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Barry County, Missouri

64 topographic sheets cover 50 settlements here, and 15 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

15 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Missouri within the United States
Barry County within Missouri

What the record shows

  • 643 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 15 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 8 buildings, 5 districts and 2 structures.
  • 1 of the 15 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 50 populated places in this county; 50 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

15

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

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

531 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 531 of them, burning about 8,853 acres. 5 started naturally and 101 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning246
Missing data/not specified/undetermined117
Arson/incendiarism101
Equipment and vehicle use30
Smoking15
Recreation and ceremony10
Misuse of fire by a minor6
Natural5
Railroad operations and maintenance1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. Two of them were set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
25 February 1995Missing data/not specified/undetermined480 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
7 April 1995Debris and open burning355 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
25 February 1995Missing data/not specified/undetermined260 acresMark Twain National ForestCHUTES RIDGE
2 April 1994Arson/incendiarism260 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
18 March 1994Debris and open burning257 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
18 April 1994Arson/incendiarism230 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
12 March 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined210 acresMissouri Department of ConservationBIG 10
18 February 2016Debris and open burning200 acresMissouri Department of Conservation139581-00523-02182016-1230

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

Storms, 1954 to 2026

60 of 1,021 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 1,021 reports for this county, causing 5 deaths, 51 injuries and about $137,097,750 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail351
Thunderstorm Wind319
Flash Flood184
Flood76
Tornado49
Heavy Rain35
Funnel Cloud4
Lightning2
Wildfire1

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
November 1988Tornado (F2)not stated1 killed, 12 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
February 2012Tornado (EF2)Exeter1 killed, 4 hurt, $575,000An EF-2 rated tornado with a maximum wind speed of 120 mph tracked across northwestern portions of the city of Cassville. The tornado destroyed four mobile homes and one frame home. Another frame home was significantly damaged. This tornado also flipped over a tractor trailer as it crossed Highway 37. The tornado killed one person in a mobile home. There were four other injuries.
May 2008Tornado (EF2)Pioneer1 killed, $10,000,000This tornado is an extension of the Newton County tornado. A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-2 tornado tracked across much of Barry County and directly impacted the community of Purdy. One man was killed as he was taking shelter in a mobile home. Numerous structures, trees, and power poles were destroyed.
April 1994Tornado (F1)Seligman1 killed, $50,000A tornado touched down near the Missouri-Arkansas border and moved northeast towards the community of Seligman. A mobile home roof was damaged just inside the Missouri border north of Gateway, AR, as the storm moved northeast at 35 to 45 mph. The next touchdown was on the south edge of Seligman where a 60-year-old woman was killed in her mobile home. The storm destroyed a total of three mobile homes in the Heritage Heights Mobile Home Park. Several people observed debris rotating within the funnel. Another touchdown was in a deep ravine just east of town and uprooted several large trees laying them in a criss-cross pattern. (F60M)
June 2015LightningScholten1 killed, $5,000A man died after being hit by lightning near Seymour. Two horses were also killed by the lightning strike. The man was cultivating a field at the time of the strike. Time was estimated.
October 1979Tornado (F2)not stated9 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
April 1972Tornado (F2)not stated7 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
April 1996Thunderstorm WindExeter4 hurt, $500,000no account filed
March 1961Tornado (F1)not stated4 hurt, $25,000no account filed
November 2001Tornado (F2)Exeter3 hurt, $1,000,000no account filed
June 1995Tornado (F1)Seligman3 hurt, $100,000A tornado tore through Roaring River State Park uprooting hundreds of trees and damaging nearly a 100 camper-trailers before lifting at Eagle Rock.
December 1972Tornado (F2)not stated2 hurt, $25,000no account filed
March 1954Tornado (F3)not stated2 hurt, $25,000no account filed
May 2009Thunderstorm WindPurdy1 hurt, $10,000A microburst destroyed a mobile home. One injury resulted from this wind damage.
April 2026HailWheaton$94,500,000A hail swath from a mile to 3 miles wide began near Wheaton and continued to the northeast across Barry County. Hail from quarters to 3 inches in size fell along a path from Wheaton to Purdy to Pleasant Ridge as an intensifying left moving supercell moved to the northeast across the County. Along the storms path, numerous homes, vehicles, businesses, equipment, crops, livestock and other structures were damaged by hail before the storm passed into southeastern Lawrence County.
December 2015Flash FloodMc Dowell$5,000,000Route C near Flat Creek was closed due to high water. Numerous low water crossings, roads, and bridges were damaged or washed out throughout Barry County. Numerous homes and business suffered flood water damage as well throughout the county. This storm report will contain the damage estimates for the entire county for this event.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindMonett Friend Arpt$4,000,000Destroyed outbuildings, damage to roofs and other structures, downed trees, and knocked over power poles were all a result of 50 to 85 mph wind gusts that impacted almost all of Barry County. Monett was impacted the greatest as hundreds of structures sustained roof damage. Meanwhile several outbuildings west of Monett along Highway 60 were completely destroyed. There were also destroyed outbuildings along Highway 37 near the community of Purdy. A large roof was torn off of a storage facility that blocked a city street for several hours in Monett. The Gizmo's Event Center grandstand in Wheaton was heavily damaged, which caused heavy rain to destroy the interior of a banquet hall that was being constucted beneath the grandstand.
July 2015Flash FloodEagle Rock$2,000,000County Road 1135 at Roaring River State Park saw a flood wave between 4 and 6 feet move through the park in less than 10 minutes. This storm report will contain the overall flood damage estimates across Barry County for this storm event. There were several episodes and heavy rainfall events which led to a compound affect to the flooding damage. Numerous roads, bridges, and low water crossings were heavily damaged. Roaring River State Park suffered major damage to flood waters.
April 2017Flash FloodExeter$1,000,000Several homes and business sustained flood damage across Barry County. Numerous roads and bridges were severely damaged or washed away across the county. This report will contain the total dollar estimate for flood damage to infrastructure, businesses, and homes across Barry County.
April 2011Flash FloodMc Dowell$1,000,000Route C was closed due to flooding.||The total cost estimate for flooding damages for Barry County for this entire episode has been included. This includes roads, bridges, and structures which were affected.
April 2015HailMonett$750,000Numerous reports of broken car windows across southern Lawrence and Barry Counties. Several car dealerships suffered severe damage from the large hail.
April 2008Flash FloodMonett Friend Arpt$750,000Two to four inches of rain fell over Barry County. Any areas that typically flood during periods of excessive rainfall were flooded. Large discharge values from Beaver Lake flowed into Table Rock Lake. This flooded low areas around the Lake in southeastern sections of the county. Also, Kelley Creek flooded numerous homes and businesses near in Monett.
August 2013Flash FloodEagle Rock$650,000This storm report will include the total estimated damages for the flooding event. Roaring River State Park was flooded and evacuated. Several low water crossings and roadways were damaged due to flood waters.
April 2019Tornado (EF1)Wheaton$600,000This is the continuation of the tornado that touched down and tracked from five miles southwest of Rocky Comfort in McDonald County to five miles northeast of Wheaton, Missouri in Barry County. A National Weather Service survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado that tracked a total of 12 miles from five miles southwest of Rocky Comfort to five miles northeast of Wheaton, Missouri. The tornado was on the ground for approximately 22 minutes along its total track with maximum wind speeds estimated at 110 mph. After tracking across northeastern McDonald County the tornado then caused substantial damage to a commercial farming operation as it moved into Barry County near the intersection of Highways 76 and 86. While multiple large barns were heavily damaged, the most striking damage at this location was the destruction of a two story home, though it appeared that the lower walls had collapsed as the second story remained largely intact. Wind speeds associated with the home were reduced due to the lack of damage to nearby trees and power lines. The tornado continued to cause mainly roof damage to a number of homes as it crossed through the southern section of Wheaton. Clusters of more intense and a cyclonic tree fall pattern involving hundreds of trees were noted east of Wheaton interspersed with sections of limited damage as the tornado tracked northeast along portions of Highway W, through rural areas along Shoal Creek. Tree damage continued across Farm Roads 1035, 1040, Highway HH, and 1045 before the last visible damage to trees was noted north of Farm Road 2095.
May 2010Tornado (EF1)Monett$500,000A National Weather Service ground survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado initially touched down near the Plymouth Hill subdivision...then tracked through the Casino Park area before destroying the Pizza Hut and damaging several other structures. The tornado lifted near the race track on the eastern edge of Monett. Maximum winds were estimated at 100 to 110 mph with a maximum width of 200 yards.
January 2008Tornado (EF2)Pioneer$500,000A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-2 tornado tracked across rural areas between the communities of Monett and Purdy. The tornado intersected Highway 37 just south of its intersection with Highway BB. At this location, the tornado tore through a small mobile home park, destroying eight mobile homes. Additional houses and farm outbuildings were damaged along this tornado track.
January 2008Flash FloodSeligman$500,000Training supercells caused major flash flooding in countless locations across the county. Numerous roads and low water crossings were washed away. A few of the specific locations that received this flooding include a section of Farm Road 1095 just south of its intersection with Highway BB along the Barry and Lawrence county line, a section of Farm Road 1100 just south of its intersection with Highway C, a section of Farm Road 1160 just south of its intersection with 2240, the intersection of Farm Road 1150 and Farm Road 2010, and a section of Highway 97 three miles south of Pierce City. A water rescue was performed one mile northeast of Wheaton. Over five inches of rain was measured within a 6 hour time frame.
June 2000Flash FloodCountywide$500,000no account filed
March 2008Flash FloodMonett$400,000Five to six inches of rain fell over Barry County. All locations that typically flood during periods of excessive rainfall were flooded. Areas near Table Rock Lake were flooded from excessive discharge from Beaver Lake. Damage to roads and bridges occurred while several structures near Monett were flooded from Kelly Creek.
January 2008Tornado (EF1)Wayne$300,000A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-1 tornado developed along a squall line, and tracked across rural areas south of Cassville. A few houses and outbuildings sustained damage. Numerous trees were also damaged from this tornado.
February 1997Thunderstorm WindMonett$250,000no account filed
June 2001Flash FloodWest Portion$150,000no account filed
February 2023HailShell Knob$125,000Hail to the size of tennis balls was reported near Viola along Highway 39. Several buildings and a church had minor roof damage and multiple vehicles suffered hail damage.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindMonett$100,000A least 3 trees were reported down on homes with winds estimated between 60 and 70mph along with pea sized hail.
May 2021Flash FloodMonett$100,000Significant flooding occurred along Kelly Creek as it rose out of its banks flooding numerous businesses and roads in town.
April 2020Thunderstorm WindShell Knob$100,000Minor dock and boat damage was reported by Central Crossing Fire near Shell Knob.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindMonett$100,000Downburst winds significantly damaged several businesses and homes in Monett. Damage to the high school was also revealed in a National Weather Service storm survey.
April 2001Thunderstorm WindWheaton$100,000no account filed
August 1996Thunderstorm WindEagle Rock$100,000no account filed
December 2018Tornado (EF0)Wightman$90,000An EF-0 tornado with maximum estimated wind speed of 80 mph and path width of 25-50 yards tracked 0.12 miles to the east-northeast before lifting west of Highway 37. Roof damage occurred to several homes along the path and damaged a large tree before lifting.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindShell Knob Turkey Ar$80,000Multiple large tree limbs were reported down. Limbs fell on two vehicles and the corner of a home causing minor damage.
February 2023Thunderstorm WindWightman$75,000A few barns and outbuildings suffered minor to moderate damage and at least one power pole was broken. Power lines were reported laying on the road at the intersection of Highways 37 and BB.
August 2023HailSeligman$75,000Wind driven quarters size resulted in minor siding and roof damage to a few homes.
April 2017Tornado (EF1)Golden$75,000A NWS storm survey confirmed an EF-1 crossed the Arkansas and Missouri border into extreme southeastern Barry County near St. Johns Wood Lane and the Kings River. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted on a path through a near by hill side across the Kings River. A few trees were blown on to homes in the area. Estimated maximum wind speed was up to 90 mph.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindMonett$75,000Several trees blown down in Monett. One tree damaged a boat. Another tree was on a house and an outbuilding.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindCountywide$75,000A derecho affected areas of extreme southeast Kansas and extreme southern Missouri during the early morning hours of July 4th. As the storm tracked through Barry County, numerous trees and power lines were downed, along with minor structural damage to homes. Wind gusts in excess of 70 mph were estimated from the National Weather Service storm survey.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindPurdy$60,000The roof of a chicken barn suffered significant damage along with several power lines reported down. Large round hay bails were reported to have blown across a road.
May 2024Tornado (EF1)Monett Arpt$55,000A NWS Survey team found EF-0 damage in northern Barry County as numerous large trees were uprooted. As the tornado continued to track northeast, it intensified to an EF-1 and caused damage to an outbuilding as well as the roofing material to a house just before crossing over the Barry/Lawrence County line, where it continued to track through southern Lawrence County.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindWightman$50,000Multiple trees and powerlines were reported.
June 2025Tornado (EF1)Wheaton$50,000An NWS Survey concluded that an EF1 tornado with up to 85 mph winds began at the Body of Christ church on the southwest side of Wheaton. The tornado was confirmed by several eyewitnesses along with rotational debris pattern to structures and trees. The tornado pulled multiple sections of roofing off poultry barns northeast of Wheaton before damaging trees a half mile northeast then dissipated.
March 2023Thunderstorm WindButterfield$50,000Multiple large trees were reported down. An out building also suffered significant damage and a machine shed was damaged as well.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindMonett$50,000Several large limbs were reported down with some on power lines causing power outages.
March 2021Tornado (EF1)Eagle Rock$50,000A storm survey determined that a tornado with a maximum of EF-1 strength winds touched down initially five miles northeast of Eagle Rock and continued along an intermittent path of damage 25 miles long as it moved to the northeast. The majority of the damage path, 20 miles, was in Barry County before the tornado crossed into Stone County. Along its path the tornado topped or uprooted several hard and soft wood trees and damaged several outbuildings. The tornado crossed into Stone County along Farm Road 1250. The very rugged terrain precluded a full survey and lead to the intermittent designation.
March 2017HailMonett$50,000This report was from social media with a picture. There was reports of damage to cars in the Monett area.
March 2017HailGolden$50,000This report was from social media with pictures. There was some damage to cars and homes in the area.
May 2017Tornado (EF0)Shell Knob$50,000An EF-0 tornado uprooted numerous trees and damaged boat docks southeast of Shell Knob. Estimated maximum winds were up to 85 mph.
April 2015HailMonett$50,000Several cars had damage and windows cracked.
June 2015Flash FloodCassville Flds Arpt$50,000Route 86 was closed because of flooding. This storm report will contain the overall storm damage estimates across the entire Barry County for this storm event. Several roads, bridges, and low water crossings were damaged.
May 2013Tornado (EF1)Shell Knob$50,000An EF-0 tornado uprooted and damaged trees along its path. Winds were estimated around 110 mph. This tornado continued into Stone County.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindEagle Rock$50,000Numerous trees were blown down blocking roads at Roaring River State Park in and around the intersection of Highway 112 and Highway F. Several cars and a couple buildings were damaged by the fallen trees.

Mines and quarries

73 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 73 workings inside this county. 2 still produce and 71 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken30
Lead, Zinc24
Sand and Gravel, Construction5
Iron3
Zinc, Lead3
Lead2
Zinc2
Uranium2
Lead, Silver, Zinc1
Iron, Lead, Zinc1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Lynn Cave ProspectLead, Silver, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Iron-Lead-ZincIron, Lead, ZincPast Producer
H L Burtner Uranium MineUraniumProspect
Radium CaveUraniumProspect
Unknown - LeadLeadPast Producer
Unknown - ZincZincPast Producer
Unknown - ZincZincPast Producer
Upshur MineLeadPast Producer
Allen & Stark MineZinc, LeadPast Producer
Kelley & Anderson MinesZinc, LeadPast Producer
Unknown - IronIronPast Producer
Unknown - IronIronPast Producer
Unknown - IronIronPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincZinc, LeadPast Producer
Unknown - S&GSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unknown - S&GSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unknown - S+GSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unknown - S+GSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unknown - S+GSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Feney LandLead, ZincProspect
Henderson MinesLead, ZincPast Producer
Mcdowell MinesLead, ZincPast Producer
MonettLead, ZincPast Producer
Morton LandLead, ZincPast Producer
Northcutt MineLead, ZincPast Producer
Pioneer MineLead, ZincPast Producer
Polish Queen MineLead, ZincPast Producer
Red Dog MineLead, ZincPast Producer
Stanberry DiggingsLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincProspect
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead-ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Beydler QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Chas High QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Hutchens Quarry + MillStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Knob Rock QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Knob Rock Quarry + MillStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Madry QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Pulaskifield Quarry + MillStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Roaring River Ls + Marble QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - SsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - SsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - SsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
W H Sperry QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Washburn QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

50

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 Barry 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.