Oates, Missouri facts for kids

Oates is a small, quiet place in northern Reynolds County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It's called an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and buildings that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Think of it like a neighborhood that's not part of a bigger city.

You can find Oates right by Brushy Creek. It's located where Missouri Route J meets county road 836. The community is surrounded by nature. Nearby places include Black, which is about seven miles to the east-southeast. Another nearby spot is Buick, about six miles to the northwest in Iron County.

A Look Back: The History of Oates

Even though Oates is a small community today, it once had its own post office! This post office opened way back in 1887. It helped people send and receive letters and packages for many years.

However, the post office eventually closed its doors in 1920. It's a bit of a mystery why the community was named Oates. No one knows for sure who it was named after.