Walnut Inn · National Register of Historic Places
Tarkio’s story
146 years in pictures
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1880Tarkio is settled
TarkioMO
A town of 1,471, settled in 1880. A typical home worth about $127K.
Photo: SamuelNelsonGISP · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,471
−4.9% since 2010
Typical home
$127K
−1.3% in a year
Household income
$57K
median
Median age
51.0
years
Jobs based here
326
A commuter town
What makes Tarkio stand out
The 3 things Tarkio does most differently from other towns.
Small town
1,471 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Tarkio’s report card
Now in Tarkio
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Tarkio? Is a C− for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Tarkio’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →61°
Clear
H 65° · L 45°
Local news
All →- Tarkio, MO Man Arrested on Child Porn, Harassment ChargesHoodline · Sep 7
- Tarkio, MO Shots-Fired Call Leads to Armed Criminal ChargesHoodline · Sep 3
- Meet Blake Hurst, the Missouri farmer who is welcoming data centersKQ2 · Aug 16
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Tarkio. Another town gets a different order.
Housing
A typical Tarkio home is worth about $127K
The typical Tarkio home is worth about $127,000, down 1.3% in a year, 53% below the Missouri typical home.
$127KZillow home value
Typical home value
Tarkio$127K
Missouri$268K
−1.3%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Health
Healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Tarkio beats the Missouri average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8.
C−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Missouri
1 better23 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Tarkio | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.2% | 77.2% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.4% | 6.8% |
Community Hospital Association
8.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
38th
percentile among MO towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
About one in six working residents works right in Tarkio
Most working residents leave Tarkio for work: only 17% work in town. The top destinations are Rock Port (9%), Maryville (6%) and Kansas City (4%). Half commute less than 22 miles.
17%work in town
Where working residents work
In Tarkio17%
Rock Port9%
Maryville6%
Kansas City4%
Fairfax4%
22 mi
median commute distance
326
jobs based in Tarkio
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 74% of U.S. communities.
74risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
15
paid flood claims since 1982
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Tarkio has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 16°, and about 30 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
30″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter19–38°
Spring41–64°
Summer64–85°
Fall42–65°
Oct 15
typical first frost
Apr 19
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Schools
Tarkio’s public schools outperform 64% of Missouri districts
The public schools Tarkio’s kids attend outperform 64% of Missouri’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
BSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarkio Elementary | PK–5 | 142 | C+ |
| Tarkio JH and High School | 6–12 | 176 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MO on state testsAll 2 schools →
A commuter town
83% of working residents leave Tarkio for work
Where Tarkio’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
326jobs based in Tarkio
17%of working residents work in town
22 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
3 places in Tarkio on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Tarkio
City in Atchison County, Missouri, United States
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 derived from the Meskwaki language meaning "place where walnuts grow".
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1880
- Population
- 1,506
- Area
- 1.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 928 ft
- ZIP code
- 64491
- Area code
- 660
More about Tarkio
Still missing for Tarkio:archive photosupcoming events