Adair County, Missouri is located in the northern part of the state and is bordered by Knox County to the north, Schuyler County to the east, Macon County to the south, and Sullivan County to the west. The county seat is Kirksville, which is also home to Truman State University. Adair County covers an area of 515 square miles and has a population of 25,063 people as of 2019.
The topography of Adair county consists mainly of rolling hills with some flat areas along its western border near Sullivan county. The county’s elevation ranges from 830 feet above sea level at its highest point in Ethel Township in the northeast corner of Adair county down to 690 feet above sea level at its lowest point near Novinger in the southwest corner. Much of this topography is due to glaciation during the last ice age which left behind deposits of loess soil that cover much of Adair county.
The climate in Adair county is classified as humid continental with hot summers and cold winters. Average summer temperatures range from 75-88 degrees Fahrenheit while average winter temperatures range from 24-36 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall averages around 37 inches per year while snowfall averages around 15 inches per year with most snowfall occurring between December and March.
Adair county has several bodies of water including Long Branch Lake, Lake Thunderhead, and Clear Creek Lake which are all popular spots for fishing and recreational activities such as boating or swimming during the warmer months. There are also several creeks throughout Adair county including Fox Creek, Yellow Creek, Indian Creek, Middle Fork Fabius River, Salt River (Missouri), Coon Creek (Missouri), among others which provide habitats for many species of fish and wildlife throughout Adair county’s forests and prairies.
The natural vegetation throughout Adair county consists mainly of deciduous forests along with some grasslands along its western border near Sullivan County. Common trees found here include oak, hickory, maple, elm, walnut trees among many others while grasses such as bluestem grasses are commonly found on prairies or along roadsides throughout much of Adair county’s terrain. Wildlife in this area includes white-tailed deer; wild turkey; foxes; coyotes; bobcats; opossums; raccoons; beavers; muskrats; rabbits; squirrels; skunks among many other species that can be found throughout this region’s forests and fields.
Country seat and other main cities in Adair County, Missouri
The county seat of Adair County is located in the city of Kirksville, Missouri. It is the largest city in Adair County and has a population of over 17,000. The city was founded in 1841 and is home to Truman State University, A.T. Still University, and the Regional Medical Center of Northeast Missouri.
Kirksville is home to many historic sites including the Old Courthouse Museum which houses artifacts from Adair County’s past including Native American artifacts, photographs, and documents from the Civil War era. There are also several parks located around town such as Forest Lake Park which features a lake that provides fishing opportunities as well as other recreational activities like boating or camping.
According to countryaah, other cities in Adair County include Novinger and Brashear with populations of around 500 each. Novinger was founded in 1868 and is primarily agricultural with a few businesses located within the town limits. Brashear was founded in 1883 and is home to an old-fashioned general store that has been operating since 1941 as well as several local businesses such as auto repair shops and feed stores.
Green Castle is another small town located within Adair County with a population of just over 400 people. It was founded in 1876 and is home to several historic buildings such as the First Presbyterian Church which dates back to 1888 as well as an old-fashioned soda fountain located inside an antique store on Main Street that serves homemade ice cream treats each summer season.
Finally, there’s Ethel which has a population of about 300 people and was founded in 1887 after coal mining operations began nearby during this time period making it one of the oldest settlements within Adair County today. Currently, Ethel serves mainly as a bedroom community for those who work outside the area but still want to enjoy small-town living with its close proximity to Kirksville offering easy access to all its amenities while still maintaining its rural charm throughout this quaint little town nestled away within Adair County’s rolling hillsides.
Note:
According to abbreviationfinder, the 2-letter abbreviation of Missouri is MO. This abbreviation is used in postal addresses and on license plates. It is also used to refer to the state in shorthand, such as when talking about where someone lives or grew up. MO is a commonly used abbreviation and is easily recognizable to most people. It’s also the official two letter abbreviation for the state according to the United States Postal Service.
History of Adair County, Missouri
Adair County, Missouri is located in the northeastern region of the state and is home to the city of Kirksville. It was established in 1841 and named after John Adair, a Kentucky soldier and statesman. The county’s population has grown to over 17,000 people as of 2020.
The first settlers in Adair County were primarily farmers who moved to the area for its fertile soil. By 1850, many of these settlers had established small towns including Novinger, Brashear, Green Castle and Ethel. These towns were mostly agricultural but some businesses such as auto repair shops and feed stores began popping up around this time period as well.
The Civil War had a significant impact on Adair County when Union troops occupied Kirksville in August 1861 during their campaign against Confederate forces in Missouri. They destroyed much of the town including several homes before they eventually retreated back to Illinois at the end of that year.
After Reconstruction ended in 1877, Adair County began to rebuild with agriculture becoming a major industry once again. The population increased with more people moving into the area looking for work or land to farm on their own.
In 1884, Truman State University was founded in Kirksville which helped boost economic development within the county over time by providing employment opportunities as well as educational resources for local residents. In addition to this university, A.T Still University opened its doors in 1899 which focused on healthcare education for medical professionals throughout northeast Missouri and beyond.
Today Adair County is still primarily agricultural but other industries such as tourism have also been growing over recent years due to its many historic sites and recreational activities available within its boundaries like fishing at Forest Lake Park or visiting one of its old-fashioned general stores or soda fountains located throughout various small towns across this rural corner of Missouri.
Economy of Adair County, Missouri
Adair County, Missouri is located in the eastern region of the state and is home to the city of Kirksville. Its population has grown to over 17,000 people as of 2020. The economy of Adair County is primarily based on agriculture which has been a major industry since its earliest settlers arrived in the 1850s. Agriculture still plays an important role in the county’s economy today as it provides employment to many local residents and contributes significantly to its overall economic output.
The main agricultural products produced in Adair County are corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, livestock and poultry. These crops are mainly sold for consumption or used for feed for livestock on farms throughout the county. In addition to these traditional farming activities, many farmers have diversified their operations into other areas such as agritourism or value-added products like honey and maple syrup which can be sold directly to consumers or at local farmers markets.
In addition to agriculture, Adair County also has a thriving tourism sector due to its many historic sites and recreational activities that attract visitors from all over Missouri and beyond. The county is home to Truman State University which provides educational resources for local residents as well as employment opportunities through its various academic departments and research centers. A.T Still University also operates within Adair County offering healthcare education programs for medical professionals throughout northeast Missouri and beyond.
Other industries that can be found within Adair County include manufacturing, retail trade, health care services, transportation services and government services which all contribute significantly to the county’s overall economic output each year. There are several small businesses located throughout various towns across this rural corner of Missouri including auto repair shops, feed stores and old-fashioned general stores or soda fountains that help add diversity to the county’s economy by providing goods and services for both locals and visitors alike.
Overall, Adair County has a diverse economy that is primarily based on agriculture but also includes other industries such as tourism, manufacturing and retail trade which help provide jobs for local residents while contributing significantly to its overall economic output each year.
