Paydown, Missouri facts for kids

Paydown is a small, unincorporated community located in the northeastern part of Maries County, in the state of Missouri, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.

Paydown is situated along Missouri Route N. It's about 2.5 miles northeast of a place called Bend and about five miles southwest of Belle. The Gasconade River flows nearby, just about half a mile to the west of the community.

History of Paydown

Paydown began around the year 1830. This was when a large gristmill was built there. A gristmill is a building where grain, like corn or wheat, is ground into flour or meal.

According to local stories, the person who owned this mill had a strict rule: all customers had to "pay down" their money right away when they bought something. This means they had to pay in full at the time of purchase. This rule is how the community got its unique name, "Paydown."

A post office, which was called "Pay Down," served the community for many years. It was open from 1856 until 1932, helping people send and receive mail.