Patton, Missouri facts for kids
Patton is a small community in the southeastern part of Bollinger County, Missouri in the United States. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.
Patton is located on State Highway 51. It's about one mile south of where Highway 51 meets Route 72, a spot often called Patton Junction. The community is also near Little Whitewater Creek and is about 15 miles north of Marble Hill. If you ever need to send mail there, the ZIP Code for Patton is 63662.
Patton is also part of a larger area called the Cape Girardeau–Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's connected to the bigger cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson, which are important centers in the region.
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How Patton Got Its Name
Long ago, when Patton was first settled by pioneers, it was a lively place. People loved to dance there! They would dance for so long that even the musicians playing the fiddles would get tired. To keep the rhythm going, people would often pat their hands together. The phrase "keep a pattin'" was used so much that it eventually became the name of the community: Patton.
A Glimpse into History
Patton officially got its own post office in 1874. The community was named after the Patton family, who were important early settlers in the area. Two well-known members of this family were J.J. Patton and Harvey Patton.
Education in Patton
Students in Patton attend schools within the Meadow Heights R-II School District. This school district is located on Route 72, just outside of Patton, and serves most of northern Bollinger County.
The school colors for Meadow Heights are red and black. Their exciting mascot is the panther! Students at Meadow Heights can join many sports teams. These include boys' and girls' basketball, girls' volleyball, cheerleading, boys' baseball, girls' softball, track and field, and cross country.
A cool fact about the Meadow Heights boys' basketball team: during the 2005–2006 season, they set a national record! They made an amazing 36 three-pointers in a single high school basketball game. That's a lot of baskets from far away!
Interesting Facts About Patton
- A person who graduated from Patton High School in the late 1930s once shared a fascinating story. They claimed that during their childhood, some members of the famous Frank and Jesse James Gang were still living in Bollinger County!
- Edward Capehart O'Kelley was reportedly born in Patton in 1858 and grew up there. O'Kelley is known for shooting and killing Robert Ford. Robert Ford was the person who had fatally shot the famous outlaw, Jesse James. There is a special memorial for O'Kelley in the Patton United Methodist Church cemetery, located on Country Road 878.
