Carter County
Carter County was organized from parts of Ripley and Shannon counties on March 10, 1859. It was named for Zimri A. Carter who was an early pioneer settler. The county seat is Van Buren which was originally established as the seat of Ripley County in 1833.

Carter County is located within the Mark Twain National Forest which was founded September 11, 1939 in the Missouri Ozarks. The Current River flows through the center of the County and is part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways that was established in 1964. Big Spring, the largest spring in the State of Missouri and one of the largest in the world, is located within the County.

The Carter County's main industries are timber and recreation. Most of the areas timber was depleted at the turn of the twentieth century which forced lumber mills to close. Through the efforts of local, state, and federal agencies, this natural resource continues to be restored.



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