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Walnut Grove, Missouri

16 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1886 and the latest in 1982. It stands in Walnut Grove Township. It lies in ZIP code area 65770. The Survey maps it on the Walnut Grove quadrangle. 652 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,207 feet above sea level.

Walnut Grove within Greene County

Population over time

2 figures

Walnut Grove fell from 665 to 652 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.

YearPeople Change
2010665
2020652-13 (-2%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 16 printed sheets

Matched 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.

In the county-history sources

6,495 words on this township

History of Greene County, Missouri .., published 1883 names this settlement in its chapter on Walnut Grove Township. These are the passages that mention it, exactly as the scans read.

Walnut Grove township is the smallest civil township in Greene county, but by no means the least in importance. It contains 24 sections of land, the most of which is very valuable. The grove of walnut timl)er from which the township took its name Avas widely known from the earliest period of the settlement of the country. Large quantities of this valuable sort of timber have been taken out of this township and Boone, in recent years, and much of it shipped to the furniture manufactories not onl}'^ of the United States, but even to England and Germany.

Passage source: History of Greene County, Missouri .., published 1883.

It is difficult at this late day to determine who was the very first bona fide settler of Walnut Grove township. Allen Williams came in 1832 and located in section 21, but some time afterward removed to Texas. The same year came Michael Walsh and located on section 22. Walsh was an Irishman. It is stated that one William Mallory built the first cabin which stood on the farm of A. J. McElmore.

Passage source: History of Greene County, Missouri .., published 1883.

Dr. A. S. Clinton was a pioneer physician, and Rev. Wm. Tatum. a Baptist, held religious services at an early day at Mt. Pleasant church, on Clear creek. The nearest school house in early days was the Kelly school house, on section 15, near Walnut Grove. During the tirst few years of Mr. Killingsworth's settlement, game of all sorts was abundant, and it was but little trouble to go out and kill a deer or a number of turkeys at almost any time. Wolves, too were disagreeably plentiful, and exasperatingly bold. The latter animals Avere often hunted on horseback, and this was considered rare sport, and no doubt it was.

Passage source: History of Greene County, Missouri .., published 1883.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Walnut Grove Township - it names this place 27 more 27 times.

Fires near this place

40 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 40 fires within 5 miles of Walnut Grove between 1992 and 2020, burning about 916 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 burning22
Missing data/not specified/undetermined13
Equipment and vehicle use4
Arson/incendiarism1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
23 September 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri Department of Conservation220633-03911-09232020-1635
10 September 1996Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
25 August 2000Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
23 August 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri Department of Conservation220634-03911-08232020-1625
27 July 1997Debris and open burning20 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
19 July 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined590 acresMissouri Department of ConservationWALNUT GROVE
19 April 1994Debris and open burning3.0 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
9 March 2018Debris and open burning48 acresMissouri Department of Conservation176574-03911-03092018-1130

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Greene County

Mines and quarries near this place

5 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 5 workings within 5 miles of Walnut Grove: 5 past producers. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Limestone, Dimension, 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 SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Henney MineIronPast Producer
UnknownLimestone, DimensionPast Producer
Edmondson QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Mugen QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
UnknownStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every working recorded in Greene County

Storms near this place

60 of 70 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Walnut Grove in 70 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 37 thunderstorm wind, 24 hail, 7 flash flood, 1 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.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2007Flash FloodWalnut Grove$2,000,000Excessive rainfall associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin impacted northern Greene County. Numerous roads and low water crossings were washed out and had to be fully repaired. Flooding also impacted a bank in Walnut Grove. Specific locations that were impacted include, hundreds of sections of secondary roads across northern Greene County, a section there Route V between Highway 160 and Route BB, and numerous sections of Highway 123 between Walnut Grove and Willard.
March 2008Flash FloodWalnut Grove$1,000,000Four to seven inches of rain fell over Greene County. Nearly all county roads experienced flooding. The Greene County Emergency Management Director stated that the county had insufficient barracades to block all flooded areas from motorists. An elderly couple was surveying flooded areas along the James River from a park in southeast Springfield when the river was rising so quickly that it eventually surrounded their vehicle and swept them into the river. The 67 year old husband died from a heart attack from the stress of being swept into the river. The wife was later rescued by the Rogersville Swift Water Rescue Team. The rescue attempt took two hours and the car was almost fully submerged by the time the rescue team had positioned themselves near the car.
April 2026HailWalnut Grove$250,000Golf ball sized hail was reported in Walnut Grove. Some vehicles, homes and businesses suffered minor damage.
April 1994Tornado (F1)Walnut Grove$50,000Skywarn spotters reported severe damage to two homes. A mobile home was also hit tearing the roof off and knocking down large trees nearby. A 3-year-old boy was blown off a porch from the high wind but not injured.
April 2019Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$35,000Several outbuildings were reported damaged, an RV was knocked on its side, and multiple trees were downed or damaged.
May 1998HailWalnut Grove$15,000Hail damaged cars.
May 2011HailWalnut Grove$10,000no account filed
October 2012Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$5,000A large tree was blown down. An above ground pool was damaged and a swingset was also destroyed.
September 2012Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$5,000Several power lines were down.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$5,000Severe thunderstorm wind gusts blew a tin roof off of a house.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$5,000Skywarn spotters reported power outages and roads blocked by downed trees.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$5,000Skywarn spotters reported wind gusts to 75 mph at Walnut Grove while the Greene County Sheriff reported wind gusts to 60 mph.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$5,000The volunteer fire department reported trees and power lines down.
April 1993Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$5,000Numerous large trees were blown down. At Fair Grove, several small sheds and outbuildings were destroyed.
July 1996Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$5,000no account filed
June 2024Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$4,000Multiple trees were down in the Walnut Grove area.
October 2012Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$2,000Tree uprooted on a house and an awning was ripped off the house.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$1,000A large tree was down blocking farm road 5 west of Walnut Grove.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$1,000A tree was blown down at Highway BB and Farm Road 61. Time was estimated by radar.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$1,000A tree was blown down at Highway BB and Farm Road 61.
March 1998Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$1,000Thunderstorm winds downed several trees.
April 1993HailWalnut Grove$500Numerous large trees were blown down. At Fair Grove, several small sheds and outbuildings were destroyed.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove$100Thunderstorm wind gusts peeled shingles from a roof.
April 1994HailWalnut Grove$50no account filed
May 2024HailWalnut Grove-Report of quarter size hail.
May 2023HailWalnut Grove-Quarter sized hail was reported.
September 2023Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-Winds were estimated at between 50 and 60 mph.
September 2023Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-Several large limbs were reported down.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-Multiple large limbs were reported down.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-Winds were estimated at 60 mph by the fire department.
March 2017HailWalnut Grove-This hail report was from social media with a picture.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-Winds were estimated up to 60 mph but there were no reports of damage from this report.
August 2016Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-Several large tree limbs were blown down in the Walnut Grove area.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-There were several small limbs blown down.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-Several large tree limbs were blown down.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-Large tree limbs were blown down.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-Several large trees were blown down in Walnut Grove.
June 2014FloodWalnut Grove-The intersection of Highway Y and U was flooded.
May 2013Flash FloodWalnut Grove-A foot of water was over the road in Walnut Grove.
September 2012Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-Several trees were down.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-Winds were estimated around 60 mph by local police. No damage was reported.
March 2008Flash FloodWalnut Grove-Saturated antecedent conditions existed prior to this period of excessive rainfall. Some regional locations experienced record rainfall totals from February and March. One to three inches of rain fell across the county causing widespread flash flooding of low water crossings, county roads, and low lying areas near creeks and rivers. Ultimately, all locations that typically flood during periods of excessive rainfall were flooded.
April 2008Flash FloodWalnut Grove-One to three inches of rain fell over Greene County. Any areas that typically flood during periods of excessive rainfall were flooded. Approximately 160 road closures occurred on secondary roads and state highways.
June 2008Flash FloodWalnut Grove-Widespread flash flooding occurred over Greene County. Specific locations that flooded included a section of Farm Road 137 near its intersection with Cardinal Road, a section of Highway EE near White Capel Memorial Gardens Cemetery, and the intersection of Farm Road 124 and Farm Road 101.
June 2008Flash FloodWalnut Grove-Major flash flooding occurred in the city of Springfield. Thirty five water rescues were performed as hundreds of streets became impassable to motorists. Pearson and Wilson creeks experienced record flooding, while South Creek, Jordan Creek, and Dry Sac Creek experienced near record flooding. Several rainfall measurements over the city of Springfield indicated that widespread four to six inches of rain occurred. Widespread flooding also occurred in rural areas of Greene County. A few locations that flooded within the county included several streets near the community of Republic, a section of Nicholas Road north of Highway AA, numerous sections of Highway CC between Highway 13 and Highway 65, the intersection of Highway 125 and Highway OO, the intersection of Highway 125 and Highway A, a section of Highway O near its intersection with the Sac River, sections of Farm Road 148 and Farm Road 150 near the Brookline area, and the intersection of Farm Road 144 and Farm Road 193.
May 1995HailWalnut Grove-A macroburst damaged many homes, schools and businesses across northern Springfield. A smaller microburst also downed trees in Brookline.
March 2017HailWalnut Grove-no account filed
May 2017HailWalnut Grove-no account filed
April 2012HailWalnut Grove-no account filed
April 2011HailWalnut Grove-no account filed
April 2009Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-no account filed
March 2007HailWalnut Grove-no account filed
March 2006HailWalnut Grove-no account filed
January 2005HailWalnut Grove-no account filed
May 2004HailWalnut Grove-no account filed
May 2003Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-no account filed
May 2003Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-no account filed
July 2003HailWalnut Grove-no account filed
July 2003HailWalnut Grove-no account filed
August 2003Thunderstorm WindWalnut Grove-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Greene County

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 PlaceDistance Sheets
Buckley (historical)1.3 miles16
Phenix2.3 miles16
Harold2.9 miles16
Pearl5.3 miles21
Cave Spring6.1 miles21
Sacville6.5 miles17
Ash Grove6.9 miles16
Hackney9.4 miles21

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 Walnut GroveAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q954111The 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 735899. 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.