BlockFrom the record
4 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
Ripley County, Missouri
62 topographic sheets cover 39 settlements here, and 4 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Research this county
What the record shows
- 481 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
- 4 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings.
- 2 of the 4 listings were added during the 1970s.
- The Geographic Names Information System records 40 populated places in this county; 39 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
Places on the National Register
4Every 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Randolph Columbus Barrett House | building | 1976 | 76001115 |
 | Ripley County Courthouse | building | 1976 | 76001116 |
 | Ripley County Jail, Sheriff's Office and Sheriff's Residence | building | 1991 | 91000386 |
| Sylvan School | building | 2002 | 02001109 |
Wildfire, 1992 to 2020
433 firesEvery wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 433 of them, burning about 10,206 acres. 3 started naturally and 157 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 163 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 157 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 62 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 31 |
| Smoking | 7 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 5 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 3 |
| Natural | 3 |
| Fireworks | 1 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. Every one of them was set deliberately.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 February 1992 | Arson/incendiarism | 518 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | not named |
| 15 March 2006 | Arson/incendiarism | 371 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | CUPOLA |
| 27 November 1998 | Arson/incendiarism | 340 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | MORNING AFTER |
| 24 January 2014 | Arson/incendiarism | 316 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 2 April 2007 | Arson/incendiarism | 292 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | CONWAY TWIN |
| 26 November 1998 | Arson/incendiarism | 280 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | BUGGER BOO |
| 25 November 1998 | Arson/incendiarism | 275 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | GOOSENECK #2 |
| 25 November 1998 | Arson/incendiarism | 250 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | FOURCHE |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
Storms, 1967 to 2025
60 of 311 shownThe NOAA Storm Events Database holds 311 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 4 injuries and about $16,411,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Hail | 105 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 95 |
| Flash Flood | 39 |
| Flood | 38 |
| Tornado | 24 |
| Heavy Rain | 7 |
| Funnel Cloud | 3 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2005 | Tornado (F2) | Gatewood | 1 killed, $250,000 | The tornado destroyed a permanent home and a mobile home. Major damage occurred to two other permanent homes. The sole fatality occurred about midway between Gatewood and Briar, where a two-story house was destroyed. The victim was sleeping on the second floor at the time. His body was found in a field about 75 yards from the residence. Two people on the first floor of the house escaped from under the debris without injury. Two mobile homes were unroofed. Many trees were snapped or uprooted. Several trees blocked U.S. Route 160 where the tornado crossed it. Much of the tornado's path was in the Mark Twain National Forest. The average path width was 200 yards. Peak wind speeds were estimated near 140 MPH. The strongest winds and widest path extended from near Tucker to the destroyed house (midway between Briar and Gatewood). |
| March 2025 | Tornado (EF2) | Poynor | 1 hurt, $1,400,000 | A long track EF-4 tornado in Arkansas moved northeast into Ripley County to the southeast of Poynor. It produced EF-2 damage as it continued northeast passing to the southeast of Doniphan and then it made a turn toward the east as it approached U.S. 160. It passed near Fairdealing and continued east into Butler county just north of U.S. 160. The tornado did mainly roof damage to several homes, destroyed a few barns, and several wooden power poles were snapped or leaning. Hundreds of trees were damaged along its path. One person suffered minor injuries in a manufactured home that rolled to the east of Poynor. The estimated peak wind was 125 mph. The total path length of this tornado was 118 miles. |
| January 1973 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| March 2010 | Tornado (EF1) | Owenmont | 1 hurt, $200,000 | The tornado touched down about two miles southeast of Doniphan on the south side of Highway 142, then moved northeast for about a mile and a half. One occupant of a 16-foot camper trailer sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital when the camper overturned. A rental business building was severely damaged. Insulation, some metal roofing, and wall panels were blown up to a few hundred yards away. Several barns were destroyed. About a dozen trees were blown down. About 400 utility customers lost power for several hours when a pole blew down. Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph. The tornado damage then transitioned to straight-line wind damage east of Doniphan. |
| July 2002 | Flash Flood | Briar | 1 hurt, $25,000 | Major flash flooding of creeks occurred in southwest Ripley County. In Gatewood, water from the West Fork Creek forced the evacuation of a residence and flooded Highway 142. A vehicle was swept into the creek, and both occupants were rescued. One of the occupants was moderately injured. Another water rescue was conducted when a vehicle was swept into a creek on Highway P. The motorist was uninjured. Water and debris was over Highway 160 near Briar and just west of Highway C. A few roads were damaged by erosion. |
| May 2017 | Flood | Bennett | $4,700,000 | The Current River rose over six feet above the record flood level, set in 1904. Catastrophic flood damage occurred in Doniphan and surrounding riverbank areas. At the Doniphan river gage, the river crested at 33.13 feet about mid-morning on May 1. The old record crest was 26.80 feet set in March of 1904. The Highway 160 bridge over the Current River was closed. Much of the city of Doniphan was flooded, including about 40 businesses. Of those 40 businesses, 35 received major damage and two were destroyed. The others had minor damage. Approximately 15 homes were destroyed, another 37 homes received major damage, and 9 received minor damage. The Ripley County and Doniphan city government offices were flooded, knocking out 911 emergency telephone service to the county. Some of the flooded buildings were likely to be total losses. Water levels were estimated to be six feet deep in a church. At least a dozen water rescues were conducted by boat. Some of the rescues involved vehicles in high water, and others involved residents of flooded cabins. The Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted 12 water rescues at a location off Highway H at County Road 12. Public property damage alone was estimated at nearly two million dollars. |
| December 1982 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pine | $750,000 | This intense macroburst was centered along U.S. Highway 160 over western and central Ripley County, including the city of Doniphan. The average path width was about 5.5 miles, averaging from two miles north of Highway 160 to about three miles south. Peak wind gusts near 90 mph caused extensive tree damage, in addition to structural damage in the city of Doniphan. The Ripley County courthouse, a nearby commercial business, and the chamber of commerce building lost portions of their roofs. Rain caused water damage to all three buildings. A museum lost metal roofing. Two houses in the city were damaged by a falling tree. Doors were blown off buildings and blown up to 50 yards. Windows were broken. Winds were measured at 79 mph at the Doniphan Fire Department and estimated at 90 mph by the NWS survey team at the courthouse. A tree fell through a trailer home on Highway Y, splitting it in two. A house in Gatewood was damaged by a falling tree. There were numerous power outages around the county. Many roads were blocked by downed trees. |
| March 2008 | Flood | Doniphan | $600,000 | Major flooding of the Current River occurred. At the Doniphan gage, the river crested at 24.11 feet on March 19 at 1 P.M. CDT. Flood stage there is 13 feet, and major flooding begins at 22 feet. This flood crest ranked as the fifth highest in over 100 years of records. More than 15 businesses in Doniphan were closed, and the city hall and police stations were inaccessible due to high water. Several homes were damaged in town. Three people were stuck on the roof of their mobile home in Doniphan. Rescue efforts were hampered by a bridge which was too low to the water for boats to pass. People were evacuated by boat from houses in the downtown area. |
| May 2024 | Tornado (EF2) | Tucker | $575,000 | A long track EF-2 tornado began in southeastern Oregon County before crossing over into Ripley County south of Gatewood. A garage was pulled off of a cabin near the Fourche Creek Conservation area. The track then turned northeastward, then reverted to an eastward direction south of Doniphan. Afterwards, the track continued northeastward towards Fairdealing. Wind appears to have caught the overhang of the roof of a home and mostly removed it, pulling down some exterior walls in the process. The tornado crossed into Butler County just north of US-160E. Several homes sustained gutter and shingle damage along the path. Hundreds of trees were uprooted and snapped along the tornado track blocking access to many roads. A large majority of Ripley County lost power as a result of this tornado and the other morning storms, with roughly half the county still without power by midnight. Estimated peak winds for the Ripley County portion, and the tornado as a whole, were 115 mph. |
| April 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paynor | $350,000 | Approximately 200 trees were blown down. One barn was destroyed, with debris blown into trees. Four vehicles and a tractor that were in the barn were damaged. A home sustained shingle damage and other minor damage. One calf was killed and another injured. The damage was caused by a microburst with peak winds near 100 mph. The damage swath was one-half mile wide by 1 and 3/4 miles long. |
| May 2011 | Flood | Bennett | $300,000 | no account filed |
| May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bennett | $250,000 | A macroburst containing winds estimated up to 95 mph produced major damage across extreme northern Ripley County. The path in Ripley County was nearly 19 miles long and nearly five miles wide. Thousands of large trees were snapped or uprooted. Numerous power lines were blown down or downed by falling trees, causing the worst power outage in the area since the 2009 ice storm. Approximately 30 structures, mainly barns and garages, were damaged or destroyed. Several houses sustained mainly minor roof damage, with one having several windows blown out. Multiple trees were down on houses. Roads were blocked by fallen trees. A wind gust to 63 mph was measured north of Bennett, where large trees were uprooted. |
| April 2011 | Flood | Doniphan | $250,000 | Major flooding occurred on the Current River. At the Doniphan river gage, the river crested at 23.76 feet, which was the fifth highest reading on record. About 15 homes were evacuated by boat. Swift water rescue teams were called into the region from as far as Sikeston and Cape Girardeau to assist with flash flood rescues as well as river flood rescues. One of the teams rescued a couple who were stranded in their vehicle. Several businesses were flooded, including a couple of resorts on the river. Much of downtown Doniphan was flooded. Red Cross shelters were opened. The entrance into Doniphan on Highway 142 was closed because of flooding. |
| November 1984 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| December 1982 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1970 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| December 1967 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| December 2015 | Flood | Doniphan | $200,000 | Major flooding occurred along the Current River. At the Doniphan river gage, the river crested at 22.82 feet around 5 A.M. CST on the 30th. Flood stage there is 13 feet. Jefferson Street, along which the police station and courthouse is located, became impassable due to flooding. About a dozen homes were evacuated. Several businesses were flooded, including a couple of resorts on the river. Parts of downtown Doniphan were flooded. The entrance into Doniphan on Highway 142 was flooded. |
| March 2008 | Flood | Briar | $200,000 | Major flooding was responsible for numerous reports of people stranded in homes. A co-operative observer in Doniphan measured 8.30 inches of rain on March 17 and 18. Firefighters and deputy sheriffs worked for over 24 hours conducting evacuations and rescues by boat. Between 15 and 20 persons were rescued. The Doniphan Police Department received more than 1,600 calls about the flooding in 24 hours. Several churches were opened to provide shelter. Several propane tanks floating in the water were tied up. Numerous roads were closed, including U.S. Highway 160. Some families were stranded for days because roads were flooded by creeks such as Bills Creek, Simpson Creek, and Isaacs Creek. A water rescue was conducted when a pickup truck stalled in floodwaters on Highway 142 near Naylor. Two teenage boys in a small boat took the motorist to dry land, but not before they were nearly overpowered by the current. Damage to county gravel roads was extensive. One gravel road was washed out to a depth of five feet. One bridge on a county road was extensively damaged. Countywide, at least 15 homes were damaged, and two were destroyed. Eleven businesses were damaged. |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $200,000 | Widespread damaging winds occurred. In Doniphan, the roof was blown off a car wash, and a couple of downtown businesses sustained roof damage. Bricks were blown off the facade of another business. Numerous homes sustained minor roof damage, such as shingles blown off. Awnings were damaged. Falling large trees smashed a few cars, and several large trees fell onto houses. Across the remainder of the county, trees fell across roads (both county and state) and across power lines. The winds occurred in advance of precipitation associated with the severe thunderstorms. |
| May 2009 | Flash Flood | Doniphan | $150,000 | Flash flooding in Doniphan resulted in the evacuation of ten people trapped in flooded homes near Quick Creek. Since the flooding rains occurred on the heels of a damaging macroburst earlier in the day, water damage occurred where roofs had not been adequately tarped. The county courthouse in Doniphan sustained major water damage. Major flooding occurred at the high school in Doniphan, where every classroom was flooded and the asphalt parking lots buckled. A watermark on the outside of the main high school building was 18 inches above ground level. Homes near the high school were flooded. Leaks caused minor water damage at the elementary and middle schools. A grocery market was flooded. Flash flooding of Quick Creek in Doniphan caused significant damage. At least one vehicle was totally submerged, and floodwater came several feet up the sides of a house and garage. All secondary roads were covered with water, and 50 percent of the primary roads were covered. A woman and child were rescued from their vehicle that was submerged in waist-deep water. The 24-hour rainfall at Doniphan was 5.03 inches. |
| October 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Doniphan | $120,000 | In Doniphan, numerous trees and power lines were blown down. One of the trees partially landed on a home, causing moderate damage. A mobile home was damaged. A vacant building sustained roof damage and a broken window. A wind gust to 56 MPH was measured in Doniphan. Near Flatwoods, a barn was blown away on BB Highway. On Highway 21 North, a tree fell on some cars and a house. On County Road 142 east of Doniphan, siding was blown off a trailer, and numerous trees and power lines were down. Near Naylor, numerous treetops were blown onto Route W. |
| September 2006 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $110,000 | The flash flooding was most pronounced in Naylor, where more than 20 residents were displaced. Most of the displaced residents were from a senior citizens housing complex that was inundated with one foot of water. Several houses near the complex were filled with a foot of water. Flood damage was extensive in Naylor, where many homes, a nutrition center, a library, and City Hall were flooded. Four single family homes, 24 units of multi-family buildings, and eight businesses sustained minor damage. One business received major damage. Highway 142 was closed at Naylor. Numerous small creeks were out of their banks. A few roads were impassable due to flooding, and one water rescue was conducted. Street flooding was reported throughout Doniphan and low lying areas of the county. The three-day rainfall for the period ending the morning of the 24th was measured at 8.91 inches at Doniphan, as reported by a co-operative observer. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oxly | $100,000 | A swath of straight-line wind damage tracked from Oxly to Naylor, producing tree damage. A couple of the uprooted trees fell onto homes in Naylor. |
| November 2024 | Flood | Doniphan | $100,000 | River levels on the Current River at Doniphan rose into minor flood with an initial crest during the morning hours of the 6th, with a surge of water pushing river levels well into moderate flood cresting at 21 feet early morning on the 7th. River levels dropped below flood stage by the evening hours on the 7th. Nearby streets flooding and some structures were inundated with water near Doniphan. |
| May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Doniphan | $100,000 | There was plenty of tree damage in and near Doniphan, along with power outages. At one point, about 1700 utility customers or 25 percent of the county was without power. A large tree was down on a home in Doniphan. |
| January 2013 | Tornado (EF1) | Flatwoods | $100,000 | The tornado touched down along County Road K-1. Two houses sustained moderate roof damage, including partial loss of rafters. A porch was lifted over a house, and a small boat was blown approximately 150 feet. One barn was heavily damaged. Approximately 40 large trees were snapped or uprooted. The average path width was 100 yards. Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph. |
| October 2013 | Tornado (EF1) | Oxly | $100,000 | Peak winds in this tornado were estimated near 95 mph. Many trees were snapped and uprooted. An attached carport was torn from a home. The roof deck was lifted off one home, damaging some of the interior walls. Debris missiles were impaled into the ground up to two feet deep. Several other homes received minor shingle damage. Some injured or dead cattle were reported. Two trained spotters reported seeing a partially rain-wrapped tornado. |
| December 2012 | Tornado (EF1) | Flatwoods | $100,000 | Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph. The average path width was approximately 100 yards. Approximately 150 to 200 trees were snapped or uprooted. One barn and one outbuilding was destroyed. Square hay bales were blown up to 50 feet, and tin from the barn was lofted into nearby trees. A house lost a section of shingles and roof decking about six feet by six feet in area. The damage was near the intersection of State Highway K and County Road K-6, about 13 miles north-northeast of Doniphan. |
| May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $100,000 | A line of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds crossed Ripley County, causing widespread damage to trees and power lines. A house just off JJ Highway received severe damage. Much of the roof was blown off, and windows and doors were blown in. Utility crews worked to repair about 20 damaged major power lines. Electricity was not fully restored for days. Numerous trees were down on Highway 142 east of Doniphan. Cars were damaged from trees falling on them, and one tree fell on a house. |
| April 1996 | Tornado (F2) | Doniphan | $100,000 | no account filed |
| February 2008 | Tornado (EF1) | Burr | $80,000 | The tornado crossed into Ripley County from Randolph County, Arkansas. There was sporadic tree damage with tops snapped off or uprooted. Several outbuildings (mostly pole barns) were destroyed. Four to five older unattended mobile homes were damaged or destroyed. The last damage noted was an old barn knocked over just southeast of Oxly. The width ranged from 100 to 200 yards. The damage path was broken. Peak winds were estimated near 109 mph. |
| April 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Doniphan | $80,000 | no account filed |
| February 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Doniphan | $75,000 | A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service revealed scattered damage caused by straight-line thunderstorm winds. Estimated peak winds were 75 mph. The damage area paralleled Missouri Highway 142 right through the center of the city from 0.5 mile north of Doniphan to one mile south of Doniphan. The maximum width of the damage area was 1.5 miles. Scattered tree damage occurred across Doniphan, including a large pine tree that was uprooted. A carport was turned and damaged. Several metal flat-bottom fishing boats were overturned at a boat shop. A glass door was shattered at the boat shop. A power pole was snapped near a house that sustained light roof and fence damage. |
| November 2005 | Tornado (F2) | Gatewood | $75,000 | The tornado entered southwest Ripley County from Oregon County. A home and a barn received extensive damage in the community of Tucker, near where the tornado reached its peak intensity and width. Peak winds were estimated near 120 MPH. Average path width was 150 yards. |
| June 2019 | Flash Flood | Doniphan | $50,000 | Swiftly moving water was observed on streets in Doniphan. The high school and elementary school were both damaged by flooding. |
| October 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairdealing | $50,000 | Significant structural damage occurred to a mobile home along Highway JJ near Highway 160. In addition, a roof was blown off a barn and numerous trees were down in Fairdealing. |
| April 2014 | Tornado (EF2) | Hill Top | $50,000 | Thousands of mature large oak and pine trees were snapped and uprooted. One small shed was destroyed, and one larger metal building was unroofed. Some power and communication lines were blown down. This tornado occurred over heavily forested areas of the Current River Valley between Highway 21 and the Current River. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. |
| April 2011 | Flash Flood | Naylor | $50,000 | The city of Naylor was isolated by flooding of roads through the night. Some homes were evacuated by boat throughout the county, and water entered a few homes and businesses. |
| January 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Naylor | $50,000 | Along County Road EE, there was a damage path about 1/4 mile long. Along this path, metal sheds were destroyed, a barn was damaged, and a mobile home was blown off its foundation. On County Road CC, an equipment shed was destroyed. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Purman | $40,000 | Widespread wind damage occurred in Ripley County as a thunderstorm moved northeastward through the area. Fire officials reported a tree snapped off and landed on a shop on Ripley Rte N between N-7 and N-8. There was also damage to tree limbs and an uprooted 80 ft pine tree in Oxly, an uprooted tree on 142E east of Oxly, and a tree snapped off a few feet above the ground that fell onto a power line snapping a pole on Ripley Rte B just north of 142. A spotter reported thunderstorm winds producing damage to trees and power lines south of Oxly. |
| October 2009 | Flood | Doniphan | $40,000 | Moderate flooding occurred on the Current River. At the Doniphan river gage, the river crested at 18.92 feet late in the afternoon of the 31st. Flood stage there is 13 feet. There was considerable flooding of parking lots and streets adjacent to the river. In Doniphan, two vans parked near the river were flooded up to the windshield. Riverside Park in Doniphan was flooded. Water begins to flood homes in Doniphan at a stage of 18 feet. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairdealing | $40,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew windows out of a store and overturned mobile homes. A post-storm survey conducted by local emergency managers indicated a microburst was the likely cause of the damage. The damage path was about half a mile long and 1.5 miles wide, centered half a mile east of Flatwoods. The damage path was oriented from south to north, and included numerous downed trees and power lines. A roof was blown off a mobile home. |
| April 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Doniphan | $35,000 | Moderate damage occurred to three homes, mostly due to trees falling onto roofs. Another home received minor damage due to a power line weatherhead being pulled from the structure by a downed tree. Two vehicles were damaged by falling trees. One vehicle received minor damage, and the other was moderately damaged. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped. The damage area was both north and south of Highway 142 near the intersection of County Road 24. |
| March 2017 | Tornado (EF2) | Hill Top | $30,000 | This rather large EF-2 tornado traveled from approximately six miles north of Doniphan to twelve miles northeast of Doniphan in heavily forested, hilly terrain. The tornado began on the west side of Highway 21, crossed Highway K and the Little Black River, and ended on the Butler County line. Hundreds of large hardwood and pine trees were snapped or uprooted. One barn or shed was destroyed. The tornado reached peak intensity between Highway K and the Little Black River, where peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. |
| April 1999 | Tornado (F1) | Naylor | $30,000 | National Weather Service surveys revealed a short-lived tornado passed through the Naylor area. Witnesses reported the lowest portion of the funnel cloud was not visible near the ground, however, damage along the path of the funnel indicates the circulation was in contact with the ground. The funnel may have been difficult to see given the time of day, which was just after sunset. The first damage was to a metal building at a farm located 1/2 mile southwest of Naylor. Further northeast, the roof of the Lucy Lee Clinic was damaged, shingles were damaged on a few houses, and trees and power lines were down. One of the trees fell on a house. Top winds were estimated near 80 MPH. |
| April 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Doniphan | $25,000 | The metal roof was removed from a house on Highway 160. A tree fell on another house. |
| March 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oxly | $25,000 | A 50-by-100 foot pole barn was destroyed. A shed roof was damaged, and shingles were removed from a home. |
| May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Doniphan | $25,000 | Many trees were blown down throughout the county, including the city of Doniphan. One home in Doniphan sustained roof damage from a fallen tree. Numerous power outages were reported. The automated Doniphan fire weather observation site measured a wind gust to 65 mph. A trained spotter in Flatwoods estimated winds gusted to 60 mph. |
| April 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oxly | $20,000 | The roof was blown off a mobile home, and there was tree damage along Highway H-6 southwest of Naylor. |
| April 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Doniphan | $20,000 | Multiple trees were blown down. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Doniphan | $20,000 | Numerous trees were down in town. A wind gust to 63 mph was measured. |
| July 1998 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $20,000 | no account filed |
| March 2025 | Tornado (EF1) | Oxly | $15,000 | An EF-1 tornado began about two miles east northeast of Oxly. It moved eastward mainly damaging trees. It ripped the roof off of an outbuilding on Highway B just before moving into Butler County just north of the Little Black River. The estimated peak wind was 90 mph. The tornado continued to produce EF-0 damage in Butler county and had a total path length around 8.5 miles. |
| March 2023 | Flood | Doniphan | $15,000 | Moderate flooding occurred on the Current River. On the Doniphan river gage, the river crested at 19.08 feet at mid-morning on the 26th. Flood stage is 13 feet. Water flooded a couple of homes in Doniphan. There was considerable flooding of low-lying woods and fields. |
| May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Doniphan | $15,000 | Numerous trees were down on the north side of Doniphan. |
| May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairdealing | $15,000 | Several trees were down, and one shed was destroyed due to a fallen tree. There was also a little damage to the roof of a mobile home. |
| July 2006 | Flash Flood | Doniphan | $15,000 | Thunderstorms with periods of heavy rainfall over several days saturated the ground, leading to flash flooding. Two separate gages in Doniphan, an automated gage and a co-op observer's gage, measured 7.5 to 8 inches of rain over a 48-hour period. Flooding was reported across low-lying areas in Doniphan, affecting some streets and a school. A vehicle was abandoned due to high water. A dumpster was carried into a ditch. Some creeks were out of their banks. |
| April 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paynor | $10,000 | Tractor trailers were moved by wind in Poynor. Several small trees were damaged. |
Mines and quarries
30 recordedThe Survey's mineral resources record lists 30 workings inside this county. 3 still produce and 27 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Iron | 17 |
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 11 |
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown - Ls | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Ls | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| B.L. Williams Sand & Gravel | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Luther Cobb S&G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| T.L. Wright Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Unknown - S+G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - S+G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - S+G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - S+G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - S+G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - S+G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - S+G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - S+G | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Asel Ponder Land | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| C H Martin Land No 2 | Iron | Prospect | ||
| C H Martin Land No 3 | Iron | Prospect | ||
| D B Young Bank | Iron | Prospect | ||
| D K Ponder Land | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| I M Towell Land | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| J T Williams Land | Iron | Prospect | ||
| King Bee Ranch | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Levi C Dalton Land | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Mo Lumber + Mining Co Shaft No 1 | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Mo Lumber + Mining Co Shaft No 2 | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Mo Lumber + Mining Co Tract No 13 | Iron | Prospect | ||
| P Stoops Land | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Ripley County Land | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Iron | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| W W Stephens Land | Iron | Past Producer |
Every populated place in the county
40Named 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.
-
Beaverdam
Johnson township · 63943 · Near Murphy Hollow · Hogan Hollow quadrangle
14 sheets, 1934 to 1983
-
Doniphan
Doniphan township · 63935 · On Quick Creek · Doniphan South quadrangle
12 sheets, 1939 to 1983
-
Dryden
Doniphan township · 63935 · Flatwoods quadrangle
12 sheets, 1935 to 1983
No longer a settlement
-
Greenville Ford
Johnson township · 63935 · On South Prong Little Black River · Flatwoods quadrangle
12 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Kingbee
Johnson township · 63939 · Near Big Spring Hollow · Flatwoods quadrangle
12 sheets, 1935 to 1983
No longer a settlement
-
Leibig
Union township · 63935 · On East Fork Fourche Creek · Poynor quadrangle
13 sheets, 1939 to 1997
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Martinsburg
Varner township · 63955 · On Caldwell Creek · Oxly quadrangle
11 sheets, 1935 to 1983
No longer a settlement
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Paterson Ford
Johnson township · On South Prong Little Black River · Flatwoods quadrangle
12 sheets, 1935 to 1983
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Pleasant Grove
Jordan township · 63935 · On Barton Branch · Doniphan North quadrangle
13 sheets, 1939 to 1997
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Poynor
Poynor township · 63935 · Near Pigeon Roost Hollow · Poynor quadrangle
13 sheets, 1939 to 1997
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Pratt
Current River township · 63935 · On Merrell Branch · Doniphan South quadrangle
12 sheets, 1939 to 1983
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Riga
Thomas township · 63953 · Near Sylvan Ridge · Oxly quadrangle
11 sheets, 1935 to 1983
No longer a settlement
The vanished settlements of Ripley 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.