Belfast, Missouri

Belfast is an unincorporated community in Newton County, in the U.S. state of Missouri.[1] The community lies above the south bank of Lost Creek and is approximately four miles west of Neosho.[2] The St. Louis–San Francisco Railway passes the community along Lost Creek valley.[3]

History

In the 1880's, John Buzzard, a grandson of one of the founding families of the area, ran a store near the train station, known as Iron Switch. When a post office was added to the merchandise store in 1889 (which ran until 1901), he received a list of names from which to select the name of the new post office. He selected Belfast from the list. Belfast became the name which was extended to the surrounding community, including a church, Belfast Baptist Church, and a rural school, known as Belfast, until it was consolidated into Neosho school system in the 60s.

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Belfast, Missouri
2. Missouri Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, 1998, First edition, p. 60, ISBN 0-89933-224-2
3. Neosho West, MO, 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1972 (1986 rev.)

family history Buzzard family was one of the founding families of the Lost Creek area. I grew up in Belfast and am a 5th generation descendant of one of the founding families in this area.