Not, Missouri facts for kids

Not is a small, quiet place in the United States. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and people living together, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town does. Not is found in Shannon County, in the state of Missouri.

About Not

Not is located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains region of Missouri. This area is known for its forests, rivers, and natural beauty.

The Story Behind the Name

The community of Not has an interesting history, especially when it comes to its name.

A long time ago, in 1886, a post office was opened in Not. A post office is a place where people can send and receive mail. Having a post office was very important for small communities back then, as it helped people connect with the outside world. This post office stayed open for many years, finally closing in 1917.

The name "Not" comes from a special tree that grew near where the community first started. This tree was a black oak, and it had a very noticeable knot on it. A knot in a tree is a hard, rounded growth, often where a branch used to be. People in the area used to call the place "Knot" because of this unique tree.

However, when the name was officially written down for the post office, there was a small mistake. Someone made a postal error and wrote "Not" instead of "Knot." Even though it was a mistake, the spelling was never changed, and so the community has been known as Not ever since!