De Soto, Missouri
20 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1901 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Valle Township. It lies in ZIP code area 63020. It stands on Tanyard Branch. The Survey maps it on the De Soto quadrangle. 6,449 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 502 feet above sea level.
On record in De Soto
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 1 record
Central School Campuslisted 2009
Population over time
2 figuresDe Soto grew from 6,400 to 6,449 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 | 6,400 | |
| 2020 | 6,449 | +49 (+1%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
13 surveys from 20 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.
- 1901 USGS De Soto quadrangle1:125000, 3 printings
- 1901 USGS Hillsboro quadrangle1:125000, 2 printings
- 1930 USGS De Soto NE quadrangle1:24000
- 1949 USGS Saint Louis quadrangle1:250000
- 1949 USGS St. Louis quadrangle1:250000
- 1955 USGS De Soto NE quadrangle1:24000
- 1958 USGS De Soto NE quadrangle1:24000
- 1960 USGS De Soto quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1962 USGS St. Louis quadrangle1:250000
- 1963 USGS St. Louis quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
- 1966 USGS St. Louis quadrangle1:250000
- 1981 USGS De Soto quadrangle1:24000
- 1985 USGS Festus quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
91 since 2003Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 91 fires within 5 miles of De Soto between 2003 and 2019, burning about 168 acres in total. None started naturally. 4 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 |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 54 |
| Debris and open burning | 18 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 8 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 4 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 4 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 2 |
| Smoking | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 178414-05008-09092018-1315 |
| 5 September 2015 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 127970-05007-09052015-2018 |
| 3 September 2013 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 28 September 2013 | Equipment and vehicle use | 5.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 12 September 2015 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 128390-05007-09122015-1411 |
| 26 August 2011 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 30 July 2017 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 8 June 2016 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | 137371-05007-06082016-1639 |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 18 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 18 workings within 5 miles of De Soto: 18 past producers. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Lead, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Copper, Iron. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown - Barite | Barium-Barite | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Lead + Zinc | Lead, Zinc | Past Producer | ||
| Prentiss Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Vineland Tunnel & Hill Shaft | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Skewe's & Valle's Copper Mines | Copper | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Copper | Copper | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Copper | Copper | Past Producer | ||
| Frech Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Ls | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Ls | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
54 since 1993Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names De Soto in 54 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 27 hail, 22 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 2 lightning. The reports record 1 death. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2003 | Flash Flood | De Soto | 1 killed | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | $100,000 | County sheriff reported numerous trees and power lines down. About a dozen homes were damaged mainly from the falling trees. About 10 vehicles were also damaged by the falling trees. |
| April 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | $50,000 | A local newspaper reported wind damage to trees and a mobile home southeast of De Soto. Part of the roof was blown some distance from the original spot. A storm spotter reported wind gusts to 60 mph. |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | $10,000 | no account filed |
| August 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous large tree limbs in DeSoto. Also, a large tree was blown over onto Highway V just northwest of Valles Mines. |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | $2,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down a tree onto power lines. |
| August 2006 | Lightning | De Soto | $2,000 | At least three homes were reported struck by lighting. Only minor damage was reported. |
| April 1995 | Tornado (F0) | De Soto | $200 | A spotter reported a brief touchdown in a wooded area near the Jefferson-St.Francois county line. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | Thunderstorm winds downed power lines in De Soto. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous tree limbs between DeSoto and Olympian Village. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous large tree limbs and power lines around town. |
| April 2012 | Hail | De Soto | - | Large hail fell across De Soto with the biggest stones being tennis ball size. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | Thunderstorm winds uprooted a large tree. |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous large tree limbs around town. |
| April 2007 | Hail | De Soto | - | Penny size hail was reported at Olympian Village. |
| May 2006 | Hail | De Soto | - | The hail fell in the Timber Creek Resort. |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | Thunderstorms winds blew down numerous large trees, tree limbs and power lines. Several of the trees landed on homes and cars causing minor to moderate damage. The roof of a business in De Soto was blown off. |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | Amateur radio spotters reported some large tree limbs down. |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | The local police department reported several large tree limbs blown down. |
| May 2004 | Hail | De Soto | - | Storm spotters reported 3/4 inch hail. |
| May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | Amateur radio spotters reported 60 mph wind gusts and a few trees blown down. |
| October 2004 | Hail | De Soto | - | Storm spotters reported nickel size hail in the Olympian Village area northeast of De Soto. |
| August 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | A local radio station reported trees down in De Soto. |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | The second of 2 severe thunderstorms roared through De Soto with wind gusts approaching 100 mph. Widespread trees and power lines were down knocking power out to the entire town. Damage assessment of the area conducted by the State Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross revealed the following:. Single family homes: 6 destroyed, 27 with major damage, and 111 with minor damage. Mobile homes: 1 destroyed, 2 with major damage, and 2 with minor damage. At the De Soto Senior and Junior High Complex, the Junior High gymnasium roof collapsed and the Senior High suffered roof damage. Teachers and students returning from a track meet wisely took refuge in a room beneath the gymnasium floor and escaped injury. Windows were also broken and virtually all trees on campus were downed. The scoreboard and the press box at the football field were also destroyed. Two businesses in town suffered major roof damage and the Parkview Baptist Church in the southeast part of town lost its entire roof. There was also significant tree and some house damage to the west and southwest of De Soto. On Dodson Road, one home was destroyed and another suffered major roof damage. Both homes sat on a ridge with a clear view to the west. In both cases, the garage doors blew in resulting in one home losing its entire roof and the other home part of its roof. Witnesses reported seeing a black and green mass covering the entire west horizon. At the home that lost its entire roof, there were nine people inside. Everyone went to the basement and escaped injury. |
| May 2003 | Tornado (F0) | De Soto | - | A small tornado formed along a bowing thunderstorm causing tree damage just south of the High School Complex. |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | The first of 2 severe thunderstorms roared through De Soto causing widespread tree and power line damage. The bulk of the damage occurred from the middle to south part of town. |
| June 2001 | Hail | De Soto | - | The De Soto Police reported 3/4 inch hail. |
| May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | De Soto police reported trees and power lines down. |
| May 1997 | Hail | De Soto | - | Skywarn spotters reported 3/4 inch hail. |
| April 1995 | Hail | De Soto | - | Dime-size hail was reported by a spotter in the De Soto area. |
| April 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | A local newspaper reported wind damage to trees and a mobile home southeast of De Soto. Part of the roof was blown some distance from the original spot. A storm spotter reported wind gusts to 60 mph. |
| May 2016 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| October 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| May 2011 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| February 2006 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| February 2006 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| June 2006 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| November 2005 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| November 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| November 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| July 2002 | Lightning | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| April 2001 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| April 2000 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| April 2000 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| February 1999 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| April 1998 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| April 1997 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Hail | De Soto | - | no account filed |
| March 1996 | Hail | De Soto | - | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Briarwood Estates | 1.9 miles | 20 | |
| Victoria | 3.1 miles | 20 | |
| Summer Set | 3.4 miles | 21 | |
| Vineland | 4.3 miles | 21 | |
| Olympian Village | 5.2 miles | 17 | |
| Hematite | 5.8 miles | 17 | |
| Oakvale | 6.0 miles | 17 | |
| Knorpp | 6.0 miles | 17 |
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 De Soto | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q952961 | 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 716761. 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.












