Pierce City in Lawrence County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Pierce City

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 29, 2024

1. Pierce City Marker

Inscription. The City of Pierce City was founded in Lawrence County in 1870 as a division point for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Named for railroad executive Andrew Peirce, the town used both spellings before settling on “Pierce” in 1934. An early leading city in southwest Missouri, the town was a hub for railroad traffic and commerce. Early industries included lime manufacturing, a pottery factory, a brewery, a feed and flour mill, strawberry shipping, buggies and support for local agriculture. One of the oldest department stores in southern Missouri, Newman's, began here in 1870. By 1900, Pierce City had two banks, ten churches and 11 community and fraternal organizations, three hotels, two newspapers, veterans groups for both the North and South, a well-known community band, an opera house. a National Guard company and the Baptist Bible College from 1878 to 1904. German, Irish, Polish and African Americans made their homes here. After the black population left in 1901 and the land rush moved west with the railroads, Pierce City's business focus turned more local. Twentieth century industries included canning,

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casket, garment, fishing motor and wood processing factories. Pierce City has produced gifted artists and prominent state leaders, from political representatives to the adjutant general of the National Guard. The city's population peaked at 3,500 in the mid-1890s. The town was experiencing an economic revival when a tornado destroyed the historic and picturesque downtown and 71 homes on May 4, 2003. The community proved to be a model for disaster recovery, moving and rebuilding the business district. Pierce City has embraced its rich heritage through the Harold Bell Wright Museum and looks forward to, an active and progressive future.

Erected 2012 by Historic Pierce City, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 36° 56.67′ N, 94° 0.199′ W. Marker is in Pierce City, Missouri, in Lawrence County. It is at the intersection of West Commercial Street and Frisco Place, on the right when traveling east on West Commercial Street. Touch for map.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 29, 2024

2. Pierce City Marker

Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 W Commercial St, Pierce City MO 65723, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Missouri. It is also in the American Ozarks,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Monett Baseball (approx. 4.3 miles away); The Sizer Home (approx. 4.4 miles away); The Gardner Home (approx. 4.4 miles away); V.B. Hall (approx. 4½ miles away); Central School by B-W Funeral Home (approx. 4.6 miles away); Eugene Field (approx. 4.7 miles away); Monett Floods (approx. 4.8 miles away); Where Did Monett Get its Name? (approx. 4.8 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Peirce City Baptist College. Peirce City Baptist College (original spelling) was sponsored by three area Baptist Associations: Shoal

View of Downtown Pierce City image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 29, 2024

3. View of Downtown Pierce City

These buildings survived the 2003 tornado but were heavily damaged.

Creek, Lawrence County and Spring River. The school opened in October 1880. (Paul Batesel, LostColleges.com) (Submitted on July 17, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Pierce City tornado did not erase the town's history, thanks to one building owner. (Nicolette Zangara, KSPR-TV, uploaded May 4, 2023) (Submitted on July 17, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. The Pierce City lynching that many forgot: Monett newsman has been tracking its history for years. In 1901, an angry mob launched a night of terror that resulted in three men dead, the town’s Black community banished, and, for some, the start of a chapter of collective community amnesia. But history long buried has a way of coming back to life. (Kaitlyn McConnell, Ozarks Alive, for the Springfield Daily Citizen, Sept. 8, 2022) (Submitted on July 17, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 883 times since then and 165 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 17, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.