Cato, Missouri facts for kids

Cato is a small, quiet place in Barry County, Missouri. It's not a city or a town with its own government, but rather an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and buildings that are part of the larger county area. You can find Cato on Missouri Route 39, right inside the beautiful Mark Twain National Forest. It's about ten miles northeast of a town called Cassville.

History of Cato

Cato has a bit of history! A long time ago, in 1895, a post office was opened there. This was a place where people could send and receive letters and packages. The post office served the community for many years, finally closing its doors in 1958.

The community of Cato was named after a local Native American person. This shows how important the people who lived in the area long ago were to its history.

You might even hear Cato mentioned in an old movie! The community gets a small shout-out in the 1960 film Elmer Gantry.