Zeta, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zeta
|
|
|---|---|
 Zeta
Location in Missouri
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Stoddard County |
| Elevation | 322 ft (98 m) |
Zeta is a ghost town located in Stoddard County, Missouri. It's called a ghost town because it's no longer a busy place. The town got its name from the Greek letter zeta. A man named George H. Crumb chose the name. He built a railway line connecting Zeta to Bloomfield.
Contents
How Zeta Grew
Zeta was an important stop along the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway. This railway line ran through Richland Township. It was close to other towns like Aquilla and Durnell. Zeta was also part of the "Cotton Belt Route" railway system.
It was once connected to the Missouri Southeastern Railway service. This service ran between Zeta and Bloomfield. Other railway lines also linked Zeta to Vanduser in nearby Scott County.
A post office was opened in Zeta in 1895, and possibly again in 1910. It stayed open until 1936. Zeta was also home to many farms and sawmills. These sawmills cut wood into lumber.
Zeta Today
Not much is left of Zeta now. One of the few things that still exists is the Crowder-Zeta special road district. This district helps manage roads in the area. Its name is shared with the nearby town of Crowder.
As of 2024, a large Nestlé Purina PetCare factory is located just north of where Zeta used to be. This factory is south of Missouri supplemental route Y. This road was once known by locals as the "Zeta-Crowder road."
Important Moments in Zeta's History
Presidential Candidate from Zeta
In 1916, a man named Emil L. Gerardi from Zeta made a big claim. He said he wanted to be a candidate for president. This was for the 1916 United States presidential election.
The 1917 Tornado
On May 30, 1917, a powerful F3 tornado hit the area. It first touched down west of Acorn Ridge, Missouri. The tornado then moved through Zeta and other parts of Stoddard County. Sadly, three people in Zeta lost their lives because of this storm.
Train Depot Fire
On December 6, 1924, the Zeta train depot was set on fire. A depot is like a train station. The depot in nearby Ardeola was also set on fire that same day. It completely burned down.
