County Information

About Stoddard County, Missouri!

The Industrial Development Authority of Stoddard County, Missouri, welcomes your online visit! With its pro-business atmosphere, Stoddard County offers many economic and growth opportunities to manufacturing, commercial, agricultural, and service industries.

Stoddard County is one of the six southeastern Missouri counties known as the “Bootheel.” The Industrial Development Authority and the area’s city and county leaders invite you to consider Stoddard County and its abundant land, existing buildings, affordable utilities, and able workforce. U.S. Highway 60 and Missouri Highway 25 cross through the county and Interstate Highways 55 and 57 are within an easy 30-minute drive. The county’s easy access from practically anywhere in the nation makes this region an ideal transportation location.

Bloomfield is the county’s oldest town, founded in 1835, and is located on Crowley’s Ridge surrounded by scenic rolling hills. Visit our other towns: Advance, Bell City, Bernie, Dexter, Dudley, Essex and Puxico.

Our website includes additional information on Stoddard County’s history, schools, recreation, attractions, and much more. The IDASC welcomes your interest. Please contact us with questions. Upon request, we have a Stoddard County Promotional Packet which provides general county information and specific community information as well as a CD that gives a narrated tour of the county showcasing sites and buildings that are currently available, along with photos and a description of each property.

Our Community

Explore Our Cities

Advance, MO

The City of Advance has a wonderful history that surrounds the construction of the railroad in the northern portion of Stoddard County. Advance and

Bell City, MO

Bell City is a small farming community in northern Stoddard County. It was founded about 110 years ago as a sawmill town. Bell City

Bernie, MO

Bernie was established in 1892 with logging its primary industry. At one time, three sawmills were located in the swamps and woods east of

Bloomfield, MO

Located on the beautiful Crowley’s Ridge in the heart of Southeast Missouri, the City of Bloomfield lives up to its name. The more than

Dexter, MO

Dexter is geographically centered from four major cities, namely, St. Louis, Missouri; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee. Based on the 1990

Dudley, MO

The City of Dudley is a small, rural town located just off US Highway 60 west of Dexter. The town has a mayor and

Essex, MO

The City of Essex is located five miles east of Dexter and 15 miles east of Sikeston. The community is predominantly agricultural and has

Puxico, MO

Puxico is a city in Stoddard County, Missouri, United States. The population was 881 at the 2010 census.Puxico was first settled in 1883, and