History of Rock Port

In extreme northwest Missouri, Atchison is one of six counties formed from the Platte Indian Purchase, annexed to Missouri in 1837. The county's north boundary was unsettled until 1851 when the U.S. Supreme Court had the Missouri-Iowa boundary marked. To the west the Missouri River channel separates the county from Nebraska. In 1867, the river altered its course at one spot and the Supreme Court ruled the abandoned channel the boundary in 1904, thus giving the land east of the river to Nebraska. In 1957, Missouri and Nebraska agreed to reestablish the river boundary in this spot.



Linden was the first county seat and after the Honey Tree War, the northern boundary of Missouri was permanently established by a supreme court decision in 1849, and ten miles of Atchison County became Iowa. Linden was considered too far from the center of the county and the seat of justice moved to Rock Port in 1856.

Black and white photo of old Rock Port

This area was first settled by H.B. Robert and Thomas Wilson in 1839, and was listed in 1850 as having the highest valued farm land and buildings in the state. Early settlements near here included short-lived Germany Colony, 1846-1847, directed by Cornelia Schubert.



The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped along the Missouri in what is now Atchison County in 1884. Clark was impressed by the bare hills rising from the river plain and named the area "Baldpated Prairie". Lewis explored the nearby Nishnabotna (Indian for canoe making) and called the area handsome.

During the Civil War, Rock Port and Atchison County were at times subjected to guerrilla raids and troop movements. It was not until 1881 when two railroads were built through the county that prosperity was assured. Associated with county growth are Henry F. Staple, Rock Port Editor and pioneer in Mutual Insurance.

Black and white photo of old court house

Growth on the town began with the erection of a general merchandise store by A.G. Buddington. The store was located on the southwest corner of Main and Mill streets, now the site of the Atchison County Library.



The first bank, Bank of Atchison County, was organized in 1870. The growing town included a brewery, hotel, boarding house, dress shop, bakery, opera house, general merchandise and grocery stores and two newspapers.



Church congregations in the early years included the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Christian Church, the Methodist Episcopal South Church, the Rock Port Missionary Baptist Church and the Southern Presbyterian Church.



The first school, a two story brick building, was constructed by 1892. The school was organized with seven departments and offered three years of work in high school. Enrollment was approximately 400 pupils.

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