Pennytown, Missouri facts for kids
Pennytown is a historic place in Saline County, Missouri, United States. It was once the largest African-American community in central Missouri. An unincorporated area means it doesn't have its own local government, like a city or town does.
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What Was Pennytown?
Pennytown was a special community founded by African Americans, many of whom were formerly enslaved people. It grew to be a significant place in central Missouri. At its busiest, about 1,000 people lived there.
How Pennytown Began
The community started in March 1871. A man named Joe Penny, who had been enslaved in Kentucky, bought eight acres of land for $160. This was the first step in creating Pennytown.
After Joe Penny, other African-American families also bought land. By the 1870s, ten more families had purchased land. By 1880, African-American farmers owned over one-third of the land in the Salt Fork Township. The people who lived in Pennytown were mostly former slaves and their children.
Life in Pennytown
Life in Pennytown was centered around farming and community. Families worked hard to build their homes and farms. The community grew steadily, reaching its largest size with about 1,000 residents. This was a place where former slaves and their descendants could build new lives together.
Why Pennytown Changed
Over time, things began to change for Pennytown. The last baby born in the community was in 1944. Around that time, it became harder for people to find good jobs and make a living there. Because of these economic challenges, many families started to move away. They often moved to nearby towns like Marshall, looking for better opportunities.
As families moved, many buildings in Pennytown were taken down. Over the years, more and more of the original settlement disappeared.
Pennytown Today
Today, very little remains of the original Pennytown community. As of 2014, the only building still standing from the old settlement is the Free Will Baptist Church of Pennytown. This church stands as a reminder of the strong community that once thrived there.
