Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
“Aker Cemetery is a historic cemetery located near Smithville, Missouri. The Aker Cemetery is the only remaining evidence of the initial settlers in the area.”
Wikipedia article Aker Cemetery, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of 39 National Register listings published here for Clay County · listed in 1974 · category: Site.
Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 16 fires within 5 miles of Aker Cemetery in 2006, burning about 15 acres in total. None started naturally. 2 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 | 9 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 2 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 2 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 1 |
| Smoking | 1 |
| Debris and open burning | 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 August 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
| 23 August 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
| 4 July 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
| 31 July 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
| 2 July 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
| 30 June 2006 | Smoking | 1.0 acres | Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
| 10 June 2006 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
| 28 May 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 7 workings within 5 miles of Aker Cemetery: 7 past producers. None of them still produces. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unk | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unk | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unk | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Smithville, the town this property stands in, in 76 storm reports between 1996 and 2025: 37 hail, 30 thunderstorm wind, 5 flash flood, 3 tornado. The reports record 2 injuries. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | 2 hurt, $800,000 | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 mph tore through the Smithville Lake area. Extensive damage was done to a marina, where 40 to 45 boats were damaged, and two of four docks were damaged. A nearby campground was also hit hard, as approximately 20 camping trailers were damaged. Two campers were hospitalized, including one that was inside an RV that rolled over. |
| September 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | $150,000 | Numrous reports of wind damage reported around Smithville Lake. Trees were reported down on homes and fences were blown down. Smith Forks church camp attendant, reported several tents were blown over into Smithville Lake. All persons were accounted for and uninjured. Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 80 mph. |
| September 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | $10,000 | A roof was blown off a house. Docks on Smithville Lake were separated from the shore. Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 80 mph. |
| July 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | $7,000 | no account filed |
| April 2004 | Tornado (F0) | Smithville | $5,000 | Brief landspout tornado. Tore off part of a metal roof from a local business. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Several downed trees on 188th Street. |
| May 2025 | Hail | Smithville | - | Social media report of half dollar sized hail north of Smithville. |
| March 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Tree fell onto a house. |
| May 2025 | Hail | Smithville | - | Social media report of quarter sized hail in Smithville. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Downed wires north of 188th Street south of Trimble. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Damage and blown debris at a construction site near Smithville Lake. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Damage and blown debris at a construction site near Smithville Lake. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Private weather sensor measured 59 knot wind gust near Smithville. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Private weather station measured a peak gust of 57 knots. |
| May 2024 | Hail | Smithville | - | Quarter sized hail was reported on the south side of Smithville Lake. |
| October 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Several reports of power lines down and widespread power outages north of Smithville. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | A ten inch tree limb was down in Smithville. |
| July 2020 | Tornado (EF0) | Smithville | - | A weak storm moving north exhibited some enhanced low level rotation as it crossed a east to west oriented surface boundary. Several reports came to the office about a potential brief tornado in the Smithville area. Some video evidence was submitted and it was confirmed to be a brief tornado that caused no damage to the Smithville area. |
| August 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Public reported 60 mph wind. |
| August 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Public reported 60 mph wind. |
| September 2019 | Hail | Smithville | - | Reported from MPing. |
| May 2019 | Flash Flood | Smithville | - | Twelve inches of water was running over HWY 92 just east of Tillman Road near Smithville. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | A storm produced strong winds near Smithville. Several tree branches were broken and power lines came down along HWY 92. |
| August 2017 | Flash Flood | Smithville | - | US HWY 169 was closed in Smithville due to high water over the road. |
| March 2017 | Tornado (EF2) | Smithville | - | On the evening of March 6, a supercell ahead of a squall line produced a strong tornado that impacted the city of Smithville near Smithville Lake. The tornado formed just west of HWY 169 and did some minor damage to a neighborhood just east of HWY 169. More significant damage was done to a neighborhood along Route W, just east of HWY 169 before the tornado crossed Smithville Lake into Clinton County. At this neighborhood near the intersection of HWY 169 and Route W several houses were completely destroyed with roofs gone, but most external and interior walls still standing. There were also a couple residences that had compete failure of the structure as wind entered through garage doors and uplifted the entire house off the foundation. EF-2 rating was obtained mainly due to lack of structural failure of a majority of the residences. The house that was lifted off the foundation appeared to be a sliding house with winds entering in through a garage door. Surrounding residences had major damage, but not complete failure of structure. Despite the widespread damage from this tornado there were no injuries reported. This tornado crossed Route W and started across Smithville Lake, where it crossed into Clinton County. |
| March 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Estimated 60 mph winds with trailers being moved near the Smithville Hospital. Could be associated with rear flank downdraft from the nearby supercell producing the Smithville Tornado. |
| April 2014 | Hail | Smithville | - | The spotter also estimated 60 to 65 mph winds and the combination of hail and wind stripped paint off of the porch supports. Some roof damage also occurred. |
| May 2014 | Hail | Smithville | - | This hail report was relayed via social media. |
| July 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Filled water cans flew off the porch in estimated 65 mph winds near Smithville, Missouri. |
| April 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Estimated 60 to 65 mph winds with ping pong ball sized hail. |
| August 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 60 mph in Excelsior Springs. |
| May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 60 mph. |
| April 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph. |
| September 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 60 mph. |
| September 2010 | Flash Flood | Smithville | - | One foot of flowing water was reported, across Highway DD near Smithville Lake. |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 65 mph. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Smithville | - | Thunderstorm winds were estimated up to 70 mph. |
| May 2007 | Flood | Smithville | - | The Little Platte River at Smithville crested at 28.27 feet, or 1.27 feet above flood stage. |
| May 2004 | Flash Flood | Smithville | - | Numerous roads closed in Smithville due to heavy rains. |
| June 1998 | Hail | Smithville | - | A Kansas City television station reported one inch diameter hail at Smithville. This hail was also reported to cover the ground. |
| August 2019 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| August 2019 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| September 2019 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| September 2019 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| May 2017 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| May 2017 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| August 2017 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| March 2016 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| June 2015 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| May 2014 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| March 2012 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| May 2011 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| May 2011 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| April 2010 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| April 2010 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| May 2010 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| September 2010 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| September 2010 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| March 2006 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
| April 2005 | Hail | Smithville | - | no account filed |
No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.
Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.
| Photograph | Property | Distance | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Smithville Historic District | 2.4 miles | 2014 |
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 74001071 in Record Group 79. |
| Wikipedia article | Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA. |
| Clay County | All 39 listed properties in this county. |
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