Arkoe

History

The first community in the vicinity of Arkoe was Bridgewater, which was about a mile north of the current village. Nodaway County's first railroad, called the Missouri Valley Railroad (later becoming part of the Burlington Northern route), built two bridges across the 102 river within of each on a bend in the river and the county built a road bridge between the two in the same location. The railroad platted the community of Bridgewater by the bridges in 1870 and a post office opened there. Dr. Perry H. Talbott who granted the right of way through much of the land in the area, insisted that the town site be located on his property, and on September 16, 1874, he and S.K. Snively laid out Arkoe. Nelson Wilson who had opened a merchandise store in Bridgewater in 1871 moved the building to Arkoe and became its first business in 1874. Other businesses followed including the railroad which moved its depot from Bridgewater to Arkoe. On September 18, 1880, Dr. Talbott was shot and killed at his home. His wife, Belle, and his sons Charles Edward and Albert Perry were initially suspected and arrested for his murder. Eventually, Belle was released and the sons were tried for their father's murder. Both were convicted and sentenced to hang. They were executed in the Beal Pasture (today Beal Park), on the east side of Maryville, on July 22, 1881. News accounts estimated the number of people present at the hanging at over 10,000. The Talbott brothers' hanging is said to have been the first "legal" hanging in Nodaway County. Arkoe was formally incorporated in 1906. The Arkoe post office closed in 1953. The Arkoe rail line closed in 1979.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land. Arkoe lies in the very flat western plain of the One Hundred and Two River. It is miles north of Barnard, southeast of Maryville, and west of Conception.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• MARYVILLE HIGH
  High · MARYVILLE · 506 students · 15.8:1 ratio
• MARYVILLE MIDDLE
  Middle · MARYVILLE · 442 students · 12.6:1 ratio
• EUGENE FIELD ELEM.
  Elementary · MARYVILLE · 318 students · 10.3:1 ratio
• EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
  Elementary · MARYVILLE · 120 students · 10:1 ratio
• SOUTH NODAWAY ELEM.
  Elementary · Barnard · 94 students · 9.4:1 ratio
• JEFFERSON ELEM.
  Elementary · CONCEPTION JCT · 82 students · 8.2:1 ratio
• SOUTH NODAWAY HIGH
  High · BARNARD · 64 students · 8:1 ratio
• JEFFERSON HIGH
  High · CONCEPTION JCT · 57 students · 7.1:1 ratio