Iron County

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Iron County, Missouri

Iron County is in the south central part of the State. It is bounded on the north by Washington, Crawford and St. Francois Counties; east by St. Francois, Madison and Wayne Counties, south by Reynolds and Wayne Counties; the west by Reynolds, Dent and Crawford Counties. It has a land area of 353,000 acres of which 78 percent is forest land. The surface is broken by spurs of the Ozark range of mountains, with the highest point in the State being top of Taum Sauk Mountain in Iron County with an elevation of 1,772 feet above sea level.

Iron County was established by a special act of the State Legislature on February 17, 1857. The first settlements made in what comprises Iron County were in the Belleview Valley. About 1805, Ephraim Stout from Tennessee, settled in the "Lost Cover" as it was called by the Delaware Indians and built a cabin on the creek which bears his name. In 1861, Ulysses S. Grant received his commission papers of Brigadier General from President Lincoln in Iron County. Pilot Knob was the scene of a bloody civil war battle on September 27, 1864.

The public school system was inaugurated in 1866. Prior to that time numerous private schools had been started, one of the principal ones being the Arcadia High School, founded in 1849, by Rev. J.C. Berrymand and conducted under control of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Iron County was the birthplace of 4-H in Missouri. In 1914, B. P. Burnham, then county superintendent of schools is credited with organizing the first 4-H clubs in Missouri.

Today, Iron County is home of approximately 11,000 residents. The economic situation is difficult with industries closing, including The Doe Run Company with lead mines in Viburnum and surrounding areas and a smelting plant at Glover. However, there are numerous small businesses, merchants, and boutiques operating in the towns of Iron County.

Source: Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri; Iron County Magazine 2002-2003

Please refer to the following websites for statistical information on Iron County:

• the Census for Iron County socio-economic QuickFacts,
• the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service for Iron County agricultural information,
• the Missouri Department of Economics for economics data for the region,
• the Arcadia Valley Chamber of Commerce for tourism and business-related information,
• the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission for background information on the community's development programs,
• the Missouri Kids Count Database on the situation of children in Iron County,
• the MissouriFamilies.org net for the state of the Iron County families

The following websites introduce more generally to Iron County and its communities:

• a websites developed by the Iron County Action Plan Committee for Iron County;
• a website of the town of Viburnum, which is located in the north-western part of Iron County;
• check today's weather in Ironton at the National Weather Service.

 

 

Resources for Southeast Missouri Communities

• Southeast region community page

Missouri-wide Community Development Resources

• University of Missouri Extension Community Development main page
• Extension Publications Search for community development information.
• MU Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis
• Alianzas Learn how to bridge cultural differences in your community.
• Community Development Academy Explore ideas to empower your community.
• Community Policy Analysis Center Find information to support local decision making.
• EXCEL Develop leadership talents in your community.
• Fire and Rescue Training Institute
• Food Circles Networking Project Assure local food supplies.
• Law Enforcement Training Institute
• Local Government CECH-UP Teach young people about their community.
• Industrial Assessment Center - Saving Energy in Missouri: manage energy costs of public buildings.

Note: Links to commercial websites do not imply endorsement.

Return to the Iron County main page.
		University of Missouri Extension Iron County ironco@missouri.edu Updated 04/16/07