Peculiar also had families coming from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. Peculiar is the birthplace of Brutus Hamilton, athletics track and field athlete and coach, college athletics administrator.
Peculiar, Missouri gifts and souvenirs: 18 designs made from Peculiar's own map, landmarks and history, from $16 to $95. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.
| Popular | Price |
|---|---|
| Peculiar Hometown Ornament | $23 |
| Peculiar Varsity Crewneck | from $57 |
| Peculiar Est. Tee | from $33 |
| Peculiar Town Line Mug | from $26 |
| Peculiar Market Tote | $37 |
Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon, in 3 styles
The town's story in dates, from its own records, for home or classroom
Map of local landmarks, washable fabric
Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back
Red heavy-blend crewneck, knit-stitch town print
Soft Bella+Canvas jersey
Kids' Bella+Canvas jersey, youth sizes
Bella+Canvas toddler jersey
Bella+Canvas baby bodysuit
Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe
Weatherproof, for the front walk
24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back
12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang
Soft-touch, zip cover
Sturdy all-over-print tote
Glossy top, cork back
Soft fleece, 50″×60″
20 oz, double-wall stainless
Population 2010: 4,608 → 2020: 5,621
From Wikidata (CC0).
Early settlers of the town came to Western Missouri by riverboat from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Peculiar also had families coming from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. On July 29, 1868, the county surveyor, Robert Cass, platted Peculiar and was filed as "The Town of Peculiar".
There are at least two versions of the story on how Peculiar received its name. The first involves the community's first postmaster, Edgar Thomson. His first choice for a town name, "Excelsior," was rejected because it already existed in Atchison County, Missouri. Several other choices were also rejected. The story goes that the annoyed Thomson wrote to the postmaster general himself to complain saying, "We don't care what name you give us so long as it is sort of 'peculiar'." Thomson submitted the name "Peculiar", and the name was approved. The post office was established on June 22, 1868.
In an alternate version, according to Missouri folklorist Margot Ford McMillen, early settlers were searching for a location to farm. As they cleared a small rise and looked below, one remarked, "Well that's peculiar! It's the very place I saw in a vision back in Connecticut." The land was purchased and eventually a village sprang up on it, which was named "Peculiar".
The city celebrated its centenary in July 1968. The celebrations continued for nine days and included an antique show and sale, a Lions Club championship rodeo, and an open class Western horse show.
In 2024, the city blocked the Harper Road Technology Park, a proposed $1.5 billion, 504-acre data center project by Diode Ventures, after pushback from local residents. In June 2026, mayor John Shatto explained the debate over the data center created more community engagement with local government. "That was our turning point," he said. "The town banded together, stuck together."
Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Peculiar, Missouri, revision 1374808395 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
We share a part of every Peculiar sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.
Partner with usA favorite landmark, your street, a school or team, an anniversary gift, a different product. Tell us and we'll get back to you by email.
Peculiar's population was 5,621 in the 2020 U.S. Census, up from 4,608 in 2010.