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Douglas County, Missouri

90 topographic sheets cover 62 settlements here, and 1 property is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

1 National Register listing published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Missouri within the United States
Douglas County within Missouri

What the record shows

  • 831 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 1 property here is on the National Register of Historic Places, listed as a district.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 62 populated places in this county; 62 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

1

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
Ava Ranger Station Historic Districtdistrict200303000714

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

677 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 677 of them, burning about 15,189 acres. 4 started naturally and 283 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Arson/incendiarism283
Debris and open burning272
Missing data/not specified/undetermined80
Equipment and vehicle use25
Natural4
Recreation and ceremony4
Misuse of fire by a minor3
Power generation/transmission/distribution3
Smoking2
Fireworks1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
25 February 1995Debris and open burning532 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
28 February 1992Arson/incendiarism508 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
5 April 2000Arson/incendiarism425 acresMark Twain National ForestNORTH 181
22 March 2014Debris and open burning400 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
4 March 2012Arson/incendiarism390 acresMark Twain National ForestCLIFTY CREEK
3 March 2012Arson/incendiarism350 acresMark Twain National ForestONION 1
5 March 1996Debris and open burning328 acresMark Twain National ForestJANET'S EX-BOYFRIEND
12 March 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined328 acresMissouri Department of ConservationCOYOTE FIRE

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

Storms, 1957 to 2026

60 of 946 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 946 reports for this county, causing 4 deaths, 2 injuries and about $34,486,100 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind258
Hail240
Flood193
Flash Flood178
Tornado40
Heavy Rain27
Lightning8
Funnel Cloud2

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 1998Flash FloodAnn2 killedA young man and woman died when their truck was washed off Highway EE at the North Fork of the White River. The flooded section of Highway EE was at the bottom of a hill at the river. The truck ran into the water and apparently stalled and then was washed off. One inch of rain occurred in the area that evening on top of an already saturated ground from the previous days rain.
April 2019Flash FloodSweden1 killedHeavy rainfall across portions of Douglas County caused Hunter Creek to rise quickly out of its banks during the late evening of April 30th and continued into May 1st. Nearly 7.00 inches of rain fall across portions of the Hunter Creek basin. A 59 year old male was camping in the Vera Cruz Conservation Area and was overtaken by flood waters during the night.
December 2015FloodSmallett1 killedA 52 year old man was attempting to move cattle to higher ground when he was swept into flood water by the South Spring Creek. This incident occurred near the community of Smallet.
December 1982Tornado (F2)not stated2 hurt, $250,000no account filed
November 2024Flash FloodAva Muni Meml Arpt$11,700,000Highway Y at Cowskin Creek was closed due to flooding. Additional county property damages were reported throughout the entire county, primarily to dirt roads and bridges. Damage cost estimates are a reflection of the county as a whole.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindOngo$5,000,000Sixty to 80 mph wind gusts swept across all of Douglas County causing widespread damage to trees, outbuildings, and power poles. Several shops, barns, and other farm related outbuildings were destroyed across the county. In Ava, damage mainly consisted of a few roofs that had minor damage. Communities within the county that were impacted the greatest include Pansy, Goodhope, and Redbank.
April 2017Flash FloodEvans$3,000,000Numerous homes and at least four businesses sustained severe flood damage across Douglas 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 Douglas County.
May 1990Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
December 1982Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
May 2024HailMt Zion$1,300,000Social media report of softball size hail. An estimated 30 homes, from northern sections of Ava northward to the county line, suffered damage to roofs, windows and siding. Damage estimates of $32,000 per home occurred, with another 30 cars damaged as well including some that had windows broken. This damage summary includes hail reported in other locations from Ava northward during this evening.
July 2015Flash FloodAva$1,000,000The city park in Ava flooded as well as Highway 5 and Highway Y. There was flooding into driveways of homes along Highway 14 at Hutchinson Street and at 10th Street. This storm report will contain the overall flood damage estimates across Douglas 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.
April 2011Flash FloodAva Muni Meml Arpt$1,000,000Numerous low water crossings in rural areas were flooded throughout the county.||The total cost estimate for flooding damages for Douglas County for this entire episode has been included. This includes roads, bridges, and structures which were affected.
March 2008Flash FloodTigris$1,000,000Rainfall amounts over Douglas County ranged from five to seven inches. Widespread flooding occurred on most of the county roads. All low areas that typically flood during periods of excessive rain flooded.
December 2015Flash FloodAva Muni Meml Arpt$750,000Highway Y in Ava just west of Highway 5 was closed due to water over the roadway. Nearly all low water crossings across the county were flooded. There were several roads and bridges that sustained significant damage. This storm report will contain the damage estimates for the entire county for this event.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindAva$500,000A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that straight line winds damaged areas of southwest and central sections of Ava. These straight line winds caused damage to several businesses located on the square. Power poles and trees were also heavily damaged. This same storm eventually produced a tornado on the northern section of Ava.
November 2005Tornado (F1)Goodhope$500,000This tornado is an extension of the Christian County tornado. A National Weather Service storm storm survey revealed that an F-1 tornado tracked across rural areas of southwest Douglas County. The tornado entered the county approximately 7 miles southwest of Goodhope, and tracked to 4 miles south southeast of Ava. One home sustained minor damage two miles south of Goodhope.
April 2021Tornado (EF0)Blanche$250,000A National Weather Service storm survey determined that an EF0 tornado with maximum winds estimated at 85 mph moved along a 100 yard wide and 1.9 mile long path. The most significant damage was the destruction of a three car garage and several outbuildings near the start of the path. Minor damage occurred to three homes and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.
April 2001HailVanzant$250,000no account filed
May 1960Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
May 2009Tornado (EF2)Merritt$200,000A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-2 tornado with winds up to 130 mph touched down approximately one mile north of Merritt. The tornado tracked northeast along a two and a half mile path before lifting northwest of Goodhope. The tornado damaged two homes, several outbuildings, and numerous trees.
April 2026HailCheney$150,000Tennis ball sized hail was reported in a mainly rural area. Damage was reported to a home and farm building and vehicles.
January 2008Tornado (EF1)Drury$125,000A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-1 tornado impacted rural areas of northeast Douglas County. This tornado caused significant tree damage and moved a mobile home from its foundation.
April 2025Tornado (EF0)Goodhope$100,000An EF0 tornado damaged trees, including some being uprooted in a cyclonic pattern along an intermittent path between Highway O and Highway 14. A few homes and cars were damaged by falling limbs.
June 2015Flash FloodArno$100,000There were numerous low water crossings flooded and impassable across the county. This storm report will contain the overall storm damage estimates across Douglas County for this storm event. Numerous roads, bridges, and low water crossings were heavily damaged.
April 2014Thunderstorm WindAva$100,000Numerous power poles were snapped or down in the town of Ava. Minor to moderate damage was reported to several buildings in the downtown area. A strong microburst caused 70 t 80 mph winds.
May 2009Tornado (EF1)Merritt$100,000This tornado is an extension of the Christian County tornado. A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-1 tornado tracked into southwest Douglas County. Trees and a few outbuildings were damaged from the tornado.
May 2008Tornado (EF0)Ava$100,000A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-0 tornado touched down in the northeast section of Ava. Wind speeds were estimated at 80 mph. Damage was limited to trees and minor house damage.
April 2026HailBrushyknob$75,000Hail to the size of hen eggs was reported in a mainly rural area. A home ad several outbuilding along with a vehicle had minor damage.
March 2023Thunderstorm WindGoodhope$75,000Multiple trees were reported down along with roof and minor structural damage to several outbuildings.
April 2021Thunderstorm WindAva$75,000A NWS storm survey concluded that three large outbuildings were slightly to heavily damaged from high winds.
April 2019Tornado (EF1)Smallett$75,000A National Weather Service storm survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado that tracked from four miles southwest of Squires, Missouri to five miles northeast of Squires. The tornado was on the ground for approximately 20 minutes along its nearly nine mile track with maximum wind speeds estimated at 107 mph. This tornado was observed by a local resident, and also presented multiple TDSs on radar. The tornado damaged thousands of trees, a church on Highway 14 and VV and a couple of outbuildings. The tornado tracked northeast from touch down to approximately one mile northeast of Squires, east of Highway 5, before turning and tracking north northeast finally lifting about a half mile north of Highway 14.
January 2008Tornado (EF0)Tigris$75,000A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-0 tornado tracked across rural areas of northwest Douglas County. Several barns and outbuildings were either damaged or destroyed with numerous trees snapped or uprooted.
May 2002HailAva$75,000no account filed
May 2025HailAva$60,000Report of baseball size hail.
April 2020Thunderstorm WindDogwood$50,000Multiple reports were received from several sources across the county. Numerous trees, power lines and poles were reported down with several reports of roads closed with fallen debris. Reports were received from or near the towns of Ava, Rome, Dogwood, Brown Branch, Mt. Zion and Gentryville. Multiple State Highways were impacted with fallen debris including 76, 14, 5, K and B along with several county roads. No structural damages or injuries were reported.
May 2009Tornado (EF1)Mt Zion$50,000A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-1 tornado touched down near Mt. Zion and tracked about one mile to the northeast. The tornado caused minor home damage, destroyed a barn, and uprooted several trees.
September 2006HailAva$50,000A severe thunderstorm produced baseball size hail breaking 70 skylights at a Walmart supercenter.
April 2021Thunderstorm WindBlanche$40,000A barn and home suffered minor damage near Highway 14 and County Road 352.
April 2008Tornado (EF0)Topaz$40,000A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-0 tornado touched down in rural eastern Douglas County. One home sustained major roof damage while two other buildings were destroyed.
May 2021LightningAva$37,000Lightning struck the Ava High School damaging seven network switches.
December 2018Thunderstorm WindTopaz$30,000The fire department reported estimated 70 mph winds at Highway 76 and Highway EE. Several power outages were reported from downed lines and broken power poles.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindAva Muni Meml Arpt$30,000Several large trees fall on garages, a vehicle and across the road at the Ava Country Club. The report was relayed via media contact.
March 2010LightningSquires$30,000Lightning struck a car repair shop which caught fire and burned to the ground.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindVanzant$30,000Downburst winds destroyed one barn and damaged a roof to a second barn.
February 1999Flash FloodCountywide$30,000no account filed
May 2025HailAva$25,000Report of golf ball size hail.
October 2019Tornado (EF1)Rippee$25,000A National Weather Service storm survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado began along Bryant Creek in southern Douglas County and proceeded towards the northeast throughout the tornado duration. The tornado then crossed Highway 14 and moved to the southeast of Drury and Vanzant before lifting near Highway 76 to the east of Vanzant. Hundreds to thousands of trees were snapped or destroyed along the tornados path, as well as damage to several outbuildings with one outbuilding being completely destroyed. The tornado was on the ground for a total length of 16.45 miles lasting for 15 minutes and had a maximum wind of 100 miles per hour and a maximum path width of a 450 yards.
April 2014Thunderstorm WindAva$25,000A sturdy 30 feet by 50 feet garage was removed from the foundation and blown 200 yards to the east.
April 1974Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 1973Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
October 1969Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 2024Tornado (EF0)Cross Rds$20,000A NWS storm survey concluded that an intermittent EF-0 tornado touched down one mile north of Bradleyville in Taney county and tracked northeast into Douglas County. Utilizing Sentinel-2 satellite data, swirl marks were evident in Douglas County as the tornado tracked across an open field and then damaged trees into a hill before dissipating.
May 2011Tornado (EF1)Dogwood$20,000A NWS storm survey team determined that an EF-1 tornado touched down one mile southwest of Dogwood and tracked to the northeast to the southeast of Seymour in Webster County. Numerous trees were either snapped or uprooted along that path. Several outbuildings were destroyed or damaged. One home suffered minor roof damage.
May 2009LightningAva$20,000A barn caught on fire and burned to the ground from a lightning strike.
May 2009Tornado (EF2)Goodhope$20,000A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-2 tornado touched down two miles west of Goodhope and tracked northeast for about two and a half miles. The tornado tore a roof off of a home along with damaging numerous trees.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindColdspring$20,000Severe straight line winds destroyed a barn located in rural northern Douglas County.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindVanzant$20,000Thunderstorm winds downed power lines and uprooted trees.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindSquires$15,000High winds from a strong to severe storm caused damage to an old barn.
July 2018Flash FloodCross Rds$15,000Excessive rainfall caused flash flooding on County Road 441. A small tributary of Brown Branch washed out a section of County Road 441 making it impassable.
April 2015Tornado (EF1)Vanzant$15,000A NWS storm survey found an EF-1 tornado tracked near Vanzant with an approximate 1 mile long path. Several outbuildings were destroyed and numerous trees were uprooted. Several power lines were blown over. Winds were estimated up to 100 mph.

Mines and quarries

27 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 27 workings inside this county. 6 still produce and 21 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken10
Iron8
Sand and Gravel, Construction7
Lead2

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Russell Corn LandLeadPast Producer
Unknown - LeadLeadPast Producer
E. H. Carroll Sand and GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Matherly Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Pattillo Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Sanders & Son PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Trappist Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Unknown - S+GSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Welton Sand and Gravel PitsSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Able LandIronProspect
Albert Robison BankIronPast Producer
Browning LandIronPast Producer
Hare LandIronPast Producer
Mapes LandIronPast Producer
Mccrary LandIronPast Producer
Unknown - IronIronPast Producer
Wood LandIronPast Producer
Ava QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Barnes QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Hart QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Silvey QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Singleton 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 - SsStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

62

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 Douglas 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.