Carthage, Missouri – America’s Maple Leaf City
Carthage, Missouri, a city steeped in history and brimming with Midwestern charm, serves as the county seat of Jasper County. Situated along the celebrated path of Route 66, Carthage proudly bears the moniker "America’s Maple Leaf City," a testament to its stunning autumnal displays and vibrant community spirit. This title hints at a town far richer than its unassuming size might suggest, a place where significant historical events unfolded and where the echoes of a bygone era still resonate.
The story of Carthage begins long before the rumble of engines along Route 66 or the construction of its iconic courthouse. Its land was once the domain of the Osage Nation. In 1808, the U.S. Government acquired the territory that would become Jasper County from the Osage through a transaction valued at $1,200 in cash and $1,500 in merchandise. This exchange marked a significant shift in the region’s demographics, as the Native Americans were subsequently relocated to a designated area known as the Osage Nation. Though many Osage people attempted to return to their ancestral lands in 1837, these efforts were ultimately thwarted, and they were forced back to their designated territory.
Jasper County officially came into being in 1841. The fledgling county government initially operated from a humble 12’x16′ split log house perched atop a bluff overlooking the Spring River. This rudimentary structure served as the first county seat, a testament to the pioneering spirit of the early settlers. Recognizing the need for infrastructure, the newly formed government mandated that each white male resident contribute at least two days of labor per year to the construction of public roads throughout the county, or alternatively, pay a tax of 50 cents. This practical approach ensured the development of essential transportation routes that would facilitate trade and communication.
In 1842, the county formally adopted the site of Carthage as its permanent county seat. The new townsite was meticulously laid out around a central public square, reflecting the importance of community and civic life. On the north side of the square, a simple one-room frame courthouse was erected at a cost of $398.50, a modest sum that belied its significance as the seat of justice and governance. Completed in June 1842, this unassuming building served as the focal point of the burgeoning town. Soon, other frame buildings began to appear around the square, housing Carthage’s first businesses and signaling the start of its economic development. By 1851, the thriving little town had outgrown its small wooden courthouse, and a more substantial two-story brick structure replaced it, marking a new chapter in Carthage’s growth.
The mid-19th century brought both prosperity and turmoil to Carthage. In 1856, John Shirley, the father of Belle Starr, the infamous "Bandit Queen," moved his family from their nearby farm to Carthage. On the north side of Carthage’s courthouse square, they established a variety of businesses, including an inn, a tavern, a livery stable, and a blacksmith shop. These enterprises occupied almost an entire city block. John Shirley became a respected member of the community. Belle enjoyed a privileged upbringing, but her life would dramatically change with the onset of the Kansas-Missouri Border War.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 ignited a fierce debate over the issue of slavery in the newly formed state of Kansas. Missouri, with its strong Southern sympathies, became deeply embroiled in the conflict, clashing with the anti-slavery groups that had settled in Kansas. The border towns on both sides of the state line became hotbeds of guerrilla warfare, foreshadowing the larger conflict of the Civil War.
Carthage found itself caught in the crossfire of the Kansas-Missouri Border War. On July 5, 1861, the town witnessed the first large-scale engagement of the Civil War when 6,000 poorly equipped Missouri State Guardsmen faced off against 1,100 Union Soldiers. Both sides claimed victory, and the conflict would resume a month later at Wilson’s Creek. Jasper County became a battleground as both armies repeatedly traversed the region. Residents were forced to choose sides, turning neighbors into bitter enemies. Irregular bands of "Jayhawkers" and "Red Legs," supporting the Union cause, wreaked havoc on Missouri communities.
Belle Starr’s brother, Bud, joined Quantrill’s Raiders, a Confederate guerrilla group. In June 1864, Bud was killed in Sarcoxie, Missouri. The constant raids and violence took a heavy toll on Shirley’s businesses. Following Bud’s death, the family decided to leave Carthage and moved to Texas, where Belle embarked on her notorious career as an outlaw.
The battles preceding the Civil War and the subsequent skirmishes devastated the small settlement of Carthage. The courthouse, though still in use until 1863, was destroyed by fire amidst the ravages of war. Soon, all of Carthage’s 500 residents had either joined the war effort or fled the war-torn town.
Following the Civil War, Carthage embarked on a remarkable period of reconstruction and growth. By 1868, the town’s population had rebounded to 1,200, boasting a school, four churches, three doctors, two hotels, five boarding houses, six dry good stores, five grocery stores, and a host of other businesses. By 1873, Carthage was home to approximately 6,000 people and had added several industries, including a woolen mill, two foundries, three wagon and carriage makers, a furniture factory, and a wealth of other businesses.
The late 1880s marked a turning point in Carthage’s history with the discovery of rich deposits of limestone, lead, and zinc beneath the town and surrounding area. These natural resources transformed Carthage into one of the most prosperous towns in the state, earning it the nickname "Queen City of the Southwest" by the 1890s. The cornerstone of the present Courthouse was laid in August 1894 and was completed in 1895 for $100,000.
After the Civil War came the Wild West days, and Carthage’s new courthouse became the site of many public hangings. According to old-timers, these events were public spectacles where vendors set up booths and sold food and trinkets. The gallows, built right upon the courthouse grounds, became the “stage” for many viewers who brought their lunches and enjoyed a picnic during the show. This magnificent structure remains in use today.
By the end of the 19th century, Carthage boasted more millionaires per capita than any other city in the United States. The wealth was primarily derived from the abundant lead and zinc deposits, and the mine owners began constructing grand homes throughout the town. Vast deposits of gray marble at the north edge of Carthage further contributed to the city’s prosperity. The Missouri State Capitol, U.S. Capitol, and White House are faced with marble from the Carthage area.
As the 20th century dawned, Carthage continued to flourish. New mills and factories sprang up, and by 1900, the town had a population of approximately 12,000 inhabitants and over one hundred business and industrial concerns. The arrival of Route 66 further boosted Carthage‘s fortunes, with the Chamber of Commerce proclaiming it "The Open Gate to the Ozarks." Businesses catering to the needs of travelers along the Mother Road quickly proliferated.
Today, as you travel through Carthage, you can visit the Powers Museum, located on the first alignment of Route 66 on Carthage‘s west side, along with Municipal Park, which was developed during the 1930s thanks to several New Deal programs. This site was once home to the Taylor Tourist Park, later renamed the Park Motor Court and Café.
As Route 66 winds its way through Carthage, the Town Square, including its 1894 courthouse, is home to many historic buildings. About a block from the Town Square, at the intersection of Missouri Highway 71 and Route 66, is a "must-see" along your trek through Carthage – the historic Boots Court Motel. Built as a tourist court in 1939 by Arthur Boots, this popular stop along the old Mother Road once advertised a radio and every room, and Clark Gable reportedly stayed in Room 6. The Boots Motel is a classic example of streamlined architecture popular during this era.
Across from the Boots Motel once stood the Boots Drive-in, which offered fountain service and "Breakfast at any hour!" The drive-in thrived throughout the 1940s but declined after the Interstate bypassed Carthage and closed in 1971. However, the building was preserved and today is utilized as a bank.
One block north of the Boots Motel stands the remains of another old tourist court – the Dazy Apartments and Sleeping Rooms. While it is evident that the Dazy has seen much better days, it still appears to remain in use today.
Carthage is also home to one of America’s few surviving drive-in theaters. Thanks to the efforts of Mark and Dixie Goodman, this old drive-in has not gone the way of most of these old icons. When the Goodmans bought the historic drive-in, it was in much disrepair; however, they brought this old theatre back to life.
Just before you reach Webb City, you will pass through the small town of Carterville, another lead mining town in the region. Once prosperous, the town declined following World War I and never recovered like its neighbors of Webb City and Joplin.
Carthage, Missouri, stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the American Midwest. From its Native American roots to its role in the Civil War, its boomtown days fueled by mineral wealth, and its embrace of Route 66, Carthage has weathered numerous transformations. Today, it remains a vibrant community, proud of its past and optimistic about its future, a true "Maple Leaf City" in every sense of the word.