Towns across the United States are famous for one thing or another. Quite often, it is something the town does to produce income for its residents or a discovery of some new product by one of the residents. In the case of Neosho, it happens to be a simple case of what the town did to improve the quality of beauty for its residents and visitors.
Neosho, Missouri, has the national distinction of being named the Flower Box City. To this day, it continues to practice some of the methods that were employed to win this national distinction.
In 1955, the town received a five thousand dollar grant for a beautification project. An assembly line, coordinated by the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Neosho, was formed to construct over two hundred flower boxes from wood that local companies provided at cost.
Additionally, more than four hundred container gardens were produced, mainly by using donated wooden barrels. Plants were also provided at reduced rates by local nurseries. This activity led to the town’s winning of an All America City Award. This was the beginning for the Flower Box City and its claim to fame.
Located in Newton County, the town of Neosho has continued the tradition of beautifying the town at every conceivable location with flower containers of some sort- nothing is left unadorned. Flowers adorn the perimeters of schools, businesses, churches, and homes. Flower boxes and containers surround trashcans, mailboxes, trees, and more.
The largest known flower box in the world sits in Neosho in Morse Park. The entire town community transformed a railroad gondola car into a flower box. Materials, time, effort, and money were all donated to make this a reality. This gorgeous, oversized flower box is 66 feet long and 44 inches deep. Moreover, it is 8 feet wide. In fact, the transformed flower box is so large that it includes trees and bushes among the flowers.
Logos declaring Neosho’s claim to fame adorn the town. New members of the Chamber of Commerce receive a wall clock with a flower box logo upon their admittance, and receive flower boxes to continue the city’s effort to beautify Neosho. Missouri’s state capital is Jefferson City.
To this date, new construction often includes flower containers and flower boxes in their designs. Easy care planters are incorporated wherever they can easily be placed and cared for to enhance the beauty of this already beautiful town.
in Missouri
