Chilton, Missouri facts for kids

Chilton is a small, quiet place in the middle of Carter County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It's what we call an "unincorporated community," which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town does. Instead, it's part of the larger county. You can find Chilton just north of the beautiful Current River, about six miles southeast of a town called Van Buren.

A Glimpse into Chilton's Past

Chilton was officially planned and laid out in 1887. This process, called "platting," is like drawing a map for a new settlement, showing where streets and lots would go. The community was named after James Chilton, who was an early settler and an important person in the area's history.

A post office, which is where people send and receive mail, opened in Chilton in 1888. This was a big deal for the community, as it connected them to the rest of the world. The post office served the people of Chilton for many years, until it closed its doors in 1942. When a post office closes in a small community, it often means fewer people live there, or they get their mail from a nearby town instead.