Difference between revisions of "Oran, Missouri"
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Revision as of 01:39, July 16, 2019
Oran is a city in western Scott County, Missouri. Its population was 1,294 at the 2010 Census.
History
The first settlement in the Oran area was established in 1869 and initially known as "St. Cloud." A post office was briefly maintained there, then discontinued. When it was re-established in 1882, a decision was made to rename the community "Sylvania," after the township in which it lay, but the existence of another town by that name in Dade County forced another name change. A local landowner, Captain Ward Smith, finally suggested Oran; a former sea captain, he had visited the city of Oran in Algeria during the Crimean War.[1]
By the early 20th century, Oran included a bank, a brick school building, five general stores, and a paint factory. Though agriculture has been and remains a vital part of the local economy, it has also benefited from various industries, such as the production of hats, shoes, and canned goods at various times.[2]
Geography
Oran is located along Missouri State Highway 77 in western Scott County, about eight miles south of Chaffee and three miles northwest of Morley. Its coordinates are 37°5′4″ N, 89°39′15″ W.
The town lies at the base of Crowley's Ridge, a range of hills in the north of the county. It has a total area of 1.08 square miles, and its average elevation is 347 feet.[3]