Fairfield is a former unincorporated community in
Benton County, Missouri, USA. Fairfield and much of its surrounding township, Alexander, is now covered by water, as part of the
Harry S. Truman Dam and Reservoir
The Harry S Truman Reservoir, also known as Truman Lake, is located in the state of Missouri, United States. It is located between Clinton and Warsaw, on the Osage River and extends south to Osceola. The dam is located in Benton County, bu ...
. It was located about seven miles south of
Warsaw just west of
Route 83
The following highways are numbered 83.
International
* Asian Highway 83
* European route E83
Australia
* Eastern Highway in Melbourne
* B83 Pacific Highway
* Flinders Ranges Way, South Australia
* National Route 83 from Birdsville to No ...
. The Fairfield Public Use Area is on the shore near the location of the former community.
One of the earliest residents of Fairfield was Judge George T. Alexander, a pioneer in Missouri since 1816, who built the town's covered bridge, and operated its mill. He arrived in Fairfield in 1832 and purchased an Indian village for $60. He obtained a ferry license for the Pomme de Terre River at that spot in 1836 and was elected as a county judge. The township was named for Alexander.
Fairfield in 1962 still had the remains of the old mill and the pillars from the old covered bridge. Fairfield had a post office with the town bar in the same building, side by side. There also was an old country church on the north end of town and a bait shop in the center of town with a walkway to the banks of the river bank and the docks that provided john boat rentals. There was a small local country store with food, hardware and clothing, as well as a gasoline station with a repair garage.
Famous people from Fairfield
*
James M. Scott, Senior Olympian, inventor
*
Judith Moriarty
Judith K. Moriarty (born February 2, 1942) is an American politician from Missouri, first with the Democratic Party, switching to the Libertarian Party in 2005. She was the first woman to serve as Missouri Secretary of State.
Early life
Moriarty ...
, former Missouri Secretary of State
Further reading
* ''The Missouri Kid'' by James M. Scott - a memoir about growing up in Fairfield, (Oct 2000)
References
Former populated places in Benton County, Missouri
Populated places established in 1832
1832 establishments in Missouri
Former populated places in Missouri
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