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Polk County, Missouri

87 topographic sheets cover 42 settlements here, and 4 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

4 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Missouri within the United States
Polk County within Missouri

What the record shows

  • 753 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 4 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 3 buildings and 1 structure.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 42 populated places in this county; 42 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

4

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
Bolivar Public Librarybuilding200303000652
George Dimmitt Memorial Hospitalbuilding201212000101
First National Bankbuilding201313000839
North Ward Schoolstructure201111000442

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

247 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 247 of them, burning about 4,454 acres. 1 started naturally and 16 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning141
Missing data/not specified/undetermined55
Equipment and vehicle use20
Arson/incendiarism16
Smoking11
Other causes1
Power generation/transmission/distribution1
Natural1
Recreation and ceremony1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
23 August 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined772 acresMissouri Department of ConservationFANCY FENCE
2 March 2006Arson/incendiarism250 acresMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
22 March 1994Debris and open burning220 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
14 April 2001Arson/incendiarism185 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
22 March 1994Debris and open burning125 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
13 April 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined108 acresMissouri Department of Conservation47TH ROAD
27 April 1993Smoking100 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
9 November 1999Debris and open burning100 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named

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

Storms, 1955 to 2026

60 of 858 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 858 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 10 injuries and about $55,112,960 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail305
Thunderstorm Wind268
Flash Flood156
Flood54
Tornado38
Heavy Rain33
Funnel Cloud3
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
December 2015Flash FloodPleasant Hope1 killed, $500,000A 56 year old man was swept off of Highway H by flash flooding of the Pomme De Terre River. Nearly all low water crossings across the county were flooded and several suffered damage. Several county roads sustained damaged from flood water. This storm report will contain the damage estimates for the entire county for this event.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindHumansville4 hurt, $50,000Four people were injured when a pole barn was destroyed and a mobile home damaged.
August 1999Thunderstorm WindHumansville2 hurt, $5,000no account filed
May 2009Thunderstorm WindKnox1 hurt, $7,000,000Seventy to 90 mph winds caused massive damage across much of Polk County. The central and southern sections of the county was impacted the greatest. Hundreds of outbuildings were either heavily damaged or destroyed. The communities of Bolivar and Pleasant Hope experienced damage to several hundred structures. At Southwest Baptist University, a large tree fell on a car that was occupied by a student. The student was injured and transported to the hospital. The Marion C. Early High School gymnasium experienced significant damage. In Tin Town, a farm experienced signficant damage to the home and all outbuildings.
December 2002Tornado (F1)Humansville1 hurt, $500,000no account filed
September 1959Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurt, $2,500no account filed
June 2007Flash FloodPleasant Hope1 hurtA thunderstorm containing heavy rain became stationary over southern Polk County causing significant flooding. Numerous roads and low lying areas became dangerous to vehicles. Water rescues occurred on sections of Highway 215 and County Road 562 near Pleasant Hope. One injury occurred near a flooded home in Pleasant Hope where a family was rescued from the flooding.
April 2024HailBolivar$9,550,000Hail ranging from baseball to softball in size fell to the northwest, north and east of Bolivar. 200 homes at an average of $32,000 suffered damages to siding, roofs and windows, and 350 cars were damaged, many totaled.
August 2007Flash FloodEudora$9,000,000The remnants of Tropical Storm Erin caused serious flooding across southern and central Polk County. Numerous secondary roads were washed out along with many low water crossings. Specific locations that were flooded include a bridge on Highway W near its intersection with Highway 123, a section of Highway 215 west of Eudora where the Turkey Creek intersects the highway, a section Highway 123 south of Eudora, a few streets in the city of Bolivar, a section of Highway 13 near the Polk and Greene county Line experienced 5 feet of flash flood water, all roads leading in and out of Pleasant Hope became impassable, and areas of Pleasant Hope flooded with a few houses impacted.
April 2022HailBolivar$5,500,000Golf ball to tennis ball sized hail and 50 mph winds were reported in Bolivar. Approximately 150 homes suffered severe damage to roofs, siding and windows. An equal number of cars suffered significant damage, with most 2014 model year and older totaled by insurance companies. This damage figure accounts for all damage in Polk County, Missouri for this event.
May 2003Tornado (F2)Dunnegan$3,700,000no account filed
April 2023HailBolivar$3,000,000Baseball sized hail was reported in town. Emergency management reported 170 houses suffered damaged along with numerous cars. This entry includes all damages reported in Polk County during this event.
March 1990Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
December 1971Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
June 2024Flash FloodDunnegan$2,200,000A widespread flood event occurred in Polk County during the early morning hours of June 9th. Between 4 and 6 inches of rainfall fell in Polk County which caused the Pomme De Terre River and its tributaries to rapidly increase. There was damage to over 450 miles of gravel roads in the county which caused 2.2 million dollars in damage. Several low water bridges were damaged and a new bridge was damaged which caused 720,000 dollars in damage.
May 2009Tornado (EF1)Brighton$2,000,000A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-1 tornado touched down approximately two miles northwest of Brighton, and tracked north across southern Polk County. The tornado lifted approximately two miles east southeast of Bolivar. The tornado damaged or destroyed several outbuildings and barns, and caused moderate to severe damage to frame homes. In addtion, numerous trees were uprooted.
January 2020Tornado (EF1)Fair Play$500,000A National Weather Service survey determined that an EF1 tornado touched down to the southwest of Fair Play in Cedar County and tracked to the northeast for a total of 8.8 miles, lifting west of Dunnegan in Polk County with maximum winds of 110 mph. Shortly after touchdown and downing trees in Cedar County, the tornado completely destroyed a manufactured home as it crossed the county line at South 10th Road into Polk County. The tornado then continued tracking to the northeast. It passed just to the west and northwest of Fair Play before crossing Highway 123. The tornado lifted just to the west of Highway 13 and to the north of East 380th Road in Polk County. Along the path of the tornado there were several trees uprooted or snapped, damage to a few homes, and several outbuildings destroyed. The tornado produced EF1 damage with maximum winds up to 110 mph and a max width of 50 yards. The tornado was on the ground for 14 minutes along an 8.8 mile path.
April 2013HailBolivar$500,000There were reports of broken windows and damage to siding on homes. The estimated damage cost for the entire county including the city of Bolivar due to this storm will be in this event.
October 1998Flash FloodCountywide$450,000no account filed
May 2021Tornado (EF1)Bolivar Mem Arpt$300,000A National Weather Service survey determined that an EF1 tornado briefly touched down destroying a workshop building and causing significant damage to another. Several trees were uprooted and multiple travel trailers suffered minor damage. The tornado was very short lived but witnessed by multiple people. Maximum wind speeds with the tornado were estimated at 95 mph and a width of 50 yards.
April 2019Tornado (EF1)Graydon Spgs$300,000A National Weather Service storm survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado occurred. Damage associated with the tornado near Eudora was first noted with the downing of limbs west of Highway 123. The tornado intensified as it crossed the highway with several trees snapped in a convergent manner before continuing into remote areas. The damage path was again visible along Farm Road 546 where the tornado took the roof off a home, damaged another and overturned a recreational vehicle before diminishing to broken limbs along and east of Farm Road 60. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at 100 mph.
April 2026HailFlemington$250,000Hail up to the size of baseballs was reported in a rural portion of Polk County near the town of Flemington. Some homes, outbuildings and vehicles suffered damage.
July 2023HailHalf Way$250,000Hail up to two inches in size was reported in town. Damage to several vehicles occurred along with minor roof damage.
April 2022HailFair Play$250,000Softball sized hail was reported in the town of Fair Play. Significant roof and vehicle damage occurred as the hail moved through the town. Damages for this event have been included in the Bolivar event entry.
April 2011Flash FloodViolet$250,000Eight low water crossings were flooded along the Pomme De Terre River. Six other county roads were flooded at low water crossing throughout the county.||The total cost estimate for flooding damages for Polk County for this entire episode has been included. This includes roads, bridges, and structures which were affected.
April 2026HailAdonis$200,000Hail to the size of hen eggs was reported along the lake. Several vacation cabins had minor roof damage with minor damage to a few vehicles noted as well.
April 2024HailBolivar$200,000Hail to the size of golf balls was reported in the northern portions of Bolivar. Limited reports of damage to roofs and vehicles occurred.
April 2024HailBolivar$200,000Hail up to half dollars in size was reported. Minor damage to roofs and vehicles occurred.
May 2023HailBolivar Mem Arpt$200,000Golf ball sized hail was reported on the campus of Southwest Baptist University. Multiple vehicles suffered damage.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindBolivar Mem Arpt$150,000Multiple power lines and trees were reported down. Some of the power lines fell across Highway 13 blocking traffic. An outbuilding suffered significant damage.
April 2024HailBolivar$120,000Hail up to two inches in size was reported with minor roof and vehicle damage occurring.
April 2026HailMorrisville$100,000Hail to the size of golf balls was reported with only minor damage to a few vehicles and roofs of homes.
April 2017Flash FloodBolivar$100,000Numerous city streets including Highway 83 were flooded and impassable. Several homes and business sustained flood damage across the county. This report will contain the total dollar estimate for flood damage to infrastructure, businesses, and homes across Polk County.
July 2015Flash FloodRimby$100,000Lindley Creek was flooded near Highway P in northeast Polk County. This storm report will contain the overall storm damage estimates across the entire Polk County for this storm event. Numerous roads, bridges, and low water crossings were heavily damaged.
June 2015Flash FloodBolivar$100,000Numerous city streets experience minor street flooding. Numerous county roads and low water crossings were flooded and impassable. The Polk County Jail reported flooding into the building. This storm report will contain the overall storm damage estimates across the entire Polk County for this storm event. Numerous roads, bridges, and low water crossings were heavily damaged.
March 2008Flash FloodHumansville$100,000Major flooding along the Pomme De Terre River caused several structures to be flooded in Pleasant Hope. All low areas that typically flood during periods of excessive rainfall were flooded, with damage reported to roads and some bridges.
May 1996Thunderstorm WindBolivar$100,000no account filed
April 2024HailBolivar$80,000Half dollar sized hail was reported. Some minor roof damage occurred.
May 2021Tornado (EF1)Van$75,000A National Weather Service survey determined that an EF1 tornado touched down and traveled 1.2 miles with maximum estimated windspeeds of 95 mph. Along the path of the tornado a large hay barn was heavily damaged and multiple trees were uprooted. The width of the tornado was near 50 yards wide.
November 2010Tornado (EF1)Brighton$75,000NWS storm survey team determined that an EF-1 tornado touched down one mile south of Brighton. The path of the tornado was approximately one mile long and 200 yards wide. Two out-buildings were destroyed and an additional out-building and house were moderately damaged.
November 2010Thunderstorm WindBrighton$75,000A roof was lifted off a house and debris was deposited on the north side of Highway 13 approximately one half mile south of Brighton. A barn was heavily damaged. A gooseneck cattle trailer was damaged. No injuries were reported.
June 2008Flash FloodBolivar$75,000Excessive rain caused several homes and businesses to flood.
July 2021Flash FloodBolivar$60,000Excessive rainfall caused flooding across the city of Bolivar. Some homes were flooded or had sewage water in their basements. Numerous roads were also flooded and impassable.
February 2000Tornado (F0)Polk$60,000no account filed
December 2019Tornado (EF0)Fair Play$55,000A National Weather Service survey confirmed a brief EF-0 tornado began near Fair Play, MO southwest of Highway 123 and tracked for nearly a mile and a half with maximum winds of 80 mph. The tornado tracked northeast with a maximum width of 75 yards, crossing Highway 123 and lifting just before Barren Creek. A few farm buildings were damaged along the path, in addition to several uprooted trees, snapped trees and tree branches downed.
September 2014Flash FloodViolet$50,000Several county roads were reported flooded and damaged across the northern portions of Polk County.
February 2012Tornado (EF1)Knox$50,000This is a continuation of the EF-1 rated tornado that touched down in eastern Dade County at 23:26 and continued into Polk County west of Aldrich before lifting two miles southeast of Aldrich. The tornado damaged or destroyed a total of 10 barns and outbuildings along with causing roof damage to two homes. Most of this damage was in Dade County. The tornado crossed both the Big Sac and Little Sac arms of the Stockton Lake.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindBolivar$50,000Three mobile homes were heavily damaged. A tree was blown down on another mobile home.
January 2008Flash FloodHumansville$50,000Training severe storms over the southeastern half of Polk County caused significant flash flooding. Several low water crossings and roads were washed away as rainfall measurements ranged from 1.5 to 3 inches. A few specific locations that experienced flooding include sections of county roads S170, E530, and S237. The Pomme De Terre River flooded near the city of Pleasant Hope.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindPleasant Hope$50,000A few outbuildings were damaged from severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 2005Flash FloodBolivar$50,000Slow moving thunderstorms trained over central Polk County, including the city of Bolivar, causing major flash flooding in and near the city. Several roads and highways were closed. Water flooded a nursing home, along with several houses.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindBolivar$50,000A local agricultural office reported numerous trees down and structural damage to homes and businesses.
September 1993Thunderstorm WindBolivar$50,000A metal storage building was wrapped around a utility pole and several carports were blown down or knocked of their foundation.
May 2011HailMorrisville$50,000no account filed
April 2000WildfireCountywide$50,000no account filed
May 2023HailRimby$40,000Hail to the size of hen eggs was reported. Minimal damage was reported to a home and a few vehicles.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindCliquot$40,000Multiple large limbs were snapped and several outbuilding suffered moderate to significant damage.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindHumansville$40,000Numerous trees, power poles and power lines were reported down between Humansville and Flemington.
September 2005Thunderstorm WindPleasant Hope$40,000Downburst winds destroyed two barns in rural southeast Polk County. The barns were located on County Road 530, near the intersection with Highway KK.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindPleasant Hope$35,000A National Weather Service storm survey determined that 85 mph straight line winds destroyed three barns/outbuildings. Two other barns were damaged. Metal pieces from the buildings were blown across a pasture. Minor roof damage occurred to two homes. A few trees limbs and trees were blown down.

Mines and quarries

23 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 23 workings inside this county. 2 still produce and 21 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken14
Lead, Zinc2
Stone2
Iron2
Lead1
Fire Clay (Refractory)1
Clay1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Plummer FarmLeadPast Producer
Unknown - ClayClayPast Producer
Unknown - FireclayFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
Akard LandIronPast Producer
Henney MineIronPast Producer
Unknown - FlintStonePast Producer
Unknown - FlintStonePast Producer
Unknown - Lead + ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Unknown - Lead + ZincLead, ZincPast Producer
Bear Creek QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Cliquot QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Fletcher QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Mcreynolds QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LimestoneStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LimestoneStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LimestoneStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LimestoneStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LimestoneStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LimestoneStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LimestoneStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LimestoneStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Vilas QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Wishart QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

42

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 Polk 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.