Fairfield, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fairfield, Missouri
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Township
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Benton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.7 sq mi (95.0 km2) |
| • Land | 36.7 sq mi (95.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 705 ft (215 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 194 |
| • Density | 5.3/sq mi (2.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| FIPS code | 29-23302 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0717733 |
Fairfield was once a small community in Benton County, Missouri, USA. Today, most of Fairfield and the area around it are covered by water. This happened when the Harry S. Truman Dam and Reservoir was built.
Fairfield used to be about seven miles south of Warsaw. It was just west of Route 83. Now, you can find the Fairfield Public Use Area on the shore near where the old community once stood.
Contents
What Was Fairfield Like?
Fairfield was a small, unincorporated community. This means it wasn't officially a town with its own local government. It was just a group of homes and businesses.
Early Days and Judge Alexander
One of the first people to live in Fairfield was Judge George T. Alexander. He was a pioneer, meaning he was one of the first settlers in Missouri, arriving in 1816. In 1832, he came to Fairfield and bought an area that was once an Indian village for $60.
Judge Alexander helped build the community. He built the town's covered bridge and ran its mill. In 1836, he got a special license to operate a ferry boat on the Pomme de Terre River. He was also elected as a county judge. The area around Fairfield, called a township, was named Alexander after him.
Life in Fairfield (1962)
Even in 1962, you could still see parts of the old mill and the pillars from the covered bridge in Fairfield. The town had a post office, which was in the same building as the town bar!
There was also an old country church at the north end of town. In the middle of Fairfield, you'd find a bait shop. It had a walkway leading down to the river bank and docks where you could rent small boats called john boats. There was also a small local country store that sold food, hardware, and clothes. Plus, there was a gas station with a repair garage for cars.
People from Fairfield
Fairfield was home to a few notable people.
- James M. Scott: He was known as a Senior Olympian, which means he competed in sports events for older adults. He was also an inventor.
- Judith Moriarty: She served as the Secretary of State for Missouri. This is an important government job in the state.
