Prosperity, Missouri facts for kids

Prosperity is a small place in Jasper County, Missouri. It's not a city with its own government, but rather a community. You can find it northeast of Joplin and southeast of Webb City, right next to Missouri State Highway 249.

History of Prosperity

Prosperity began in 1888 as a busy mining camp. Miners came here to dig for lead and zinc. This area was part of the "Tri-State mining district," which was a big mining region in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

Mining Boom

The Troup Mining Company started operations here on 40 acres of land. By 1889, there were already twenty mines, and about 1,500 people lived in the settlement. A post office opened in 1891, and it stayed open until 1920. The community was likely named "Prosperity" because the mining business was doing very well and making a lot of money.

Trains and Businesses

Trains were very important for the mines and the people who worked there. In 1894, the Southwest Missouri Electric Railway Company extended its line to Prosperity. This train line helped connect Prosperity to nearby towns like Webb City and Carterville. Later, in 1903, the line went even further to Duenweg. The Missouri Pacific Railway also built a short train track, called a "spur," to the area.

As more people moved in, businesses grew. During its busiest time, Prosperity had a bank, several stores, and other businesses. In 1907, a large and fancy school building was built for the children living in the area.

Decline of Prosperity

However, the good times didn't last forever. In the late 1920s, the price of lead dropped. This made mining less profitable, and the community started to shrink. The Prosperity School closed its doors in 1962. The old school building was later fixed up in 1994 to be a bed and breakfast, but it closed in 2016. Today, only the old school building and a few houses remain from the original settlement.