Spearville

History

The land for the townsite of Spearville was deeded by the Santa Fe to the Arkansas Valley Town Company in March 1873. Spearville was built on an area along a section of the Santa Fe Trail called Dry Ridge. The town was named for Alden H. Speare, railroad director and president of the town company. The city name appeared as both Spearville and Speareville until the 1890s, when local newspapers settled on the spelling of the town's name. Spearville's first permanent residents were the Santa Fe section foreman, Jonas Stafford, and his family, who settled in Spearville in January, 1875. Stafford's wife and daughters opened an eating house, mainly for the accommodation of the section hands. Toward the end of October 1892, Spearville was the site of the second robbery of the Bill Doolin Gang, which had been formed in the aftermath of the Dalton Gang's demise in Coffeyville, Kansas. The Ford County Bank was robbed of $1,697 by Doolin and two members of his gang. One of the outlaws, Ollie (Ol) Yantis, was soon tracked down and killed by a posse. Its nickname is City of Windmills, from the large number of windmills used to pump groundwater in the late 1800s. There are now wind farms with more than 350 turbines surrounding the city.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Spearville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Largest nearby schools

• Spearville Elem
  Elementary · Spearville · 174 students · 12.4:1 ratio
• Spearville Jr/Sr High
  High · Spearville · 168 students · 10.5:1 ratio