Handy, Missouri facts for kids
Handy is a small, quiet place in the northwest part of Ripley County, in the state of Missouri, USA. It's known as 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's administration.
What is Handy?
Handy is a small community that doesn't have a mayor or city council. It's a bit like a neighborhood that's not officially a town. People live there, but the services like roads and schools are managed by Ripley County.
History of Handy
Handy has a simple but interesting history.
When Handy Got a Post Office
A post office was opened in Handy in 1913. This was a big deal because it made it much easier for people living there to send and receive mail. The post office stayed open for many years, finally closing in 1954.
How Handy Got Its Name
The name "Handy" most likely came from a local person named Noah Haney, who was a merchant in the area. Sometimes, places are named after important people who lived or worked there.
There's also a fun story, or a folk etymology, about how the name came to be. The story says that the people in the community wrote to the postal officials asking for a post office. They supposedly added that having a post office "it sure would be handy!" While it's a nice story, the name probably came from Noah Haney.
