.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Sounds like a very interesting man! I enjoyed learning about him!

[@connieprettyman6131]

Maybe you could check out: Deerfield, Richards, Stotesbury, Bronaugh, Moundville, Milo, Nash, Ellis Compton Junction, & Eve. I was born in Eve, MO.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’d love to check out all those places! Unfortunately I have a full time job outside of KZbin, so until I make a career out of full-time traveling I have to pick and choose my spots. But I appreciate the suggestions and I’ll write them down on my ever growing list!

[@nascarsteve]

I know most of those names, my grandparents lived in Nevada so all those names are very familiar to me. I think my grandma is buried in Milo.

[@sandralynch9928]

Loved this video. I'm a Missouri girl through and through. I think it is the most beautiful and interesting place in the world. My family (Stovall, Standiford and Board) came here in the late 1810's. They bought land in the Lewis, Clark, Scotland and Knox counties. So many quirky things about this great place. I thought that the most beautiful town in your list was Friedenswald. The view was AMAZING. These little forgotten places are so sad when I think about all the ordinary folks who lived, dreamed and died there. Thank you for a lovely 30 minutes.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! Missouri is definitely very unique and it was a lot of fun finding these places! I appreciate you taking the time to watch!

[@TheRich7190]

I’m from Keytesville right next to Dalton. Grew up going to Dalton all the time! The flood of 93 it was completely under water.

[@TheRich7190]

There is a lot of history in the town of Dalton.

[@Massiveminion]

My fav is #7 Dalton MO because that's where my mother's side of the family settled after coming over here from Germany in late 1800's. One of my relatives from Dalton area was in the Missouri Militia during Civil War era (sided with the Union instead of the Confederacy) as Chariton county was a divided area re loyalty to blue or grey country at the time. One of my cousins recalled a tale where one fella in the area during that era spent his days in a hollowed out tree near a pond so he wouldn't be hunted down and killed by bushwackers or Confederate raiders, came out only at night to forage. Dalton was a thriving little community, mostly agrarian, at one time but after WW2 many of the younger people left to find opportunity in the larger cities or stayed in them seeking opportunities after wartime employment started to dwindle. If your Dad was a farmer first-born usually inherited the farm so certain larger family members stayed though many migrated out. Much of the land around Dalton was flood plain and my cousins talked about how the floods since the '50's made farming unpredictable enough that government subsidies had to be relied upon rather than avoided. The infamous Flood of '93 really dealt a death blow to the town itself and surrounds as all that remains now are the mill by the NS railroad and structures up on the hill inhabited by the few smart enough not to reside on the floodplain. The north side Main Street buildings fell one by one from old age, minimal maintenance. The one building that outlasted the group on Main Street was the US Post Office where my cousin Pauline Meyer was postmaster many years. She & her husband had to relocate from the family farm on the flood plain to a hilly area 2-3 miles away along Hwy J after Flood of '93. After the water receded many who resided in the flood plain before never came back as your pictures of town south of the tracks depict. I recognized some of the derelict homes you photographed there. There was a book published 2018 about this town: Dalton, Missouri: Looking Back compiled by Lizzy Kalinka and John Henry (Jack) Grotjan, Jr. (ISBN 978-1-943058-12-9). Crazy as it sounds I plan on moving there (Dalton Cemetery) when I croak as that's where many of my & Mom's relatives are and it won't cost thousands to get put in the ground either.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for the comment! I’ve had others from Dalton message me too - lots of pride in the community!!

[@maryhawkins3818]

I’ve lived in Missouri all my life. I’m almost 50yrs old and grew up in small towns. Love the community vibes. A couple of very small towns are Grayson Mo. , Fraiser Mo. I grew up in place like Edgerton Mo., Dearborn Mo., Also another pretty small one is Gower Mo. not sure what their populations are now but back in this h and 1980’s they were small communities. I now live in Plattsburg Mo but it’s the county seat so it’s bigger then the towns I grew up in but still one what small.

[@justingreen4450]

I lived in Trimble for a couple years.

[@daviddobson1113]

My Grandpa and Father helped build the Pomme teterre lake and they have taken me to a small town where they made the people move becouse of the back water .However the town was never closed and my Grandpa said that there was a family that refused to leave the back water area and would still return from time to time.

[@kdavis1492]

My parents bought lots when the lake was built. We would stop at Pittsburg (pop 29), for gas and groceries. The owner reminded me of Jed Clampett, before he found oil. Once I even got to spend a day at the local high school in Hermitage. What a difference from a city high, with 2500 kids. Hermitage high was so small, no football. Just basketball. Parent's friends moved down there. Their youngest daughter joined the basketball team, as they were short-handed. She graduated in 1968. Girls on a boys team was unheard of. Girls basketball teams were unheard of except intramural.

[@daviddobson1113]

@@kdavis1492 yep I know what you mean I still have family there I love the area.

[@artadams424]

It’s a ‘trap’ shooting facility with the trap house directly in front of the numbered firing line. Skeet requires both a ‘high house’ and a ‘low house’ on lateral sides.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you!

[@kevinray8106]

I lived outside of a small community of Virginia Missouri west of Butler Missouri. When I there, there was a small store/gas station and a church and a few residential homes. It has been a number of years since I have been by there. Not sure if anything exists anymore.

[@travis303]

Corning actually looks like a nice place to visit just to look at those houses. Some of those houses look like they would have been nice houses when they were lived in. Big houses.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I agree. So many old and abandoned buildings in Corning. I was shocked when I explored that town.

[@brandiewhisenhunt289]

Oh friedenswald is so cute! That's so neat they could incorporate their property! 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

The couple there was very proud of their town haha. And they assured me there were only 2 (not 4 as the Census said). They said for anyone to come and visit!

[@brandiewhisenhunt289]

Awwww.. that's so nice of them. I'd love to see Missouri again! It's been 8 years since I've been to Branson.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’m releasing a video from near Branson on April 14. Lots of interesting stuff in the area!

[@brandiewhisenhunt289]

Yay!! I love that area

[@pamelakissel7784]

Do you think there are tax benefits?