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Adair County, Missouri

36 topographic sheets cover 34 settlements here, and 21 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

21 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service

Missouri within the United States
Adair County within Missouri

What the record shows

  • 330 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 21 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 17 buildings, 3 districts and 1 site.
  • 6 of the 21 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 34 populated places in this county; 34 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

21

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Adair County Courthousebuilding197878001636
Bear Creek Baptist Churchbuilding198484002132
Cabins Historic Districtdistrict197979001344
Dockery Hotelbuilding198383000971
First Presbyterian Churchbuilding2017100001298
Grim Buildingbuilding197979001343
Capt. Thomas C. Harris Housebuilding197373001034
Journal Printing Company Buildingbuilding201111000439
Kirksville Courthouse Square Historic Districtdistrict200909000330
Drs. George and Blanche Laughlin Housebuilding201414000047
Lincoln Schoolbuilding2017100000606
Masonic Templebuilding201009001208
Salisbury Schoolbuilding2017100001757
Dr. E. Sanborn Smith Housebuilding200908001385
Orie J. Smith Black and White Stock Farm Historic Districtdistrict200100001658
Sojourners Clubbuilding201414000048
St. Mary's Churchbuilding197474001069
The Princess Theatrebuilding2026100012647
Thousand Hills State Park Petroglyphs Archeological Sitesite197070000320
Travelers Hotelbuilding200909000718
Trinity Episcopal Churchbuilding200807001338

Wildfire, 1992 to 2019

35 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 35 of them, burning about 527 acres. None started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning23
Missing data/not specified/undetermined7
Equipment and vehicle use3
Misuse of fire by a minor1
Arson/incendiarism1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
5 April 1992Debris and open burning120 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
8 April 1992Debris and open burning82 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
8 April 1992Arson/incendiarism70 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
9 April 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined60 acresMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
25 March 2014Debris and open burning30 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
6 February 1992Debris and open burning25 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
28 February 1992Debris and open burning25 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
26 April 2019Debris and open burning21 acresMissouri Department of Conservation179302-00000-04262019-1250

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1956 to 2025

60 of 294 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 294 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 7 injuries and about $6,916,750 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind133
Hail105
Flash Flood33
Tornado10
Flood7
Heavy Rain4
Lightning1
Funnel Cloud1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2009Tornado (EF2)Kirksville2 killed, 6 hurt, $5,000,000An EF2 tornado touched down at 17:09 CST, 2 miles north-northwest of Kirksville. This tornado traveled east over northern portions of Kirksville, before lifting at 17:20 CST, 2 miles west-southwest of the town of Clay. This tornado killed two people and damaged numerous homes in northern Kirksville. Ten homes were destroyed and fifteen others suffered major damage. Up to 186 other buildings and homes had minor to moderate damage. Two dealerships suffered major damage. Several farmsteads suffered damage east of Kirksville.
April 2002HailNovinger1 hurt, $15,000A man caught outside during the hailstorm received bruises on his arm.
May 2002Flash FloodKirksville$500,000Highway 63 closed in 3 places around Kirksville. Water waist deep in spots. Highway 11 closed in 2 places around Kirksville.
September 1993Thunderstorm WindKirksville$500,000As many as 40 to 50 large trees were knocked down along with light poles and wires across the city. A radio station reported a wind gust to 67 mph with three house trailers rolled over and heavily damaged. Many homes were damaged from falling trees and limbs until 1600 CST.
July 2008FloodNovinger$300,000The Chariton River near Novinger, had its third highest crest on record,|28.44 feet. Several hundred acres of low lying farm land was inundated. Five homes in Novinger suffered total loss.
May 2005LightningKirksville$200,000Lightning struck a bar in downtown Kirksville with establishment totally destroyed by fire.
May 2009Tornado (EF1)Pure Air$100,000An EF1 tornado touched down around 5 miles west of Novinger at 16:43 CST, and paralled Highway 6 as it moved east. The tornado lifted around 2 miles east of Novinger at 16:55 CST. The tornado destroyed a house and out building west of Novinger. On the south side of Novinger, a mobile home was destroyed and power poles and lines were downed. Additional power poles and trees were damaged, before the tornado lifted.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindKirksville$50,000Severe thunderstorm winds gusted up to 75 MPH in the Kirksville area resulting in uprooted trees and downed power lines. Large trees blew on top of the roofs of houses causing significant damages along the 900 block of Michigan Avenue and the 800 block of South Fifth Street. Ameren Union Electric reported that 7,700 customers lost power during the storm.
September 1987Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1973Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1960Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1960Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 2013Thunderstorm WindKirksville$20,000Power poles and roof damage were reported across the south side of Kirksville. Numerous trees were also reported down, and a mobile home was blown onto Highway H. Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 70 mph.
August 1998Thunderstorm WindSublette$20,000Thunderstorm winds uprooted trees up to 4 inches in diameter and blew over a chicken coop along Route AA near Sublette. Also in Sublette a trailer was blown over by the thunderstorm winds.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindKirksville$20,000Severe thunderstorm winds knocked down a large tree limb( a foot in diamter) in Kirksville. The large limb blocked North Elson Street. The storm also knocked down a power line and blew a dog pen into the street.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindKirksville$15,000A roof was blown off, and two walls of a barn were blown down, with thunderstorm wind gusts estimated up to 70 mph.
March 2002Thunderstorm WindKirksville$15,000Large trees uprooted. Roof blown off a house and garage door blown in.
July 2010Flash FloodKirksville$10,000Numerous roads were reported impassable in Kirksville, due to flooding. One car was reported submerged.
April 2001Thunderstorm WindKirksville$10,000Law enforcement reported power line down near Kirksville on route P and a door torn off shed.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindKirksville$10,000Power lines were downed in Kirksville.
February 2012Thunderstorm WindIrk Cannon Mem Arpt$5,000Several large trees were blown down, along Highway E, with damage reported to cars and a home. Powerlines were also down on Highway 63 north of La Plata. Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 60 mph.
March 2009Thunderstorm WindGibbs$5,000Numerous power poles were reported down.
April 2002HailKirksville$5,000Hail caused damage to a roof and three cars.
April 1993Thunderstorm WindCountywide$5,000Several trees were knocked down across southwest and central parts of the county. A wind gust to 58 mph was recorded at the Kirksville Regional Airport.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindKirksville$5,000no account filed
May 1995HailShelby's Point$2,000no account filed
June 2016Thunderstorm WindKirksville$1,000An 8 inch healthy tree was reported down near Kirksville, Missouri.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindKirksville$1,000A flagpole was blown down and two car windows were blown out. Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 70 mph.
October 2007Thunderstorm WindKirksville$1,000Trailer damaged and power poles are down on northwest side of Kirksville.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindKirksville$500Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 70 mph. Powerlines were reported down.
May 1993HailKirksville$500A local television station reported golf ball-size hail in southern Adair County.
April 1993Thunderstorm WindSouthwest Portion$500Several trees were knocked down across southwest and central parts of the county. A wind gust to 58 mph was recorded at the Kirksville Regional Airport.
September 1965Tornado (F0)not stated$250no account filed
July 2025Thunderstorm WindPure Air-Private weather sensor in southwestern Adair County measured a severe wind gust.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindNovinger-Downed trees and wires near Rolling Hills Road. Time estimated from radar and outage report.
April 2023Thunderstorm WindKirksville-A carwash awning was damaged; power poles and large tree limbs were downed in Kirksville.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindIrk Cannon Mem Arpt-Kirksville Regional Airport ASOS recorded a 64 mph wind gust.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindIrk Cannon Mem Arpt-Measured wind gust of 64 mph at Kirksville Regional Airport.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindClay-A house in eastern Adair County had some external wall and roof removal due to strong winds moving through that area.
August 2023Flash FloodFegley-Heavy rain led to flash flooding and numerous water rescues in Kirksville.
July 2021Flash FloodDanforth-Missouri Department of Transportation reported water over the road along Highway 149.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindNovinger-A storm spotter estimated 60 mph wind.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindIrk Cannon Mem Arpt-The ASOS in Kirksville reported 71 mph wind.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindStahl-A trained spotter reported 70 mph wind along with quarter sized hail.
May 2020HailBullion-This report came via MPing.
April 2019FloodLoeffler-Ongoing flooding along the Missouri River continued through the month of April and into May. Several roads were closed near the banks of the Missouri River. This flooding began in mid March and due to upstream releases and continued periods of heavy rain the flooding continued into May. Monetary damages are unknown despite the entry indicating 0 dollars of damages.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindKirksville-Estimated 60 mph winds at this location.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindKirksville-Picture received via Twitter of a Burger King sign destroyed in Kirksville.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindKirksville-Several tree branches were snapped.
May 2019Flash FloodKirksville-Water was running over multiple city streets within Kirksville. Route 11 east of Kirksville was closed.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindWillmathsville-A 10 inch diameter tree was snapped.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindKirksville-Law enforcement reported 60 mph wind in Kirksville.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindKirksville-A tree was broken in Kirksville. This report was received via social media.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindKirksville-Power poles and power lines were down near Kirksville.
October 2017Thunderstorm WindMillard-A few power lines were down and a roof was blown off of a home in Millard.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindKirksville-The ASOS at KIRK in Kirksville recorded a 60 mph wind gust.
April 2016HailKirksville-The hail lasted about 5 minutes.
April 2016Thunderstorm WindNovinger-An estimated 60 mph wind gust was reported.
April 2016Thunderstorm WindKirksville-An estimated 60 mph wind was reported.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindKirksville-Trees and power lines were down in Kirksville due to strong winds.

Mines and quarries

21 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 21 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 20 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken10
Sand and Gravel, Construction10
Clay1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
UnkClayPast Producer
Bailey Limestone Quarry # 4Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Chariton River Sand PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

The county's history books

270,480 words

One book written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 19 chapters in all. Every chapter is public domain, machine-read from the scan and reproduced complete. A chapter already given under one of the county's towns is not repeated in this list.

History of Adair County (1911)

ChapterLength
Chapter 1: Indian Mounds1,002 words
Chapter 2: Early Settlements6,931 words
Chapter 4: The Creation of the County3,622 words
Chapter 5: County Organization8,385 words
Chapter 6: County Politics5,613 words
Chapter 7: Civil War10,631 words
Chapter 8: The Churches12,599 words
Chapter 9: Fraternal, Patriotic and Industrial Orders5,132 words
Chapter 10: The Public Schools7,695 words
The Normal School10,976 words
Chapter 12: Schools of Osteopathy9,651 words
Chapter 13: The County Press3,746 words
Chapter 14: Industries6,833 words
Chapter 15: Transportation Facilities6,100 words
Chapter 16: The Banks2,825 words
Chapter 17: Kirksville21,048 words in 2 parts
Chapter 18: The Other Towns of the County6,553 words
Chapter 19: In Memoriam18,217 words in 2 parts
Biographical sketches122,921 words in 8 parts

Every populated place in the county

34

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Adair County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.