The site of Maryville was platted in 1845 as the county seat of Nodaway County. Settler Amos Graham was quite the romantic, naming the city after his wife, Mary. Though it was incorporated and unincorporated four times along the way, it finally stuck as a city in 1869. Today, this small city finds itself surrounded by farmland, with a community of 10,000-plus people who show pride for Northwest Missouri State University, home of the Bearcats. “You’re going to see Bearcat paws all over town, on signs and T-shirts,” says Greg McDanel, Maryville’s city manager. “Bearcat Stadium draws 10,000 people every Saturday to watch football. There’s just an incredible town-and-gown relationship with the city and Northwest. People love that this is a safe rural setting, where you get that college town culture not every rural community has to offer.” The university is Maryville’s second-largest employer, behind a Kawasaki Motors plant. The city is also full of other industrial businesses, especially on the east side. Meanwhile, the growing downtown scene of local shops, restaurants and community events add to the city’s small-town atmosphere.
Maryville is a community of 10,000-plus people who show pride for Northwest Missouri State University, home of the Bearcats.
Maryville is full of industrial businesses, the biggest one is the Kawasaki Motors plant that has more than 1,000 workers.
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A reviving downtown and busy commercial corridor
The Nodaway County Courthouse, built in 1881, towers 111 feet above the half-mile strip of local shops and restaurants on Downtown Main Street. “There’s been a real resurgence downtown, and we’re continuing to put in a lot of work,” says McDanel. “Over the last decade, we went from being around 20% to over 75% full. We’re still in the process of revitalizing downtown and are using grants to improve buildings that need a little TLC to make them habitable.” Most downtown shops and restaurants close between 5-9 p.m. However, there’s a little bit of nightlife as some bars stay open past midnight. A three-quarter-mile drive down Main Street leads to what locals refer to as the South Main Corridor, where all of the city’s big-box retailers are located, along with several restaurants.
In Maryville the Nodaway County Courthouse, built in 1881, towers 111 feet above the half-mile strip of local shops and restaurants on Downtown Main Street.
A three-quarter-mile drive down Main Street leads to what locals refer to as the South Main Corridor, where all of the city’s big-box retailers are located in Maryville
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Homes below the national median and increasing in value
The median home price in Maryville is $225,000, though homebuyers can find anything from a small $65,000 fixer-upper to a $550,000 stately home on more than an acre of land. The oldest houses date to the late 1800s and can be found closer to downtown. Homes are more recently built as the city spreads closer to the countryside. However, some empty lots near downtown have been filled with newer houses. Homes have increased in value by 10%-17% year-over-year since 2020, according to local real estate records.
The oldest houses in Maryville date to the late 1800s and can be found closer to the downtown area.
Colonial styles can be found just south of downtown Maryville.
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Home of the Spoofhounds and Bearcats
Maryville R-II School District earns a B-plus grade from Niche, with students attending Eugene Field Elementary, Maryville Middle and Maryville High. The Maryville High mascot is the Spoofhound, named by a 1923 football coach who said his players looked like “a bunch of spoofhounds,” referring to an ugly statue of a dog he saw at a carnival. The insult has become a point of pride for students and the community.
Northwest Technical School is attached to Maryville High and gives students an alternative option to study technical career fields.
It’s common for high school graduates to continue their education at Northwest Missouri State University. Students can study from more than 200 programs, including bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The Northwest Bearcats also compete in a dozen NCAA Division II sports.
It’s common for Maryville high school graduates to continue their education at Northwest Missouri State University.
Maryville Middle School offers 8th Grade Job Shadowing and opportunities for learning and growth.
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Markets, parades and the Nodaway County Fair
Maryville has lots of fun annual and weekly events, including the Downtown Maryville Market, with local vendors every Saturday from May through October. The market opens each year with the Spring into Fun event, which shuts down Main Street for a day. Fall into Fun kicks off the autumn season, featuring a giant pumpkin contest and a pumpkin pie eating contest. Several parades are held throughout the year, including a homecoming parade for the university and a Christmas parade. The Nodaway County Fair also takes place in Maryville near the Northwest Missouri Regional Airport.
11 city parks, a large lake and several indoor activities
Maryville has a lot of recreational opportunities, with 95 acres making up the city’s 11 municipal parks, including playgrounds, a sports complex and an aquatic center. The 1,006-acre Mozingo Lake not only serves as the city’s main water source, but is one of the region’s most popular destinations. Locals take advantage of these outdoor adventures during the city’s mild summers and find more indoor activities during the below-freezing winters. Options include bowling at Bearcat Lanes, cheering on the Bearcats basketball team and heading to The Hanger for dinner, a movie and arcade games.
The 1,006-acre Mozingo Lake not only serves as the Maryville's main water source, but is one of the region’s most popular destinations.
Bearcat Lanes in Maryville not only has tournaments and leagues, but a Cosmic Bowl on Thursdays with glow-in-the-dark black light bowling and dance music.
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A small city in the middle of three major cities
Maryville does not have a public transportation system. However, Oats Transit serves Nodaway County with shuttles that will transport people for a fee. Maryville is almost right in the middle of three major cities. From U.S. Route 71, it’s a 95-mile drive south to Kansas City. Omaha is 115 miles northwest, starting from Missouri 46. And it’s a 140-mile drive northeast to Des Moines, beginning at Missouri Route 148. Travelers can take a Greyhound, which has a station at Casey’s General Store on East 1st Street. Kansas City International Airport is the closest option for commercial flights.
Maryville opts for a Public Safety Department
Property and violent crime rates are lower in Maryville than in the United States, and the city credits its public safety department. Rather than instituting police and fire departments, Maryville’s public safety department cross-trains officers in policing and firefighting, allowing them to assist in all emergency situations.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
