Excelsior, Atchison County, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Excelsior
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Company Town
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| Excelsior, Atchison County, Missouri | |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| County | Atchison |
| Founded | 1857 |
| Movement of Wheel Mill | 1867 |
| Named for | The Excelsior Wheel Mill |
Excelsior was once a small town in Atchison County, Missouri. It is now considered an extinct town, which means it no longer exists as a community. It was founded in 1857. The town was located in the southwest part of Benton Township.
What Was Excelsior?
Excelsior was a company town. This means it was built and run by a company for its workers. The town got its name from the Excelsior Wheel Mill. This mill was located on the Missouri River.
The Excelsior Mill
The Excelsior Wheel Mill was very important to the town. Besides the mill, Excelsior also had a schoolhouse. This shows that families lived there.
How the Mill Changed
In 1869, the Excelsior wheel replaced an older type of mill. This new mill was in a different spot. Eight years later, in 1877, a turbine wheel was added. A turbine wheel uses water power to turn machinery. This made the mill even better. It could grind about 80 bushels of grain each day.
Why Excelsior Disappeared
By 1881, the mill wheel was removed. Only a broken frame of the mill house was left. When the mill moved or stopped working, the town of Excelsior slowly disappeared. Today, nothing stands at the original location. This is why it is called an extinct town or a ghost town.
