Map of Tarkio city

Tarkio is a city in Tarkio Township, Atchison County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,506 at the 2020 census. It was platted in 1880 and incorporated in 1881. The name “Tarkio” is from a Native American word meaning “place where walnuts grow”. Historically, the economy of the city was based on agriculture and its status as a college town.

Tarkio city overview:
Name:	Tarkio city
LSAD Code:	25
LSAD Description:	city (suffix)
State:	Missouri
County:	Atchison County
Elevation:	997 ft (304 m)
Total Area:	1.39 sq mi (3.59 km²)
Land Area:	1.39 sq mi (3.59 km²)
Water Area:	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Total Population:	1,506
Population Density:	1,085.80/sq mi (419.32/km²)
ZIP code:	64491
Area code:	660
FIPS code:	2972340
GNISfeature ID:	2396032

Online Interactive Map

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Tarkio online map. Source: Basemap layers from Google Map, Open Street Map (OSM), Arcgisonline, Wmflabs. Boundary Data from Database of Global Administrative Areas.

Tarkio location map. Where is Tarkio city?

Tarkio location on the U.S. Map. Where is Tarkio city. — Tarkio location on the U.S. Map.

Tarkio location on the Missouri map. Where is Tarkio city. — Location of Tarkio in Missouri.

History

Tarkio was founded by Charles E. Perkins in 1880, and grew rapidly. By 1900, the U.S. Census shows 2,845 persons living in Tarkio. According to the 1910, 1920, and 1930 census, the number of residents held fairly steady for the next 30 years.

One of the community’s most famous landmarks was the Tarkio Mule Barn, an octagonal brick structure built in the early 1890s. It was converted to the Tarkio Mule Barn Theatre which was used by Tarkio College. It was on the National Register of Historic Places, but the building was destroyed in a 1989 fire.

Rankin Hall and the Walnut Inn are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.