Dublin, Missouri facts for kids

Dublin was once a small community in Barton County, Missouri, in the United States. It was located right on the border with Jasper County, about a mile north of the town of Jasper. The community got its name from the famous city of Dublin, Ireland.

For a while, Dublin and what is now Jasper were sometimes called "Midway." However, that name really belonged to the settlement in Jasper County. The main road that went through Dublin later became part of the Jefferson Highway. This same road continues south and is now Main Street in Jasper.

Why Did Jasper Grow More Than Dublin?

Jasper grew much bigger than Dublin when the Missouri Pacific Railroad arrived. Even though both communities were on the railroad's path, Jasper got the train station. This happened because the railroad company couldn't agree on a deal with E.C. Morlan. He was the main shopkeeper and landowner in Dublin at the time.

What Happened to Dublin?

After the year 1900, the community of Dublin slowly started to disappear. In the 1960s, a new part of U.S. Route 71 was built right through the old town site. This new road included a bigger, modern bridge over the railroad and Coon Creek.

Today, there isn't much left to show that Dublin ever existed. You might see one house, a large MFA Oil propane storage tank, and a few dead-end driveways where homes used to be. You can also find some old foundation pieces along Coon Creek. These mark where the local grist mill, which ground grain, once stood.

For over 100 years, the main road had a slight bend at the county line. In 2001, this bend was straightened out. This allowed for a new, all-weather bridge to be built over Coon Creek, replacing the old crossing that sometimes flooded.