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Alpha, Missouri facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Alpha is an unincorporated community in Grundy County, in the U.S. state of Missouri.

History

The town of Alpha, first called Lickskillet, came into existence around 1850 when a store was opened by Samuel Dunham. At one point the town grew to a population of 200 and had a grocery store, two blacksmith shops, a dry goods store, two drug stores, a water powered mill, a furniture factory, and four doctors.

In 1887 the Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul Railroad Company established the town of Laredo on the west side of Medicine Creek, bypassing Alpha on the east side of the creek. This railway division point, midway between Kansas City and Ottumwa, Iowa dictated that jobs and prosperity would come to Laredo instead of Alpha . This caused Alpha citizens and businesses to relocate to Laredo. Ultimately, the Alpha Post Office was closed in 1904.

  • Laredo’s First 100 Years, 1987, Published by the City of Laredo, Missouri.
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