In the post-war years, communities grew and schools and churches were built. In Newton County, where now there are four schools, there once were more then 100 one-room schoolhouses. Teachers walked from wherever they lived to teach and, if it was any distance, boarded during the week with one of the local families. At the turn of the century, a mining boom provided employment for hundreds as lead and zinc were taken from the hills. Later, lumber camps were the large employers as tons of stave bolts were cut.
Many older residents can remember growing up in the tents of logging camps.
Rural electrification came to the area in the 1930s and one of the greatest changes it brought was the radio. The outside world had found the Ozarks at last. Weather in the Ozarks is as diverse as the scenery and can change dramatically. The average temperature in the winter is 40 degrees and in summer is 80 degrees, but temperatures can range from an average low of 32 to an average maximum of 92. Annual rainfall is approximately 45 inches and annual snowfall five inches.