Bethany, Missouri
12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1948 and the latest in 1986. It stands in Bethany Township. It lies in ZIP code area 64424. It stands on Buck Branch. The Survey maps it on the Bethany quadrangle. 2,915 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 892 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Bethany
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 2 records
- Hamilton Houselisted 1985
- Slatten Houselisted 1984
Population over time
2 figuresBethany fell from 3,292 to 2,915 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3,292 | |
| 2020 | 2,915 | -377 (-11%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
6 surveys from 12 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1948 USGS Bethany quadrangle1:62500, 4 printings
- 1955 USGS Nebraska City quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1957 USGS Nebraska City quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Nebraska City quadrangle1:250000
- 1984 USGS Bethany quadrangle1:24000
- 1986 USGS Maryville quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
41 since 1997Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 41 fires within 5 miles of Bethany between 1997 and 2014, burning about 826 acres in total. None started naturally. 9 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 12 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 9 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 8 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 7 |
| Smoking | 3 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 1 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 June 1997 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 19 June 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 18 June 1997 | Equipment and vehicle use | 3.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 3 May 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 7 April 2013 | Debris and open burning | 3.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 4 April 2002 | Debris and open burning | 80 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 3 April 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 28 April 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 20 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 20 workings within 5 miles of Bethany: 17 past producers, 3 producers. 3 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arney Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Nelson Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Sperry Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Sperry Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Unk | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unk | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unk | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unk | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unk | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unk | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 73 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Bethany in 73 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 40 hail, 24 thunderstorm wind, 4 flash flood, 3 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2004 | Hail | Bethany | $90,000 | School and numerous cars damaged by the hail. |
| April 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | $25,000 | Numerous buildings were reported to have lost roof vents in town. Numerous sheds were also blown over throughout Bethany. |
| May 2019 | Hail | Bethany | $20,000 | Several windows were broken from wind blown quarter sized hail. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | $5,000 | Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated to 70 mph, downed trees and powerlines in the Bethany area. |
| May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | $5,000 | Several car windows were blown out by thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 70 mph. |
| May 2004 | Hail | Bethany | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | $3,000 | Numerous trees and powerlines downed within the town of Bethany, due to severe thunderstorm wind gusts to 60 knots. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | $1,000 | Power lines were blown down. Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 60 mph. |
| May 2025 | Hail | Bethany | - | Quarter sized hail reported in Bethany. |
| April 2024 | Hail | Bethany | - | Half dollar sized hail was reported on the southwest side of Bethany. |
| June 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | Estimated gusts up to 60 mph in Bethany with power outages on the east side of town. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | Trees were downed and power went out across Bethany. |
| May 2023 | Hail | Bethany | - | Mostly quarter to golf ball sized hail with a few stones up to baseball size was reported just south of Bethany. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | Fire department reported 60 to 70 mph wind, and emergency management reported power poles down in Bethany. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | There was a report of 65 mph wind with power poles down in Bethany. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | There was a report of powerlines down in Bethany. |
| May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | Several 2 foot diameter trees were blown down. Several windows were blown out from wind blown hail and debris. Damage estimates unknown. |
| May 2019 | Flash Flood | Bethany | - | Flooding of 5 to 6 feet over roads in Bethany continued due to heavy rains through the morning and afternoon. |
| May 2019 | Flash Flood | Bethany | - | Several vehicles were stranded in Bethany due to rushing flood water. |
| September 2019 | Flood | Bethany | - | US Highway 69 was closed near Bethany due to high water. |
| August 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | A tree was down on Highway 69, just north of Bethany. |
| June 2017 | Flash Flood | Bethany | - | There were reports of numerous flooded roadways in Bethany, as well as water entering the basement of Harrison County Community Hospital. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | A tree was down. |
| July 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | A few 2 to 4 inch tree limbs were reported snapped in Bethany, Missouri. |
| July 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | A member of the public reported a 60 mph wind gust via social media. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | Winds were estimated to be 60 MPH. |
| August 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 60 mph. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | Several tree limbs were reproted down. |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | One large tree down. |
| May 2004 | Tornado (F0) | Bethany | - | Brief tornado touchdown documented by storm chasers. |
| May 2004 | Tornado (F0) | Bethany | - | Brief tornado touchdown at Highway 136 and CC. |
| May 2004 | Tornado (F4) | Bethany | - | Large F4 tornado crossed into Harrison county from Daviess county 5 miles south of Bethany over rural land and then dissipated. |
| April 2002 | Hail | Bethany | - | Also reported damaging wind gusts. |
| June 2000 | Heavy Rain | Bethany | - | The NWS cooperative observer at Bethany reported a 24 hour rainfall total of 5.70 inches. |
| June 1998 | Hail | Bethany | - | Dime-size hail was reported on the south side of Bethany by a local radio station. |
| April 1995 | Hail | Bethany | - | Quarter-size hail was covering the ground across the area. |
| April 1995 | Hail | Bethany | - | Quarter-size hail was covering the ground across the area. |
| July 1995 | Hail | Bethany | - | One-inch hail reported eight miles north of Bethany while dime-size hail was reported in Bethany. |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | A severe thunderstorm produced a 60 mph wind gust in Bethany. |
| August 2019 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| May 2019 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| May 2019 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| May 2019 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| June 2015 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| May 2014 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| May 2014 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| May 2014 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| May 2010 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| September 2010 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| May 2005 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| June 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| October 2004 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| April 2003 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
| April 2003 | Hail | Bethany | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner | 4.1 miles | 9 | |
| Mitchellville | 4.5 miles | 16 | |
| Wildwood | 6.5 miles | 16 | |
| Pleasant Ridge | 6.8 miles | 16 | |
| Blue Ridge | 7.2 miles | 13 | |
| Bridgeport | 8.0 miles | 16 | |
| Martinsville | 8.6 miles | 12 | |
| New Hampton | 8.9 miles | 12 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Bethany | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q831200 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 730057. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
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.





