Hunter, Missouri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hunter, Missouri
Census-Designated Place
Location of Hunter in Missouri
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Carter
Area
• Total	3.64 sq mi (9.42 km2)
• Land	3.64 sq mi (9.42 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	742 ft (226 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	95
• Density	26.13/sq mi (10.09/km2)
FIPS code	29-33778
GNIS feature ID	2587080

Hunter is a small community in Carter County, Missouri, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. In 2020, about 95 people lived there.

You can find Hunter on State Highway 21. It's about 4 miles north of Grandin and 3 miles east of the Current River. The local post office is now closed. Mail for Hunter residents comes from nearby Grandin or Ellsinore.

Hunter's Early Days

The land where Hunter is located was first claimed by James Lieby in 1858. Later, a man named John Hunter bought the land. He was a part of the Missouri Lumber and Mining Company. In 1887, he started a sawmill there.

The Missouri Lumber and Mining Company bought this land and much of the area around it. They planned to build a town of 80 acres. The Current River Railroad was to own half of this new town. They named the town "Hunter" after John Hunter. The official plan for the town was submitted on October 27, 1888.

Hunter became an important spot because it was where the Current River and the Cape Girardeau & Southwestern Railroads met. The first building in town, besides the sawmill, was the railroad depot. It was built in 1889.

Growing the Community

When Hunter was founded, the Missouri Lumber and Mining Company helped it grow quickly. They opened a company store across from the railroad depot. They also opened a hotel and set up a logging camp. They sold land lots, which led to many new buildings being built.

Post Office History

The Hunter Post Office opened in 1890. George W. Marsh was its first postmaster. It closed for a short time in 1903 due to some issues. It reopened a few months later but closed again in 1914. Arthur Lowe was the last postmaster during that time. The post office reopened later and stayed open until the late 1970s.

Farming and Fruit

In 1897, the Missouri Lumber and Mining Company wanted to show that the land was still good for farming, even after much logging. They planted about 400 acres of fruit orchards near the railroad. By 1902, these orchards produced a lot of fruit, including about 6,000 bushels of peaches. A cannery, which processes fruit, was built in 1903.

Local Businesses and Services

Many businesses opened in Hunter as the town grew:

• 1902: The company hotel was bought by J. R. Kelley and became the Hunter Hotel.
• 1904: The first church in Hunter, the Hunter Christian Church, was started. Rev. Drenden was its first pastor.
• 1910: The company store was sold to the Brown Mercantile Company. It changed hands a few times over the years.
• 1912: The Munger Securities Company, a real estate business, started. This led to a period of fast growth for Hunter. The company closed in 1920.
• 1913: A second hotel opened, run by Mrs. J. R. Kelley. It was later sold to W. L. Skinner in 1924.
• 1914: A grocery store, run by A. E. Richmond, opened.
• 1915: A drug store, run by S. W. Campbell, and a third hotel, the Hunter Inn, opened.

Hunter's Schools

The first school in Hunter was built in 1913. The town voted to spend $800 on bonds for the school. The Munger Securities Company donated the land. The school was ready for students in the 1913-1914 school year. Miss Eunice Pace was the first teacher.

In 1915, three school districts—Hickory Hill, Grassy Valley, and Hunter—joined together. This created the first high school in Hunter. The people of Hunter voted to spend $4,500 for a new high school building. It was ready for the 1915-1916 school year. Norman Greene was the first superintendent. A new two-story brick building was built in 1916.

Later, the Hunter school closed in 1956. It joined with the school in Grandin, which then joined with the Ellsinore school district. Today, Hunter is part of the East Carter County R-II School District.

Banking and Communication

In 1917, the Bank of Hunter was started with $10,000. Edward B. Joy was its only president. In 1923, the Carter County State Bank bought the Bank of Hunter, and it closed.

Also in 1917, the Hunter Telephone Company was established. Edward B. Joy was its president.

Hunter's Peak and Present Day

In 1920, the town of Hunter reached its largest population, with about 700 residents. To compare, Van Buren, the largest city in Carter County today, had 747 people in 2020.

Even though Hunter is now an unincorporated community, it was officially made a town on February 22, 1923. W. L. Skinner was the president of the town board, and Charles Farrel was the town clerk.

See also

In Spanish: Hunter (Misuri) para niños