From the record
2 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
58 topographic sheets cover 44 settlements here, and 2 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
2 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
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 | Property | Type | Listed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church of the Holy Trinity | building | 2017 | 100001352 | |
| Greer Mill | building | 2006 | 05001551 |
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 504 of them, burning about 12,782 acres. 6 started naturally and 181 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Arson/incendiarism | 181 |
| Debris and open burning | 177 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 63 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 37 |
| Smoking | 15 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 15 |
| Natural | 6 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 4 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 3 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 1 |
| Fireworks | 1 |
| Other causes | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. 6 of them were set deliberately.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 April 1997 | Arson/incendiarism | 780 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | TUPELO |
| 28 November 2002 | Arson/incendiarism | 709 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | DECKARD HOLLOW |
| 19 February 2011 | Arson/incendiarism | 587 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | CONNER SPRINGS |
| 3 April 1997 | Debris and open burning | 460 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | COLD FRONT |
| 4 November 2010 | Arson/incendiarism | 427 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | SCHOOL HOUSE HOLLOW |
| 28 November 2017 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 382 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | TURNER SOUTH |
| 23 April 2007 | Arson/incendiarism | 328 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | HURRICANE |
| 2 July 2012 | Arson/incendiarism | 270 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | BIG BOTTOM HOLLOW |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 345 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 17 injuries and about $19,120,030 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Hail | 116 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 115 |
| Flash Flood | 57 |
| Flood | 25 |
| Tornado | 22 |
| Heavy Rain | 9 |
| Funnel Cloud | 1 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1970 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 7 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| December 1982 | Tornado (F4) | not stated | 6 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| October 1984 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 1 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| December 1982 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| May 2024 | Tornado (EF0) | Calm | 1 hurt, $200,000 | A NWS storm survey concluded that an EF-1 tornado occurred in far southeast Oregon County to the east of Myrtle. Two homes suffered siding damage, five barns/outbuildings were destroyed, along with numerous trees suffering damage that ranged from limb damage to being uprooted along County Road 288 before the tornado crossed the Eleven Point River near the Myrtle Access and crossed into Ripley County north of County Road 286. One injury was reported. Damage cost estimates only include the Oregon County portion of the tornado track. |
| December 1967 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 hurt, $25,000 | no account filed |
| April 2017 | Flash Flood | Alton | $4,000,000 | Numerous county roads and bridges were damaged by flash floods. Several campgrounds and river access areas were severely damaged across the county. This report will contain the total dollar estimate for flood damage to infrastructure, businesses, and homes across Oregon County. $3M in damages were reported to roads alone in the county. |
| November 2005 | Tornado (F2) | Thayer | $1,500,000 | A National Weather Service storm survey team revealed that an F-2 tornado touched down 9 miles east of Thayer near Highway V. The tornado continued on a path 300 yards wide to 8 miles northeast of Myrtle. Two mobile homes were destroyed and several other homes were heavily damaged along the tornado path. |
| April 2011 | Flash Flood | Billmore | $1,000,000 | Widespread flooding of low water crossings and rural routes were reported.||The total cost estimate for flooding damages for Oregon County for this entire episode has been included. This includes roads, bridges, and structures which were affected. |
| May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rover | $1,000,000 | Sixty to 80 mph wind gusts impacted all of Oregon County. Significant tree damage was observed countywide, while numerous outbuildings and homes sustained damage. It was relayed to the National Weather Service that several homes in the community of Koshkonong had windows that were blown out. Roof damage was widespread in all communities of Oregon County. |
| March 2008 | Flash Flood | Rover | $1,000,000 | Eight to nine inches of rain fell over Oregon County. Widespread flooding occurred along all low areas that typically experience flooding during periods of excessive rainfall. |
| March 2025 | Tornado (EF3) | Koshkonong | $800,000 | A 24 mile long tornado path was determined by a combination of NWS survey, storm reports, and satellite damage to have moved from just north of Koshkonong to 2 miles north of Alton before lifting 8 miles northeast of Alton. Maximum width was approximately a half mile wide though it was likely considerably narrower in places. While much of the path was to trees along with several outbuildings, the tornado damaged a few homes including a south facing ground level home off County Road 402 where it caused EF3 damage. The track continued northeast of Alton into the Mark Twain National Forest with satellite detecting an intermittent path of uprooted trees to near the Eleven Point River at Turners Mill. |
| December 2015 | Flash Flood | Calm | $500,000 | Highway 142 was closed near the Eleven Point River. Numerous low water crossings across the county were flooded. Several county roads were damaged. Several campground areas along the Ozarks Scenic Riverways were damaged. This storm report will contain the damage estimates for the entire county for this event. |
| March 2025 | Tornado (EF3) | Rover | $400,000 | This is the beginning of a long-track EF-3 tornado that began south of Rover, MO and tracked northeast before lifting in southern Reynolds County. The peak wind speed was 165 mph with a maximum width of 800 yards. The tornado initially touched down around 2 miles northeast of Brandsville, then moved south of Rover where it pushed two homes off their foundation before continuing northeast through wooded areas. The tornado then took the roof off another home but left internal walls intact along Highway DD and again at the north end of County Road 331. It was also at this point that it caused the collapse of a pair of new high voltage transmission line metal support polls rated to withstand 90 mph winds before going back into wooded areas where satellite imagery depicted periodic uprooted trees into the Mark Twain National Forest. Thousands of trees were uprooted along its path. The tornado then traveled northeast into Shannon and eventually Carter Counties. |
| April 1984 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| November 2024 | Flood | Calm | $61,000 | 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 2017 | Tornado (EF0) | Thayer | $50,000 | An EF-0 tornado touched down on the northeast side of Thayer. Numerous trees were uprooted and damage. Some homes had minor damage. Estimated maximum winds were up to 85 mph. |
| April 2008 | Flash Flood | Thomasville | $50,000 | One to two inches of rain fell over Oregon County. Any areas that typically flood during periods of excessive rainfall were flooded. The community of Thayer appeared to be impacted the most. Several homes and businesses were flooded. Also in Thayer, a section of Highway 63 was impassable to motorists due to flash flooding. |
| April 1999 | Tornado (F0) | Thayer | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Koshkonong | $40,000 | A few trees were blown into power lines. |
| April 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thayer | $30,000 | no account filed |
| July 2023 | Hail | Garfield | $25,000 | Hail up to ping pong balls in size was reported in a rural location. Minor roof and vehicle damage was reported. |
| December 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thayer | $25,000 | Several trees and power poles were blown over around Thayer. A large barn structure was completely destroyed. A picture was sent in from social media. |
| June 1968 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| April 2025 | Flash Flood | Alton | $20,000 | Several city streets were flooded causing vehicles to become stranded. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thayer | $20,000 | Multiple large tree limbs were reported down. A few power outages were also reported. |
| January 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Couch | $20,000 | Four outbuildings suffered moderate damage or were destroyed. Two of the buildings lost their walls. One wall was brick which was destroyed scattering bricks into a near by field. The location was near County Road 232 and Highway EE. |
| May 2011 | Tornado (EF1) | Billmore | $20,000 | A NWS survey team determined that an EF-1 tornado with winds 90 to 100 mph occurred in southern Oregon County. The tornado touched down about three miles north of Mrytle and lifted about five miles north of Mytle. One tree, about three feet in diameter was snapped and several other trees were uprooted with large limbs blown down. Three outbuildings had minor roof damage. The path width was about 100 yards. |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thayer | $20,000 | Microburst wind gusts stripped shingles off of several houses and caused widespread tree damage near the community of Thayer. |
| January 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Koshkonong | $20,000 | no account filed |
| May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thayer Mem Arpt | $15,000 | Fifteen to 20 trees were damaged by high winds with some light damage to buildings at the Thayer Country Club. |
| April 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thayer | $15,000 | no account filed |
| October 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thayer | $10,000 | A stray storm produced wind damage to the roof of a home and damaged some trees along Highway OO. |
| December 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Couch | $10,000 | An old barn was blown down and destroyed and several trees were damaged south of Alton on Highway EE. |
| May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alton | $10,000 | A large tree fell on to a truck in Alton. This report was from social media. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alton | $10,000 | Several power lines and trees were blown down. Several main roads were blocked by trees and power lines down. |
| June 2014 | Hail | Alton | $10,000 | no account filed |
| May 2011 | Hail | Couch | $10,000 | no account filed |
| November 2003 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alton | $10,000 | no account filed |
| February 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alton | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rover | $10,000 | no account filed |
| April 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alton | $6,000 | no account filed |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rover | $5,000 | A large tree was downed and minor shingle damage occurred. |
| May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thayer | $5,000 | Trees and power lines were reported down and blocking the roadway at the intersection of 7th and Pine Streets. |
| May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thayer | $5,000 | A circus tent was blown down in Thayer. Several trees and power lines were blown down across Highway 63. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alton | $5,000 | A mobile home was blown off its foundation. |
| May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Job | $5,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down along County Road 244. |
| April 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alton | $5,000 | Thunderstorm wind gusts damaged the roof of a church and knocked over a few trees. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alton | $5,000 | Severe thunderstorm wind gusts knocked over a large tree and landed on a car. |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alton | $5,000 | Thunderstorm wind gusts downed a few power lines. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Thayer | $5,000 | Reported by the county sheriff and Missouri Highway Patrol (Troop G). A local newspaper also reported numerous power poles and trees snapped off with approximately 3,000 people without power across the county. |
| June 1994 | Hail | Alton | $5,000 | Reported by the county sheriff and Missouri Highway Patrol (Troop G). A local newspaper also reported numerous power poles and trees snapped off with approximately 3,000 people without power across the county. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alton | $5,000 | Reported by the county sheriff and Missouri Highway Patrol (Troop G). A local newspaper also reported numerous power poles and trees snapped off with approximately 3,000 people without power across the county. |
| October 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Myrtle | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Myrtle | $3,000 | Power lines and trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds. |
| June 1964 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500 | no account filed |
| May 1957 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500 | no account filed |
| March 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alton | $2,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed two trees in Alton. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rover | $2,000 | Two large trees were blown down on Highway P west of Alton. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 106 workings inside this county. 4 still produce and 102 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Iron | 90 |
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 6 |
| Iron, Zinc | 3 |
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 2 |
| Iron, Manganese | 1 |
| Zinc, Lead | 1 |
| Gold, Iron | 1 |
| Kaolin, Iron | 1 |
| Lead, Silver | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Gold Mine | Gold, Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Emilie Mine | Zinc, Lead | Past Producer | ||
| Joe Kolosky Prospect | Lead, Silver | Prospect | ||
| Unknown - Iron & Clay | Kaolin, Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Manganese & Iron | Iron, Manganese | Past Producer | ||
| E C Mainprize Quarry and Mill | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | 1943 | |
| Unknown - Ls | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| C.S.&R Zinc Mine | Iron, Zinc | Past Producer | ||
| Hess Zinc Mine | Iron, Zinc | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron & Zinc | Iron, Zinc | Past Producer | ||
| Bowers S&G Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| Bowers Sand & Gravel Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | 1954 | |
| Doss and Harper Sand Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | Surface | |
| Sharp Sand & Gravel Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | Surface | |
| Unknown - S&G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - S&G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Ab and Carl Johnson | Iron | Occurrence | Surface | |
| Alvie Judd Jr. Mine | Iron | Past Producer | 1932 | |
| Alvie Judd Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Amos Cozzins Mine | Iron | Past Producer | 1930 | |
| Amos Watson Mine | Iron | Past Producer | 1939 | |
| Arthur Arnold | Iron | Occurrence | Surface | |
| Ball Mine | Iron | Past Producer | 1940 | |
| Beulah Jolliff Land | Iron | Prospect | 1932 | |
| Burgesser Mine | Iron | Prospect | 1907 | |
| Carl Johnson Prospect | Iron | Occurrence | Surface | |
| Carson Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Carson Iron Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Charles Johnson Prospect | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Clyde Led Be Her Prospect | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Cold Rock Hollow Mine | Iron | Past Producer | Surface | |
| Cold Rock Hollow Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Dewey Minich Property | Iron | Occurrence | Surface | |
| Doan-Ives Iron Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Drew Whitten Mine | Iron | Prospect | 1945 | |
| Elbert Roberts Mine | Iron | Past Producer | Surface | |
| Erman Mcgibney Property | Iron | Occurrence | Surface | |
| Everett Hardwick Mine | Iron | Past Producer | 1952 | |
| Fanny Norman Prospect | Iron | Prospect | 1911 | |
| Flat Pond Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Frank Devers Prospect | Iron | Prospect | Surface | |
| Frank Judd | Iron | Occurrence | Surface | |
| Freeman Prospect | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Gus Hubble Prospect | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Harold Dills Mine | Iron | Prospect | Surface | |
| Hayden Pressley Property | Iron | Past Producer | Surface | |
| Irvin Dill | Iron | Past Producer | 1942 | |
| J.Q.Haltman Prospect | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Jessie Jewell Property | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Johnson Property | Iron | Occurrence | Surface | |
| L.O. Huddleston | Iron | Prospect | Surface | |
| L.S.Huff Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Mrs. Alma Overstreet | Iron | Past Producer | 1944 | |
| Mrs.Ella Roberts Property | Iron | Past Producer | 1936 | |
| Mt. Nebo Bank | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Nebo Mt. | Iron | Prospect | 1942 | |
| Old Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Old Russell Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Pete Neiddleker Place | Iron | Occurrence | Surface | |
| Ragan Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Ray Gladden Property | Iron | Prospect | 1895 | |
| Raymond Warren | Iron | Occurrence | Surface | |
| Rebecca Brazeal Land | Iron | Prospect | 1930 | |
| Ridington Bank | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Roy Leamon Property | Iron | Occurrence | Surface | |
| Thayer Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Limonite | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Limonite | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Limonite | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Limonite | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Limonite | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Limonite | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Limonite | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Limonite | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Limonite | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Limonite | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Limonite | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Virgil Bay | Iron | Past Producer | 1943 | |
| W.B. Ford | Iron | Past Producer | 1951 | |
| Willard Williams Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Wrenfrow Prospect | Iron | Prospect |
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.
Billmore township · 65690 · Near Happy Hollow · Billmore quadrangle
14 sheets, 1941 to 1997
Ozark township · 63935 · Near Midnight Hollow · Riverton quadrangle
14 sheets, 1941 to 1997
Falling Spring township · 65588 · Near Thomasville Hollow · Greer quadrangle
14 sheets, 1931 to 1997
Cedar Bluff township · 63942 · On Frederick Creek · Billmore quadrangle
14 sheets, 1941 to 1997
Jeff township · 65791 · On South Fork Janes Creek · Myrtle quadrangle
12 sheets, 1944 to 1984
Cedar Bluff township · 63942 · On Colvin Creek · Billmore quadrangle
14 sheets, 1941 to 1997
Goebel township · 65606 · In Hollis School Hollow · Many Springs quadrangle
13 sheets, 1944 to 1997
Big Apple township · 65775 · On Elk Creek · Brandsville quadrangle
13 sheets, 1943 to 1986
Jobe township · 65690 · On Lick Branch · Myrtle quadrangle
12 sheets, 1944 to 1984
No longer a settlement
Goebel township · 65606 · Near Big Bottom Hollow · Greer quadrangle
14 sheets, 1931 to 1997
Falling Spring township · 65588 · Near Carters Shop Hollow · Greer quadrangle
14 sheets, 1931 to 1997
Falling Spring township · 65588 · Near Brown Hollow · Greer quadrangle
14 sheets, 1931 to 1997
No longer a settlement
Piney township · 65606 · On Sanders Branch · Many Springs quadrangle
13 sheets, 1944 to 1997
Thayer township · 65791 · Near Crazy Spring Hollow · Thayer quadrangle
13 sheets, 1943 to 1986
Moore township · 65438 · On Middle Fork Eleven Point River · Thomasville quadrangle
13 sheets, 1945 to 1997
King township · 65588 · Near Buck Bay Hollow · Greer quadrangle
14 sheets, 1931 to 1997
King township · 63941 · Near Sitton Valley · Wilderness quadrangle
14 sheets, 1944 to 1997
The vanished settlements of Oregon County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.