Spring Creek, Missouri facts for kids

Spring Creek was once a small community in Phelps County, Missouri. It's known today as a "ghost town" because no one lives there anymore. This former town was located near where a smaller stream, also called Spring Creek, flows into the Big Piney River. The area is close to the border between Phelps County and Pulaski County.

What Was Spring Creek?

Spring Creek was a quiet place that got its name from the nearby stream. It was a small settlement, but it was important enough to have its own post office for many years.

The Spring Creek Post Office

A post office is a place where people can send and receive mail. The Spring Creek post office first opened its doors in 1868. This means it was active for a long time, helping people in the community connect with others through letters and packages. It stayed open for 75 years, finally closing in 1943. When the post office closed, it often meant that fewer people were living in the area, or they were getting their mail from a different, larger town nearby.

Where Was Spring Creek Located?

The exact spot where Spring Creek once stood is interesting. It was on the southwest side of where two waterways meet: Spring Creek and the Big Piney River. This location is also very close to the county line that separates Phelps County from Pulaski County.

Nearby Landmarks

Even though Spring Creek is gone, some landmarks are still in the area. A cemetery, called the Wayman/Pillman cemetery, is located just west of where the town was, in Pulaski County. Also, the edge of Fort Leonard Wood, a large U.S. Army base, is about two miles to the west. A road called Missouri Route J goes right through the area where Spring Creek used to be.