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Missouri County
Nodaway County, Missouri
Northwest Missouri State University and Skidmore's Ken Rex McElroy - from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville (a regional comprehensive university enrollment ~7,000, consistently ranked among the best regional universities in the Midwest for its academic programs and campus technology infrastructure) to Skidmore's Ken Rex McElroy case (the 1981 killing of Ken Rex McElroy - a notorious local bully and criminal who was shot in broad daylight in front of 30-60 witnesses in Skidmore's town square, none of whom would identify the shooter - remains one of America's most discussed cases of apparent vigilante justice and community silence) and the rolling northwest Missouri agricultural landscape.
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Office: Nodaway County Emergency Management – 222 E. 3rd St, Maryville, MO 64468 | (660) 562-3209.
Dispatch: Northwest Regional Communications Center – non-emergency (660) 562-3209.
Sheriff: Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office – 404 N. Vine Street, Maryville, MO 64468 | Non-emergency (660) 582-7451 | Email: [email protected]; Sheriff Austin Hann.
City Police: Maryville Public Safety Department – 101 North Vine Street, Maryville, MO 64468 | (660) 562-3209; 20 sworn officers, Police Chief Mike Stolte; Northwest Missouri State University maintains its own campus police, (660) 562-1254.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-71 and MO-46 serve Maryville, the county seat and largest city, in Missouri’s northwest corner within the historic 1836 Platte Purchase territory.
Notes: Nodaway County, organized February 14, 1845, is named for the Nodaway River – an Algonquian word meaning “snake” or “enemy.” Roughly 20,200-21,200 residents across 878 square miles, Missouri’s largest county by area, “known for its beautiful farm ground and scenic wildlife areas.”
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Nodaway County Courthouse – 305 N Main Street, Maryville, MO 64468 | (660) 582-2251.
Notes: Maryville was laid out in 1845 as county seat, named for Mary House Graham, wife of an early county official – not “Maryville” for any other reason. The city won a bidding contest in 1905 to host the Fifth District Normal School, offering $58,672 and 86 acres including the former Maryville Methodist Seminary (founded 1889); this institution grew into Northwest Missouri State University. Two railroads reached Maryville in 1869 and 1879, cementing its role as a regional agricultural marketing and shipping hub, particularly for hogs. The Nodaway County Historical Society Museum, 110 N. Walnut, Maryville, holds memorabilia from notable county natives including Dale Carnegie, author of “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” alongside author Homer Croy and actor Smiley Burnette.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Nodaway County Veterans Service – confirm current contact via nodawaycountymo.com.
Federal: VA facilities accessible via a St. Joseph VA clinic; confirm current routing.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Maryville Public Library – confirm current address/phone via maryvillepubliclibrary.lib.mo.us; offers genealogy research access to digitized Maryville and Nodaway County newspapers dating to 1869. Northwest Missouri State University’s B.D. Owens Library also holds regional historic newspaper microfilm dating to 1898.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: The Nodaway County Historical Society Museum, Northwest Missouri State University’s campus, and the scenic One Hundred and Two River bordering Maryville are the county’s premier attractions.
Notes: The genuine Dale Carnegie connection – one of the most influential self-help authors in American history – is a distinctive local fact.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Nodaway County Assessor – confirm current contact via nodawaycountymo.com.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
New Nodaway Humane Society (NNHS) – Maryville, MO; a no-kill shelter providing shelter and care for lost, abused, or unwanted dogs and cats, with a Buddy Program and Angels for Animals sponsorship options; confirm current address/phone via newnodawayhumanesociety.org.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Nodaway County – confirm current contact via nodawaycountymo.com.
NOTES: Nodaway County is the fifth county in the eleventh batch of the Missouri v2 A+ sourced redo. The genuine Dale Carnegie connection is a distinctive local fact. 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 Nodaway County
Nodaway County is northwest Missouri’s university and true-crime county – a rolling agricultural community whose regional university and unresolved 1981 vigilante killing have given it an outsized national profile.
Maryville (the county seat, population ~11,000) is dominated by Northwest Missouri State University – a regional comprehensive institution consistently recognized for academic quality and innovative use of technology in education. The university’s presence provides economic stability and cultural vitality to an otherwise rural agricultural community.
Skidmore (population ~250) became the subject of national and international media attention after Ken Rex McElroy – a man with a long criminal history who had terrorized the community – was shot in front of dozens of witnesses in July 1981. No charges were ever filed, and the case remains officially unsolved.
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Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Nodaway County Assessor at 305 N. Main Street, Suite 3, Maryville, MO 64468, phone 660-582-3374. MO residential assessed at 19% of true value. Appeal to Board of Equalization.
Courts & Legal
Nodaway County Circuit Court at 305 N. Main Street, Maryville, MO 64468, phone 660-582-5431, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
305 N. Main St., Maryville, MO 64468
(660) 582-5431
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Nodaway County Circuit Court, Probate Division (probate case files – see Probate section above).
Maryville is home to Northwest Missouri State University.
Local societies
No dedicated Nodaway 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
Nodaway County Circuit Court, Probate Division 305 N. Main Street, Maryville, MO 64468 (660) 582-5431 Nodaway County is in Missouri’s northwestern corner, seated in Maryville.
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 in the county where the decedent was domiciled.
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
305 N. Main St., Maryville, MO 64468
(660) 582-7451
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
305 N. Main St., Maryville, MO 64468
(660) 582-5431
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
MO Dept of Social Services — Nodaway
(660) 582-5491
Northwest Medical Center
nwmissourihealth.org (Maryville — quality community hospital)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Nodaway County Health Department – confirm current phone via nodawaycountymo.com.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Maryville
Population: 23,000
Area: 877 sq mi
Established: 1845
Tier: 3
Public Records
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