Carterville is located in Jasper County, Missouri, and was part of the original Louisiana Purchase of 1803.  With this great piece of history in its background Carterville became a flourishing community. The city continued to grow and during the census of 1900 the population of the city was just over 4,900 compared to 9,000 in Webb City. 
In 1921 Carterville became part of the still famous “Route 66 Highway” when the first concrete was laid between Carterville and Carthage.  The highway became a landmark for the city when it came right down Main Street.  Thus the motto “Main Street USA”.
The mining era and industrial growth ended in the early 1950’s.  By this time the city’s population had dropped to around 2,000, but remained a friendly and neighborly community goverened by a Mayor and city council. 

Carterville schools were always highly rated and in 1963 a new high school was built but was later the city’s elementary school when the school district was merged with Webb City in 1968.  In 1963 the city also received a new and modern U.S. Post Office under the direction of then postmaster Emmett O. Griffin.  The Landreth and Griffin families had long histories in the city with many generations growing up here.  Other family names with great histories can be found on the names of the streets in town:  Fountain, Cass, Kane, Lewis, Bulger and Daughtery, to name a few.
Today Carterville still boasts a bustling city with several small business, a telephone company, a grocery store, two gas station/mini marts, several churches, a saddle shop, “a Route 66” store, and a diner all operate in the city. The city has a highly rated volunteer fire department.  A new city hall houses a well organized city administration under the leadership of Mayor Dale Davenport. All the above gives Carterville a proud citizenship, growing population, and great heritage and history to continue into the twenty-first century.