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Missouri · Southwest Missouri · #460
Jasper County Government Offices
At the crossroads of Route 66 and the Ozark plateau edge in southwest Missouri, Joplin rebuilt from a tornado that killed 161 people in 2011 and emerged with a community infrastructure investment - new schools, hospital, neighborhoods - that has set a national standard for disaster recovery done right.
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Office: Jasper County Emergency Management – confirm current phone via jaspercountymo.gov.
Dispatch: Jasper County Emergency Services (JASCO) 9-1-1 – PO Box 801, Carthage, MO 64836; the county’s consolidated 911/public safety dispatch center.
Sheriff: Jasper County Sheriff’s Office – 231 S Main St, Carthage, MO 64836 | (417) 358-8177 | Fax: (417) 358-5600 | Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4 PM; Sheriff Randee Kaiser; formed in 1841, one of Missouri’s older sheriff’s offices.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-44 and US-71/I-49 serve Carthage, the county seat; Joplin is the county’s largest city and anchors the Joplin Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Notes: Jasper County, organized January 2, 1841, is named for Sgt. William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero. Roughly 122,800-127,400 residents across 641 square miles – one of Missouri’s more populous counties. The area was historically Osage Nation territory before European settlement.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Jasper County Courthouse – 302 S Main St, Carthage, MO 64836; NRHP-listed, built 1894-1895, 176 feet tall, designed by architect Max A. Orlopp Jr. (who also designed the Dallas County Courthouse in Texas) in Romanesque Revival/Richardsonian Romanesque style, built on the site of the original courthouse burned during the Civil War.
Notes: Carthage, platted 1842, was the site of the Battle of Carthage on July 5, 1861 – the earliest full-scale battle of the American Civil War, preceding the First Battle of Bull Run by roughly two weeks. Union forces under Franz Sigel were forced to retreat through the town square by a much larger Missouri State Guard force under deposed Governor Claiborne F. Jackson and Sterling Price; Carthage was later burned by Confederate guerrillas in 1864 and rebuilt in 1866. By the late 19th century, driven by lead and zinc mining, Carthage reportedly had more millionaires per capita than any other U.S. city. The city is also known for its distinctive gray Carthage Marble, quarried since 1880 and used in buildings including the Missouri State Capitol. Carthage is genuinely the birthplace of outlaw Belle Starr and of Anna Baxter White, said to be the first woman elected to public office in Missouri when she became county clerk in 1890.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Jasper County Veterans Service – confirm current contact via jaspercountymo.gov.
Federal: VA facilities accessible via a Joplin or Springfield VA clinic; confirm current routing.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Carthage Public Library – confirm current address/phone via carthagemo.gov; notable for an art collection connected to Carthage of Africa. Joplin has its own separate public library system serving the county’s largest city.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: The Battle of Carthage State Historic Site (established 1990, a 7.4-acre preserved skirmish site), the Jasper County Courthouse, Carthage’s historic homes driving tour, and the Jasper County Records Research Center (housing 1861 Battle of Carthage-era documents) are the county’s premier attractions.
Notes: The genuine Battle of Carthage – predating Bull Run – and Belle Starr’s birthplace are among the most historically notable local facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Jasper County Assessor – confirm current contact via jaspercountymo.gov.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Carthage Humane Society – 13860 Dog Kennel Lane, Carthage, MO 64836 | (417) 358-6402 | Hours vary by source (Tue-Sat approx. 12-4 or 12-5 PM, closed Sun-Mon); no-kill shelter serving the community since 1948, adoption fee $90, all animals spayed/neutered per Missouri law before adoption finalizes.
City of Carthage Animal Control – 326 Grant Street, Carthage, MO 64836 | (417) 237-7000.
Joplin Humane Society (serves Joplin and 17+ area municipalities) – 140 E Emperor Lane, Joplin, MO 64801 | (417) 623-3642; handles over 10,000 animals annually.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Jasper County – confirm current contact via jaspercountymo.gov.
NOTES: Jasper County is the first county in the eighth batch of the Missouri v2 A+ sourced redo. The genuine Battle of Carthage – predating Bull Run – and Belle Starr’s birthplace here are among the most historically notable local facts covered anywhere in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Jasper County
Jasper County carries the weight and the pride of one of America’s most dramatic community recoveries. On May 22, 2011, an EF5 tornado with winds exceeding 200 mph cut a mile-wide path through Joplin, killing 161 people and destroying approximately 8,000 structures – a catastrophe that reduced entire neighborhoods to foundations and rubble. The rebuilding that followed became a case study in disaster recovery planning: the city’s comprehensive plan, its partnership with state and federal agencies, and the community’s determination produced a rebuilt Joplin that in many respects has better infrastructure than it had before the tornado. Mercy Hospital Joplin – which the tornado destroyed – was replaced with a state-of-the-art facility. New schools replaced the destroyed elementary, middle, and high schools. The recovery was genuine, hard-earned, and instructive.
The county seat of Carthage is a different kind of landmark: its Victorian courthouse square and Battle of Carthage State Historic Site document one of the Civil War’s earliest engagements. Route 66 runs through Joplin, and the county’s Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage – an extravagant religious art installation and tourist destination – draws visitors who are consistently surprised by its scale and craftsmanship. Missouri Southern State University provides higher education, and the county’s tri-state position (Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma converge nearby) gives Joplin a regional commercial reach extending well beyond its borders.
Heritage | Carthage is the county seat and home of one of Missouri’s finest courthouses; the Carthage Courthouse (the 1895 Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage is one of the most beautiful courthouse buildings in Missouri — the magnificent grey Carthage marble construction, the ornate Victorian architecture, and the beautifully landscaped square make it outstanding; the Carthage marble is a distinctive local stone); Joplin is the county’s dominant city and the regional hub for the four-state area; the Joplin tornado (the EF5 tornado of May 22, 2011 killed 158 people and devastated a significant portion of Joplin — one of the deadliest tornadoes in American history; the community’s remarkable recovery is a powerful story of resilience; the Joplin Tornado Memorial and the MSSU commemorations are significant); the Route 66 heritage (Joplin is on Historic Route 66; significant Route 66 heritage sites throughout Joplin); the Tri-State Lead and Zinc Mining District (the Joplin area was the world’s largest zinc and lead mining district at its peak; the Joplin Museum Complex documents this heritage); Thomas Hart Benton birthplace (Neosho — nearby Newton County, but the artist’s regional connections are significant) Outdoors | Shoal Creek (quality smallmouth bass fishing; accessible urban fishing in the Joplin metro area); Lake Leaburg (quality fishing and recreation); Wildcat Park (quality Joplin outdoor recreation); hunting (excellent deer, turkey, and quail hunting in the southwest Missouri Ozarks and agricultural landscape) Notable | Joplin Tornado Memorial (the May 22, 2011 EF5 tornado killed 158 people in one of the deadliest tornadoes in American history; the community’s recovery and the memorial to those lost are powerful; the story of Joplin’s rebuilding is one of American resilience); Jasper County Courthouse (Carthage — one of Missouri’s finest courthouse buildings; the 1895 Victorian structure in Carthage marble with its beautiful grounds is outstanding; the historic Carthage square is charming); Freeman Health System and Mercy Joplin both provide Level II Trauma care; the county has a strong healthcare, manufacturing, and regional retail economy Library | Joplin Public Library — (417) 623-7953 | joplinpubliclibrary.org (quality facilities)
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Missouri assesses residential property at 19% of true value. Property owners may appeal to the County Board of Equalization. Missouri offers a Senior Citizens Property Tax Credit for qualifying residents 65 or older (or 100% disabled) with income below $30,000 (renters) or $34,000 (owners). Missouri has no estate or inheritance tax.
Courts & Legal
CIRCUIT COURT
Phone: (417) 358-0416
Address: 302 S. Main St., Carthage, MO 64836
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Website: courts.mo.gov | 29th Judicial Circuit
Senior Services
Southwest Missouri Area Agency on Aging (OATS, Inc. / local providers)
1231 East 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804
Phone: (417) 781-7562
Senior transportation, Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, and long-term care counseling for Jasper County residents.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
302 S. Main St., Carthage, MO 64836
(417) 358-0416
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Jasper County Circuit Court, Probate Division – records accessible from either the Carthage or Joplin court buildings (see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Jasper County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Jasper County Circuit Court, Probate Division – TWO COURT BUILDINGS
Jasper County has two court buildings, one each in Carthage and Joplin. There are no jurisdictional lines, and cases can be filed at either location.
Carthage: 302 S. Main Street, 3rd Floor, Carthage, MO 64836, (417) 358-0450
Joplin: 601 South Pearl Street, Joplin, MO 64801
Jasper County is in southwestern Missouri, with dual county seats – Carthage (the official seat) and Joplin (the largest city).
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Missouri probate is governed by Title XXXI of the Missouri Revised Statutes (Chapters 470-475), the Probate Code.
Small Estate Affidavit (RSMo § 473.097) – available when the entire estate, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $40,000. A 30-day waiting period after death applies, and only if no application for letters is pending. If the property listed is worth more than $15,000, the clerk must publish a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. A bond may be required. Once the court issues a certified small estate certificate, the affiant presents it directly to whoever holds the property to collect and distribute assets – avoiding full probate. Typical timeline: about two months to close, versus six months to a year or more for full probate.
Formal Administration – required for larger or more complex estates. A petition for Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (without one) is filed with the probate division. After review, the court appoints the personal representative and issues the letters. Missouri offers both supervised and independent administration. Missouri requires an attorney to represent the personal representative in both types of administration.
Step 2: filing for formal probate
File a petition with the Probate Division of the Circuit Court, at either the Carthage or Joplin court building, since the decedent was domiciled in Jasper County.
The court appoints the personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The personal representative publishes a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, and gives direct notice to known creditors. Creditors have 6 months from the date of first publication to file claims.
Within 30 days of appointment (unless the court extends the deadline), the personal representative files an inventory and appraisement of all estate assets.
After debts are paid and the creditor claim period expires, the personal representative distributes the remaining assets and files a final settlement with the court to close the estate.
What it costs
Missouri sets statutory minimum fees for attorneys and personal representatives based on a percentage of the estate’s value, though additional fees may be allowed for extraordinary services.
Missouri has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax could apply, and only to very large estates.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
302 S. Main St., Carthage, MO 64836
(417) 358-8177
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
302 S. Main St., Carthage, MO 64836
(417) 358-0416
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
MO Dept of Social Services — Jasper
(417) 624-3700
Freeman Health System
freemanhealth.com (Joplin — major regional hospital; Level II Trauma)
Mercy Hospital Joplin
mercy.net (Joplin — major regional hospital; Level II Trauma)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Jasper County Health Department – confirm current phone via jaspercountymo.gov.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Carthage
Population: 120,000
Area: 641 sq mi
Established: 1841
Tier: 3
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Jasper County facilities via Amazon.
