Fruitville, Missouri facts for kids

Fruitville is a small, unincorporated community located in the southeastern part of Howell County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. An "unincorporated community" means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.

This quiet area is found about eight miles southeast of West Plains. It sits along a county road on the east bank of Myatt Creek. A place called Meltabarger Cemetery is also nearby.

The Story of Fruitville: A Fruity Past

Fruitville got its unique name because it was known as a great place for growing fruit! Imagine fields full of delicious fruits like apples or peaches.

A Post Office for Fruitville

A post office was opened in Fruitville in 1910. This was an important place where people could send and receive letters and packages. However, the post office only stayed open for a short time, closing its doors in 1921.

Colonel Torrey's Vision

In 1910, a person named Colonel Jay L. Torrey helped promote this area as a fantastic spot for fruit farming. He called it "Torreytown" or "Fruitville," encouraging people to come and grow fruit here. His efforts helped put Fruitville on the map, even if only for a little while.