Ponce de Leon, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ponce de Leon
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 Ponce de Leon
Location in Missouri
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Stone County |
| Founded | about 1875 |
Ponce de Leon is a small place in northeastern Stone County, Missouri, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a city or town with its own local government.
Ponce de Leon is about 30 miles (48 km) south of Springfield. It's also part of the larger Branson, Missouri area, which is known for its entertainment. The community sits near the East Prong Goff Creek. This creek flows into the James River, which is about three miles to the west. A road called Missouri Supplemental Route V goes right through the area. Ponce de Leon is about 1,100 feet (335 meters) above sea level. Nearby towns include Spokane to the east and Branson to the south.
History of Ponce de Leon
Ponce de Leon started around 1875. It was created as a special place where people could go to relax and get healthy. This was because there was a natural mineral spring there. People believed the water from the spring had healing powers. The resort was named after a famous explorer, Juan Ponce de León. He was known for searching for the "Fountain of Youth."
For a while, Ponce de Leon was a very busy and successful place. It grew to have about 1,000 people living there. This made it the biggest town in Stone County at the time. There were many businesses, including a sawmill to cut wood and a gristmill to grind grain. The town also had a bank and a factory that canned tomatoes.
However, this good time did not last forever. By 1885, the town faced some big problems. Flash floods caused damage, and other money troubles made things difficult. Because of these issues, the town started to shrink, and many people moved away.
Today, people who live in the area often call the community "Poncie." They have used this shorter name for many years instead of the full name.
