Not, Missouri facts for kids

Not is a small unincorporated community located in Shannon County, Missouri, in the United States. A community like this does not have its own local government. Instead, it is managed as part of the larger county.

The Story Behind the Town of Not

The town has a very unusual and funny name. Long ago, people wanted to name the place after a special black oak tree. This tree grew near the original center of the settlement. It was famous to locals because it had a large knot growing on it.

A tree knot is a hard, round bump in the wood. It often forms where a branch once grew. The settlers planned to name their new home after this natural landmark. However, when the name was submitted to the government, a spelling mistake happened. The postal workers accidentally dropped the letter "K" from the word. Because of this funny mix-up, the town was officially recorded as "Not" instead of "Knot." The spelling was never corrected, so the name stayed that way forever.

History of the Local Post Office

During the late nineteenth century, small communities relied heavily on their local post offices. A post office called Not was officially established in 1886. It allowed local families and farmers to send letters and receive important news.

• The post office opened its doors in 1886 to serve local residents.
• It remained in active operation for thirty-one years.
• The post office finally closed for good in 1917.

After the post office closed, mail was sent through nearby towns instead. Today, Not is remembered as an interesting piece of Missouri history with one of the most unusual town names in the country.