Newmarket, Marion County, Missouri facts for kids

Newmarket (also spelled New Market) is a ghost town located in Marion County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. A ghost town is a place where most or all of the people have left, often leaving behind empty buildings and a quiet, forgotten history. Newmarket was once a small community, but over time, it became deserted.

What is a Ghost Town?

A ghost town is a former community, usually a town or city, that has very few or no remaining inhabitants. These towns are often abandoned because the economic activity that supported them, like mining or farming, ended. Sometimes, a natural disaster or a change in transportation routes, such as a new railroad line bypassing the town, can also cause people to leave. Ghost towns are like time capsules, offering a glimpse into the past.

The Story of Newmarket

Early Days and Founding

Newmarket was officially planned and laid out in 1836. This means that people decided where streets, homes, and businesses would be built. The town's name likely came from another place with the same name. However, there's a fun story that says the town got its name because it was the location of the second store, or "new market," built in the area. In the early 1800s, many small towns like Newmarket grew up to serve local farmers and traders. They often had a general store, a blacksmith, and maybe a church or a school.

Why Towns Become Ghost Towns

Many small towns in the United States, especially those founded in the 19th century, eventually became ghost towns. This often happened for a few main reasons. For example, if a new railroad line was built far away from a town, people and businesses might move closer to the railroad for easier travel and trade. Also, if the main reason a town existed, like a specific mine or a busy river port, stopped being important, the town might slowly empty out. As people moved away for better opportunities in bigger cities or new settlements, the small towns they left behind faded away.

Newmarket Today

Today, there is little or nothing left of the original town of Newmarket. Like many ghost towns, it has returned to nature, and its buildings have disappeared over time. The memory of Newmarket lives on in historical records and maps, reminding us of the many small communities that once dotted the landscape of Missouri.

Where is Newmarket?

Marion County, Missouri

Newmarket is located in Marion County, Missouri. Marion County is in the northeastern part of Missouri, along the Mississippi River. The county seat, which is the main town where the local government is located, is Palmyra. The largest city in the county is Hannibal, which is famous as the hometown of author Mark Twain. The area around Marion County is known for its rolling hills, forests, and farmland.