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Mercer County, Missouri

23 topographic sheets cover 17 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
Mercer County within Missouri

What the record shows

  • 140 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 1 property here is on the National Register of Historic Places, listed as a building.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 17 populated places in this county; 17 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
Leo Ellis Post #22, American Legion Buildingbuilding199696000478

Wildfire, 1997 to 2018

83 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 83 of them, burning about 2,295 acres. None started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined43
Debris and open burning31
Smoking5
Equipment and vehicle use4

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
19 April 2014Debris and open burning327 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
22 March 2018Debris and open burning250 acresMissouri Department of Conservation177104-02319-03222018-1645
15 March 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined200 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
20 March 2015Missing data/not specified/undetermined125 acresMissouri Department of Conservation120934-02319-03202015-1537
17 April 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined125 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
11 April 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined118 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
17 April 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined114 acresMissouri Department of Conservation177454-02319-04172018-2327
15 March 2018Smoking102 acresMissouri Department of Conservation177106-02319-03152018-1618

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

Storms, 1955 to 2025

60 of 189 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 189 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 1 injury and about $525,030 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail89
Thunderstorm Wind67
Tornado17
Flash Flood12
Funnel Cloud2
Flood1
Heavy Rain1

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
April 1973Tornado (F4)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
May 2004HailPrinceton$25,000no account filed
June 1960Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
April 1960Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
April 1960Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1959Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
September 1959Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
September 1959Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1958Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
April 2010Thunderstorm WindPrinceton$20,000The west side of a truck shop, on the north side of town was destroyed. There was also roof damage and multiple tree limbs down, reported across town.
April 2010Thunderstorm WindPrinceton Kaufman Ar$15,000A farm building roof collapsed from thunderstorm winds, estimated up to 60 mph.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindModena$10,000Homeowner estimated 80 mph winds with a storm that moved through Modena. Windows were blown out by the strong winds.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindMill Grove$10,000A machine shed as destroyed and the debris was tossed several hundred feet east. Power poles were also snapped near Mill Grove.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindPrinceton$8,000A small barn was destroyed one mile south of Princeton. Tree limbs and power lines were also reported down in Princeton.
September 1993HailSaline$5,000no account filed
July 1957Tornado (F0)not stated$2,500no account filed
July 2001Thunderstorm WindPrinceton$2,000no account filed
June 2010Thunderstorm WindGoshen$1,000Winds were estimated up to 70 mph. Numerous 5 to 6 inch tree limbs were reported down in Princeton. Sheet metal was blown off buildings in town square.
May 2003Tornado (F0)Princeton$1,000Brief 20 second tornado touchdown reported by spotters along E highway, north of ZZ, or 10 miles southeast of Princeton. Minor damage reported to trees and an outbuilding.
July 2010Tornado (EF0)Princeton$500A brief EF0 tornado touchdown was observed 5 miles east of Princeton at 20:26 CST, and lifted at 20:27 CST. The only damage observed, was a destroyed shed.
April 1955Tornado (F1)not stated$30no account filed
August 2025Thunderstorm WindSouth Lineville-Trees uprooted just south of the Iowa state line along US Highway 65 north of Mercer.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindMercer-Damage to a structure along US Highway 65 along with a snapped power pole.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindMercer-Wires down and widespread power outages in northern Mercer County.
June 2025Heavy RainSaline-Personal weather station in far NW Mercer County just south of the Iowa border reports 5.95 inches of rain over the course of about 36 hours.
September 2025Thunderstorm WindSouth Lineville-Downed tree limbs reported in the Lineville area near the Iowa state line.
April 2024Tornado (EF0)Mill Grove-A weak EF0 tornado began southeast of Spickard east of 7th Avenue, producing sporadic and intermittent tree damage along its path. The tornado tracked north-northeast across Hwy B and County Line Road into Mercer County before dissipating north of Jasper Road.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindRavanna-Estimated wind gusts of 60 mph in the community of Ravanna.
May 2024HailMercer-Quarter sized hail was reported in Mercer.
May 2024HailRavanna-Two inch sized hail was reported in Ravanna.
March 2023HailPrinceton-A supercell produced hail across Princeton in central Mercer County, with 1.5 hail being the largest hail report received from the town.
March 2023HailModena-A supercell produced golf ball sized hail in far southern Mercer County northwest of Spickard.
March 2023Thunderstorm WindMill Grove-A metal lean-to was knocked over.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindMill Grove-Large tree branches downed across Mill Grove.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindPrinceton-Large tree branches downed across Princeton.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindMill Grove-Large tree branches downed across Mill Grove.
August 2023Flash FloodMercer-Heavy rain led to flash flooding in Mercer and Grundy Counties. A water rescue was performed on US 65 north of Spickard.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindGoshen-Several trees were uprooted in the western part of Mercer County. Location and time was estimated via radar.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindPrinceton-Public reported 60 mph wind.
March 2021Thunderstorm WindModena-Outbuilding was blown down in the Moderna area. There was also damage to some vehicles and power poles were snapped.
June 2021Flash FloodPrinceton Kaufman Ar-Water rescues occurred at Highway 136 and Highway 65 in Princeton.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindPrinceton-Emergency management reported 60 mph wind.
June 2021Flash FloodModena-Emergency management reported that gravel roads just west of Route U were running over with water.
June 2021Flash FloodPrinceton-An ambulance barn was evacuated due to flooding rains.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindMercer-There was a Twitter report of some power poles blown down near Lake Marie.
May 2019Flash FloodPrinceton Kaufman Ar-Princeton received several hours of heavy rain, which caused significant flash flooding in the city. Damage estimates are unknown.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindGoshen-Public reported a 60 mph wind gust.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindPrinceton Powells Ar-Several tree limbs in the 2-3 inch range were broken.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindPrinceton-Tree limbs of various sizes and conditions were down near Princeton.
March 2017Tornado (EF1)Goshen-Several outbuildings were damaged or destroyed across portions of Mercer County from a tornado embedded within a QLCS on the evening of March 6.
September 2016Thunderstorm WindHalf Rock-Several trees of unknown size and condition were down near Princeton.
August 2015Flash FloodPrinceton-There was some minor flash flooding on Hickland Street and Ada Street in Princeton.
November 2015Thunderstorm WindRavanna-Broadcast media estimated 70 mph winds near Princeton.
November 2015Tornado (EF0)Princeton-Within the line of severe thunderstorms a brief tornado occurred near Princeton.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindGoshen-Multiple trees were blown down along route U.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindPrinceton-A 6 inch tree limb was blown down, along with numerous other 2 to 3 inch limbs.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindMill Grove-Several power outages were reported in Princeton.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindMercer-A member of the public reported a 60 mph wind gust near Mercer, Missouri.
June 2014HailPrinceton-Along with the hail, 70 mph winds were reported.
June 2014Tornado (EF1)Princeton Powells Ar-The tornado damaged a single family home and destroyed several hog storage buildings.

Mines and quarries

60 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 60 workings inside this county. 2 still produce and 58 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken49
Sand and Gravel, Construction9
Limestone, Dimension2
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
Ballew QuarryLimestone, Dimension, Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Fullerton QuarryLimestone, DimensionPast Producer
Ballast Pit LakeSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Buren QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Franklin Twp QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Harrison Twp QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Marion Twp QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Mcclain QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Mcdowell QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Mercer QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Princeton Quarrye I SargentStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Ravanna Twp QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenUnknown
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnkStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Washington Twp QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

17

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 Mercer 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.