The Tiny Missouri Towns With the Fewest People

Size doesn't matter or so I hear. That's true for many tiny towns that are spread out across Missouri with several that have populations so small, it's difficult to know if several have any residents living there at all. Among those, there are ten that are smaller than all the rest.

I decided to ask the US Census databases to help me find the smallest towns/villages in Missouri. It was based on several different criteria which all provide different results:

• 2020 Census numbers
• 2024/2025 estimates
• incorporated-only communities
• places that are partially abandoned

Here are the 10 smallest places in Missouri based on the most recent estimates, but it's possible there will be some variance depending on which population count you use.

I was laughing when I saw little ole Tightwad, Missouri end up in the top (or is it bottom?) ten of Missouri's least populated towns and villages. That funny-named Missouri place always ends up on internet lists for one reason or another. I'd also argue that the smaller the town in Missouri, the larger the charm and character, at least in some cases. If you happen upon any of these Missouri communities, you will almost certainly be entertained by any conversations you might have with the residents there. The smaller the population, the larger the opinion of what's really happening in the world.