Lamar, Missouri
16 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1886 and the latest in 1991. It stands in City Township. It lies in ZIP code area 64759. The Survey maps it on the Lamar South quadrangle. 4,266 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 961 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Lamar
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
Harry Truman Birthplace Memoriallisted 1969
Population over time
3 figuresLamar fell from 4,425 to 4,266 between 2000 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4,425 | |
| 2010 | 4,532 | +107 (+2%) |
| 2020 | 4,266 | -266 (-6%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
10 surveys from 16 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.
- 1886 USGS Carthage quadrangle1:125000
- 1894 USGS Carthage quadrangle1:125000, 5 printings
- 1947 USGS Joplin quadrangle1:250000
- 1949 USGS Joplin quadrangle1:250000
- 1954 USGS Joplin quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1958 USGS Joplin quadrangle1:250000
- 1959 USGS Joplin quadrangle1:250000
- 1962 USGS Lamar South quadrangle1:24000
- 1986 USGS Joplin quadrangle1:100000
- 1991 USGS Joplin quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
28 since 1993Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 28 fires within 5 miles of Lamar between 1993 and 2019, burning about 258 acres in total. None started naturally. 1 was 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 | 14 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 7 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 3 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 2 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 1 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 August 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 178090-00625-08062018-2145 |
| 31 August 2000 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 30 August 2000 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 5.0 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 2 August 2018 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 178089-00625-08022018-1627 |
| 16 August 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 178091-00625-08162018-1448 |
| 10 June 2019 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 189897-00625-06102019-1242 |
| 16 May 1994 | Debris and open burning | 10 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | not named |
| 11 April 2018 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Missouri Department of Conservation | 178086-00625-04112018-0938 |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
3 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 3 workings within 5 miles of Lamar: 3 past producers. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Clay. 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 - Clay | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Ls. | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown - Ss. | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 135 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Lamar in 135 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 53 thunderstorm wind, 51 hail, 18 flash flood, 7 flood. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2011 | Flood | Lamar | $100,000 | Four low water crossings were flooded in central and southern portions of Barton County.||The total cost estimate for flooding damages for Barton County for this entire episode has been included. This includes roads, bridges, and structures which were affected. |
| November 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $75,000 | no account filed |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $50,000 | Numerous trees and large limbs were reported down. Some trees and limbs fell on homes causing minor roof, gutter and siding damage. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $50,000 | A semi truck was blown on its side on I-49 near the Lamar exit. |
| March 2017 | Hail | Lamar | $50,000 | Golf ball size hail damaged several cars and homes. This report will have damage estimates for this storm event. |
| July 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $50,000 | The county sheriff reported trees and power lines down from wind gusts of 60 mph between Lamar and Milford. |
| May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $40,000 | no account filed |
| February 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $25,000 | A roof was completely removed for a residential home. Debris was blown eastward into multiple trees in the backyard. |
| May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $20,000 | Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed a large tree into the living room of a farm home. |
| September 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $18,000 | Trees and power poles were down due to thunderstorms in Lamar. |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $15,000 | A building and several roofs were reported damaged by estimated 75 mph wind. |
| April 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $15,000 | no account filed |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $12,000 | A tractor trailer was overturned southbound on Interstate 49, blocking one lane. |
| April 2017 | Flood | Lamar | $10,000 | A vehicle drove into a flooded Muddy Creek and became submerged. All occupants were able to get out safely. This incident occurred near the intersection of Muddy Creek and NE 30th Lane. |
| November 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $10,000 | Severe thunderstorm winds snapped off several large trees and one barn was damaged east of Lamar. |
| July 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $10,000 | Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed a few trees and power poles in the city of Lamar. |
| March 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Lightning | Lamar | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $5,000 | Two power poles were reported broken by high winds by Barton County Electric COOP. |
| April 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $5,000 | Several trees and power lines were blown down in Lamar. An RV was blown over along Interstate 49. |
| August 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $5,000 | Several large tree branches were snapped in Lamar. There was a building that had the metal roof peeled back. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $5,000 | Several power lines were reported down from fallen tree branches about one mile south of Lamar on Highway KK near 20th Street. |
| June 1994 | Hail | Lamar | $5,000 | Reported by KODE-TV. |
| May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $5,000 | no account filed |
| November 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $3,000 | Straight line winds from a possible microburst destroyed a hog barn and threw a large portion of it on a nearby highway. No other damage was observed from this storm. |
| March 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $2,000 | A tree and power pole were downed in Lamar which caused several hundred power outages. |
| June 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $2,000 | A few power lines were blown down. |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $2,000 | Minor roof damage was reported to a building at the intersection of Highways C and F. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $2,000 | Thunderstorm wind gusts blew down a street sign near the Walmart in Lamar. |
| May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $1,000 | A large tree limb was blown down and damage an out building. |
| November 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $1,000 | Severe thunderstorm wind gusts blew down a power pole one mile west of Lamar on Highway 160. |
| September 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | $500 | Law enforcement officials observed downed power lines from severe thunderstorm wind gusts. |
| April 2026 | Flood | Lamar | - | Flooding was reported on NE 15th Lane at the North Fork Spring River. |
| April 2025 | Flood | Lamar | - | Tributary and small stream flooding in town and along Interstate 49 closed some city streets. |
| May 2025 | Heavy Rain | Lamar | - | Storm total rainfall amount of 3.28 inches from May 23 through May 27. |
| June 2025 | Flash Flood | Lamar | - | Significant street flooding occurred in the city of Lamar due to rainfall amounts of one to three inches in a short time. Several roads were closed in and around Lamar. |
| June 2025 | Flood | Lamar | - | Creek flooding was reported around the city of Lamar due to heavy rainfall. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Lamar | - | Half dollar sized hail was reported. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Lamar | - | Quarter sized hail was reported. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Lamar | - | Half dollar sized hail was reported. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | - | Multiple power outages occurred in the Cities of Lamar and Golden City and surrounding areas. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | - | The Mesonet station north of Lamar measured a 68 mph wind gust. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | - | A wind gust of 70 mph was measured at the Lamar Mesonet site. |
| May 2022 | Flood | Lamar | - | Highway 160 at the low water crossing on the North Fork Spring River was closed due to flooding. |
| May 2022 | Flash Flood | Lamar | - | Multiple city streets were reported underwater by the Lamar police department. |
| March 2021 | Hail | Lamar | - | Penny sized hail was reported. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | - | A home weather station reported a 59.2 mph wind gust. |
| May 2019 | Heavy Rain | Lamar | - | The Lamar Water Station recorded a 24 hour rainfall total of 3.55 inches. |
| May 2019 | Heavy Rain | Lamar | - | A 24 hour rainfall measurement of 5.30 inches was reported. Rainfall continued to fall at the time of the report. |
| May 2019 | Flash Flood | Lamar | - | Heavy rainfall resulted in flooding of numerous streets in the city of Lamar. |
| March 2016 | Hail | Lamar | - | Pea to penny size hail was reported. |
| April 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | - | A large tree was blown down. |
| June 2014 | Flash Flood | Lamar | - | Three low water crossings were flooded in the city of Lamar. |
| April 2013 | Flood | Lamar | - | Heavy rainfall caused the North Fork and Spring Rivers to rise out of their banks across eastern Barton County. Low water crossings and roadways were reported underwater. |
| May 2012 | Flash Flood | Lamar | - | Flooding of secondary roads were reported and several had to be closed across the county. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | - | Several large trees were reported down in the town of Lamar. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | - | A 65 mph wind gust was estimated. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | - | Downburst wind gusts downed a few large tree limbs down. |
| July 2010 | Tornado (EF0) | Lamar | - | A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed that an EF-0 tornado with estimated winds of 75 mph tracked from west to east about one quarter of a mile and uprooted two trees. |
| February 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lamar | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts downed a few tree limbs. |
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.
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 Lamar | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q572172 | 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 720770. 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.









