Leopold, Missouri

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Leopold is a tiny, unincorporated community in eastern Bollinger County, Southeast Missouri. It sits on Missouri Route N, about four miles southeast of Marble Hill. The town has roughly 65 residents and one of the smallest public school districts in the state, Leopold R-III, which serves local students.

Leopold is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL metropolitan area. The community began as Vinemount in 1856 when Rev. John van Luytelaar and twelve families moved to farm nearby land. The first post office was built in 1894, but since there was already a Vinemount elsewhere, the town name was changed to Leopold in honor of the Pope. The first postmaster was John Hahn, who distributed mail from the church. In 1953 the post office moved to the corner of Highway N and Main Street. The Leopold Country Store now sits on the former Macke’s Feed and General Store site, and Beussink’s Transmission Service has become a local business run by Mike Vandeven.

Notable community sites include the Knights of Columbus Hall and St. John’s Catholic Church, built in 1899. Nearby St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Glennon is a mission parish of St. John’s. The Shrine of Our Lady Queen of Peace was dedicated in 1944 to honor local service members.

Education is centered in Leopold R-III School District. Around 2009–2010, about 200 students attended with roughly 30 staff members. The school colors are blue and white, and the mascot is the wildcat. The district offers various clubs, sports, and activities, and has received regional recognition for academic performance.

Leopold is surrounded by several other small unincorporated communities, including Drum, Glennon, Laflin, and Clippard.