Changes

At the time Missouri gained statehood, the area that became Shannon County was part of [[Wayne County, Missouri|Wayne County]], later being subdivided into Crawford County. In January 1841, it was detached from Crawford and organized as Shannon County. The Missouri legislature named it in honor of the late George Shannon, a native of [[Pennsylvania]] who had gained fame through his involvement in the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] of 1804-06, in which he had been the youngest member, and then as a lawyer and statesman in northeast Missouri.<ref>https://collections.shsmo.org/manuscripts/columbia/C2366/shannon-county</ref>

At the time Missouri gained statehood, the area that became Shannon County was part of [[Wayne County, Missouri|Wayne County]], later being subdivided into Crawford County. In January 1841, it was detached from Crawford and organized as Shannon County. The Missouri legislature named it in honor of the late George Shannon, a native of [[Pennsylvania]] who had gained fame through his involvement in the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] of 1804-06, in which he had been the youngest member, and then as a lawyer and statesman in northeast Missouri.<ref>https://collections.shsmo.org/manuscripts/columbia/C2366/shannon-county</ref>

Upon its formation, the new county embraced most of south-central Missouri, being reduced over time as all or part of Carter, Reynolds, and Texas Counties were carved from it. The first courthouse was built near Round Spring along the Current River; it was destroyed in the [[Civil War]], after which the new courthouse and the position of county seat were moved a short distance away, to Eminence. However, three successive courthouses in Eminence were likewise lost to fire, in 1871, 1895, and 1938, owing to which most records relating to the county's early history no longer exist. After a bid to move the county seat to Winona failed, the fourth (and current) courthouse in Eminence was constructed and dedicated in 1941.<ref>https://www.shannon-county.com/</ref>

Upon its formation, the new county embraced most of south-central Missouri, being reduced over time as all or part of Carter, Reynolds, and [[Texas County, Missouri|Texas]] Counties were carved from it. The first courthouse was built near Round Spring along the Current River; it was destroyed in the [[Civil War]], after which the new courthouse and the position of county seat were moved a short distance away, to Eminence. However, three successive courthouses in Eminence were likewise lost to fire, in 1871, 1895, and 1938, owing to which most records relating to the county's early history no longer exist. After a bid to move the county seat to Winona failed, the fourth (and current) courthouse in Eminence was constructed and dedicated in 1941.<ref>https://www.shannon-county.com/</ref>

For many years after its creation, Shannon County was among the most sparsely populated in the state; apart from the mining of a few metals, principally [[copper]], from the 1840s onward, most of the settlers relied on subsistence farming and herding for a living. Beginning around 1880, though, it enjoyed a relative boom, thanks in large part to the arrival of railroads in southern Missouri, which in turn made it profitable to cut the vast Ozark forests for their timber. This economic activity was briefly supplemented during [[World War II]], when Missouri's only [[manganese]] mine was opened to provide resources for the nation's wartime industries. After the end of the war, though, with the forests cut and the mines largely exhausted, the local economy collapsed and the population dropped sharply, by some 40% between 1940 and 1960. Since then, it has recovered somewhat, thanks to tourism in the Ozarks and along the Current River, but it remains one of the least-populated and lowest-income counties in Missouri. At the 2000 census, it had the 46th-lowest median household income among counties in the United States.  

For many years after its creation, Shannon County was among the most sparsely populated in the state; apart from the mining of a few metals, principally [[copper]], from the 1840s onward, most of the settlers relied on subsistence farming and herding for a living. Beginning around 1880, though, it enjoyed a relative boom, thanks in large part to the arrival of railroads in southern Missouri, which in turn made it profitable to cut the vast Ozark forests for their timber. This economic activity was briefly supplemented during [[World War II]], when Missouri's only [[manganese]] mine was opened to provide resources for the nation's wartime industries. After the end of the war, though, with the forests cut and the mines largely exhausted, the local economy collapsed and the population dropped sharply, by some 40% between 1940 and 1960. Since then, it has recovered somewhat, thanks to tourism in the Ozarks and along the Current River, but it remains one of the least-populated and lowest-income counties in Missouri. At the 2000 census, it had the 46th-lowest median household income among counties in the United States.