Tarkio, Missouri
Tarkio is a city of 1,471 people in Atchison County, Missouri, founded in 1880.
Why visit Tarkio
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 1 place to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Mule Barn Theatre, Rankin Hall and Walnut Inn.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 15°F.
Weather in Tarkio
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Tarkio
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 the Wikipedia article Tarkio, Missouri (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Mule Barn Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Former theatre in Tarkio, Missouri, originally a barn
Museums and landmarks2
Rankin Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Building in Missouri, United States
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Walnut Inn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Hotel in Missouri, United States of America
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes1
Subway
Fast food · Sandwich · 0.4 mi
303 South 10th Street, Tarkio
Mo-Fr 08:00-21:30; Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 09:00-14:00
History
Tarkio was laid out by Charles E. Perkins in August 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.
From the History section of Tarkio, Missouri on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship1
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Map of Tarkio
16 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 15°F | 0.7 in |
| Feb | 38°F | 18°F | 1.3 in |
| Mar | 52°F | 29°F | 2.2 in |
| Apr | 63°F | 39°F | 3.4 in |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 5.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 4.7 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 66°F | 5.2 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.9 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 54°F | 2.6 in |
| Oct | 65°F | 40°F | 2.8 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 30°F | 1.7 in |
| Dec | 37°F | 20°F | 1.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Tarkio (1 mi away), rain and snow from Rockport 0.5 E, NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Atchison County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-07-09: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2019-05-20: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2015-08-07: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2014-10-31: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Northwest Missouri Regional Airport (EVU) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 25 miles away.
- Rock Port 8 mi west, about 13 min by car
- Shenandoah 22 mi north, about 35 min by car
- Mound City 23 mi south, about 36 min by car
- Clarinda 27 mi northeast, about 44 min by car
- Maryville 28 mi east, about 45 min by car
- Bedford 38 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
- Red Oak 40 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Malvern 40 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Hiawatha 42 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Sabetha 43 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Tarkio College in Tarkio Missouri circa 1910, Unknown author, Public domain
- Walnut Inn (Tarkio, MO) from SW 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Rankin Hall (Tarkio, MO) from NE 2, Ammodramus, CC0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.