Bolthole Index

Atchison County, Missouri

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Atchison County, Missouri

62Index Score / 100
#91 of 115 in Missouri

Unincorporated Atchison County, Missouri is listed as not requiring a general building permit, but no county permit ordinance or exemption was located, so confirm the parcel and project with the County Clerk before building12. Countywide zoning is likewise reported as absent but not confirmed by an ordinance3. Most new or repaired septic systems require a Missouri DHSS construction permit45.

At a glance

Building permit
Reported as not required in unincorporated areas; confirm the project with the County Clerk12
Zoning
Reported as no countywide zoning, but no adopting or denying ordinance was confirmed3
Septic permits
Missouri DHSS is Atchison County's authority; permits are required for most new systems and repairs45
Water wells
Missouri permits generally apply, although a landowner may install their own well or pump without one6
RV or tiny home
No county-specific occupancy rule was confirmed; ask the County Clerk before relying on long-term use2
Owner-builder
No county owner-builder exemption was confirmed7
State-highway driveway
MoDOT requires a right-of-way permit to construct or modify a driveway8

Who to call

Also useful

Atchison County Courthouse (County Clerk & Commissioners)

County Clerk and Commissioners; starting contact for parcel-specific county building, zoning, floodplain and land-use questions

660-744-6214

[email protected]

400 S. Washington St., PO Box 280, Rock Port, MO 64482

Roads & driveways

Atchison County Road & Bridge Supervisor

Road and bridge questions; ask whether a proposed county-road entrance needs approval

660-744-6214

[email protected]

400 S. Washington St., PO Box 280, Rock Port, MO 64482

Septic permits

Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program

Onsite wastewater construction permits for Atchison County

(573) 751-6095 ext. 5

[email protected]

930 Wildwood Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65102

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Atchison County, Missouri?

Atchison County is listed as not requiring a general building permit in the unincorporated county, and no building or planning office is identified1. However, we could not confirm a county ordinance that expressly establishes either the requirement or the exemption, so treat that answer as a starting point rather than blanket permission for every project. The safest first call is the Atchison County Clerk at the courthouse, with the parcel location and a short description of the proposed house, cabin, shop or farm structure2. Missouri's framework leaves building-code adoption at the local level, and the specific statutory county authority described here applies to first- and second-classification counties, subject to its conditions910. A Missouri farm-structure exemption is limited to county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinances; it is not a universal exemption from septic, floodplain or other requirements11.

Who handles building and land-use questions in Atchison County?

Atchison County does not list a dedicated building or planning department in the county courthouse directory, so begin with the County Clerk and Commissioners at the Atchison County Courthouse in Rock Port12. Ask the clerk to confirm whether the parcel lies in unincorporated Atchison County and whether any project-specific county review applies. For a proposed entrance on a county road, the courthouse directory separately lists the Road & Bridge Supervisor12. We could not confirm a county driveway-permit standard, so ask that office about the exact road and proposed entrance before grading. A driveway built or modified within Missouri Department of Transportation right-of-way does require a MoDOT permit, and MoDOT may request plans, traffic studies, hydraulic analysis, traffic-control plans or a bond depending on the work8. Land inside an incorporated city needs a separate call to that city's office because county-level answers do not settle municipal requirements2.

Does Atchison County have zoning?

Atchison County is reported as having no countywide zoning or county planning and zoning office3. We could not confirm an official county ordinance expressly adopting or rejecting zoning, so do not read the absence of a listed office as proof that every use is unrestricted. Missouri law allows certain noncharter counties to establish zoning for unincorporated territory only after the question goes to county voters and a majority favors it13. We also could not confirm countywide rules for minimum home size, minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage, building height or subdivision review. Ask the County Clerk about the specific parcel and intended use before fixing a site plan2. If the parcel is within an incorporated community, contact that city directly; the courthouse directory provides city-office contacts for community-specific information2. Private deed restrictions, easements and lender requirements are separate from county zoning and should be checked in the recorded land documents.

How do septic permits work in Atchison County?

Missouri DHSS is the onsite-wastewater permitting authority listed for Atchison County414. A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems, although some single-family residential lots may qualify for an exemption5. Residential property under 3 acres requires a permit under the cited state guidance, and work should not begin until DHSS issues a permit or confirms an exemption5. Start by submitting information through the state request form to obtain an application number14. DHSS or a qualifying local agency covers single-family subsurface systems, individual single-family lagoons and domestic systems at or below 3,000 gallons per day, while Missouri DNR regulates larger-flow systems and several other categories15. Only about 22% of Atchison County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the soil evaluation an early feasibility step16. State OWTS application fees were temporarily suspended effective August 28, 2026, so ask DHSS for the current fee status5.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Atchison County?

We could not confirm an Atchison County rule that expressly allows or prohibits full-time RV living, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy. Atchison County is reported as having no countywide zoning, but that finding does not by itself answer sanitation, floodplain, access or municipal rules for a particular parcel3. Before buying land for an RV or tiny home, give the County Clerk the parcel location, whether the unit will be occupied full time, and whether it will remain on wheels2. If the site will use an onsite wastewater system, most new installations and repairs need a DHSS construction permit, subject to limited residential exemptions5. Missouri's off-grid sanitation rules do not allow wastewater to be discharged into a road ditch or onto the ground17. Inside an incorporated city, ask that city's office rather than relying on the unincorporated-county summary2.

Building a home in Atchison County: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the County Clerk to confirm that the parcel is in unincorporated Atchison County and whether the proposed work needs any county review2.
  1. Ask the same office about parcel-specific zoning, setbacks, floodplain review and subdivision status because we could not confirm countywide rules for those topics.
  1. Arrange the septic soil evaluation early: only about 22% of county soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field16.
  1. Contact Missouri DHSS for an application number and obtain the OWTS construction permit, or written confirmation of an exemption, before septic work starts514.
  1. For a new well or pump, use a permitted installer unless the landowner will personally perform work covered by Missouri's landowner exception6.
  1. Ask the Road & Bridge Supervisor about a county-road entrance; for work in MoDOT right-of-way, obtain the required state permit128.
  1. Confirm any city rules separately if the parcel is incorporated2.

What should you check before buying land in Atchison County?

Start with wastewater feasibility: only about 22% of Atchison County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field16. Confirm legal access and ask the Road & Bridge Supervisor about any county-road entrance question; a state-highway connection requires a MoDOT right-of-way permit128. For water, Missouri generally requires permits for well and pump installation or repair, although a landowner may personally install their own well or pump without a permit under the cited rules6. About 93.7% of county land has a slope of 15% or less, but parcel-level drainage and flood exposure still need site review18. We could not confirm Atchison County's floodplain-development process, so ask the County Clerk who handles a parcel in a mapped flood hazard area2. The county's effective property-tax rate is about 1.2%, and its median annual property-tax bill is about $1,1781920.

Watch-outs

  • Atchison County is reported as not requiring a general building permit and having no countywide zoning, but we could not confirm a county ordinance establishing either answer; ask the County Clerk about the parcel and project before construction132.
  • Do not begin septic work until Missouri DHSS issues the permit or confirms that the property qualifies for an exemption5.
  • Only about 22% of Atchison County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so a low-cost conventional layout should not be assumed before evaluation16.
  • Atchison County's floodplain-development and county-driveway requirements could not be confirmed; ask the County Clerk and Road & Bridge Supervisor before closing or grading212.

Sources

  1. Atchison County - Local Government (2026 county census)
  2. Atchison County Courthouse (County Clerk & Commissioners) (atchisoncounty.org)
  3. Atchison County - Local Government (2026 county census)
  4. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  5. OWTS Construction Permit Process, quoted and re-checked
  6. Water Wells - PUB2945, quoted and re-checked
  7. (2026 county census)
  8. Permits | Missouri Department of Transportation (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. RSMo Section 64.170 (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. RSMo § 64.170 — County commissions control construction and issue building permits (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. RSMo Section 64.003 — Farm buildings and farm structures (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Atchison County Road & Bridge Supervisor (atchisoncounty.org)
  13. RSMo § 64.090 — Planning and zoning powers of county commission (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Missouri DHSS Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program (health.mo.gov)
  15. On-site Septic Systems and Subdivisions (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  17. Frequently Asked Questions (Missouri statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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County locator

Atchison County in Missouri

62
County map
Atchison County highlighted among the Missouri counties · colored by Index score

How Atchison County scores

Seclusion63100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency37100% ev.
Admin Boringness8790% ev.
Durability47100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost75100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$150kTypical home
1.2%Property tax
$6,221Land / acre
34.4"Annual rain
6.2% of yrsSevere drought
12.4 / yr (+10.1)Mid-century 100°F days
20.4 daysMid-century dry spell
1.83" (+4.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.69×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,018Home insurance / yr
4.4% / yrInsurance growth
1.8%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
5,909People within 30 min
3,142,647People within 2 hr
8,558Radius comparison (15 mi)
9.3People / sq mi
0.6%Federal land
93.7%Land at 15% slope or less
22%Septic soil without severe limits
76,328 acWorkable land screen
6.6%Wooded land
44.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
52.2°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Atchison County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Atchison County rules

  • Building permitNot required

    Atchison County lists no building or planning/zoning department among its courthouse offices; Missouri non-charter rural counties without adopted planning & zoning generally cannot require building permits in unincorporated areas. Corroborated by the state County Building Codes dataset (data.mo.gov iq7s-izvt, 2021): no county residential building code adopted.

    Atchison County - Local Government ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    The county has no county planning & zoning office; zoning applies only within incorporated cities such as Rock Port, not the unincorporated county.

    Atchison County - Local Government ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Missouri rules that apply here

  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Missouri statewide legal framework for building-code adoption by counties and other communities; the statutes authorize local adoption rather than establishing one uniformly adopted statewide building code.

    • County authority under RSMo 64.170 applies to counties of the first and second classification.
    • A county that had not adopted a building code before August 28, 2001 must obtain voter approval before adopting under RSMo 64.170 to 64.200.
    • The adoption vote is limited to voters in the affected area; a code affecting a county is not voted on by citizens of incorporated territory.
    • A county adopting under RSMo 64.180 must use a current nationally recognized building code edition from calendar year 1999 or later, as amended.
    • A county building ordinance may not conflict with liquefied petroleum gas installation requirements governed by RSMo 323.020.
    • A community may incorporate a code by reference only if it otherwise has legal power to adopt the ordinance.
    • A code incorporated by reference must be filed with the community clerk and available for public inspection for 90 days before adoption.
    • An ordinance adopting a code by reference must state the penalty separately rather than incorporate the penalty by reference.
    • RSMo 67.280 defines community to include any county, fire protection district, or municipality, and municipality to include an incorporated city, town, or village.
    “Because fire and building codes are adopted at the local level in Missouri”
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    Onsite wastewater permitting for Atchison County, as identified by Missouri DHSS.

    • The Missouri DHSS page identifies Atchison County's agency as DHSS and authority type as DHSS.
    • Different wastewater facilities may fall under Missouri DNR, including non-single-family lagoons, systems discharging to surface waters, systems over 3,000 gallons per day, and industrial wastewater.
    • Incorporated areas may have different permitting treatment under the state process.

    domestic wastewater flow threshold: <= 3000 gallons per day (DHSS coverage described for onsite or cluster systems treating domestic wastewater and dispersing through soil absorption systems)

    “Agency: DHSS Authority Type: DHSS Address: 930 Wildwood Dr, Jefferson City, MO 65102 County: Atchison Phone: (573) 751-6095 ext. 5 Website: N/A”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Mixed — Missouri wastewater treatment systems, including domestic onsite systems, larger-flow systems, direct discharges, lagoons, subdivisions, and industrial wastewater.
      “In Missouri, different state and local agencies are responsible for regulating wastewater treatment systems.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems in Atchison County under the Missouri DHSS permitting process.

    • A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems.
    • Some single-family residential lots may be exempt; Missouri DHSS states that a permit is required for residential property less than three acres and that the exemption does not apply in some counties.
    • Regardless of property size, a permit is required for other onsite systems serving non-residential structures.
    • Work must not begin until a permit is issued or an exemption is confirmed by the appropriate authority.
    • Atchison County is listed with DHSS as the permitting agency and authority type.

    residential property acreage threshold: < 3 acres (The cited state FAQ describes the permit requirement for residential property less than three acres and notes county exceptions.) · application fee suspension effective date: 2026-08-28 (The DHSS process page states fees were temporarily suspended due to changes to RSMo 701.046.)

    “A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). Some single family residential lots may be exempt from permitting. The first step of the permitting process is to determine the agency that has permitting authority where the work is being done.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems in Missouri, including residential systems subject to state permitting.
      “A construction permit is required before installing or repairing most onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). Some single family residential lots may be exempt from permitting.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Inspection or evaluation of existing onsite wastewater systems in connection with Missouri real-estate transfers.

    • Local public health agencies generally no longer inspect existing systems for real-estate transfers.
    • A private licensed inspector may perform an inspection or evaluation.
    • A lender, buyer, or other transaction participant may require an assessment.
    • Some local standards may be more stringent than state regulations.
    • Inspections and evaluations are distinct; an inspection includes a hydraulic test, while an evaluation does not.
    “For the most part, local public health agencies no longer inspect existing systems related to real estate transfer. The help of a licensed inspector can be obtained to check the condition of the system.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Off-grid domestic wastewater treatment using onsite wastewater treatment systems where central sewer service is unavailable.

    • Onsite systems treat and dispose of domestic sewage on the property where generated.
    • A construction permit is generally required, including for residential property less than three acres, subject to county-specific exceptions.
    • Wastewater may not be discharged into a road ditch or onto the ground.
    • Local permitting authorities may impose additional requirements.

    residential lot threshold: < 3 acres (The exemption does not apply in some counties.)

    “Onsite wastewater treatment systems are sometimes referred to as "septic systems." These systems treat and dispose of domestic sewage on the property where it is generated.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction or repair of water wells in Atchison County under Missouri's statewide well-permitting rules.

    • A non-restricted water-well installation permit is required to construct or repair a water well.
    • A non-restricted pump-installation permit is required to install or replace a pump and for plumbing and electrical lines from the well to the structure.
    • A restricted water-well or pump-installation permit is required when someone contracts or directs the installation.
    • Landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit under the cited law and rules.
    “A non-restricted water well installation permit is required to construct or repair a water well in Missouri. A non-restricted pump installation permit is required to install or replace a pump in a water well. A non-restricted pump installation permit is also needed to install or repair the plumbing and electrical lines from the well to the point of entry in the structure. A restricted water well or pump installation permit is required for someone to contract these activities or to direct the installation. Landowners may install their own well or pump without a permit pursuant to the above mentioned law and rules.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures as against county fire-protection or fire-prevention ordinances.

    • The exemption applies to fire protection or fire prevention ordinances adopted by counties in Missouri.
    • The statutory text addresses farm buildings and farm structures; it does not establish a general exemption from every zoning, building-code, floodplain, septic, or other land-use requirement.
    • Effective August 28, 2025.

    effective date: 2025-08-28

    “Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no fire protection or fire prevention ordinance adopted by any county in this state shall be exercised so as to impose regulations or to require permits with respect to the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings or farm structures.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Construction or modification of driveways within MoDOT right-of-way statewide.

    • A permit is required for construction of driveways and modifications to existing driveways on MoDOT right-of-way.
    • An initial online request must be submitted for each planned listed activity.
    • Engineered plans, traffic studies, hydraulic analysis, traffic-control plans, surety deposits, or performance bonds may be required depending on the work.
    • The rule does not establish a permit requirement for driveways outside MoDOT right-of-way.
    “We require you to obtain a permit to work on MoDOT's Right of Way for: Construction of driveways”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Projects including mining, dredging, building construction, and other dirt-moving activities in designated flood hazard areas within participating Missouri jurisdictions.

    • The source describes local county or city flood damage reduction ordinances rather than one uniform statewide ordinance.
    • The project must be within a participating jurisdiction.
    • The project must be within a designated flood hazard area.
    • The cited rule does not apply if either condition is absent.
    • Covered projects must not raise flood heights.
    “Some jurisdictions (for example, county, city) require any projects in certain floodplains do not raise flood heights.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Missouri Department of Natural Resources air construction permits statewide.

    • Fees apply to air construction permits, not to every Missouri building or land-use permit.
    • Construction permit fees include a filing fee and an hourly processing fee.
    • The filing fee depends on the type of construction permit.
    • The listed fees are effective January 1, 2026.
    • Fees applicable until December 31, 2025 are available on the Air Construction Permit Fees white sheet.
    • A convenience fee is charged for electronic payment.

    portable source relocation filing fee: 300 USD · minor permit filing fee: 300 USD · minor permit processing fee: per 100 USD (hour) · general permit filing fee: 700 USD · new source review filing fee: 6000 USD (plus $100 per hour processing fee) · prevention of significant deterioration filing fee: 6000 USD (plus $100 per hour processing fee) · hazardous air pollutant filing fee: 6000 USD (plus $100 per hour processing fee) · temporary or pilot filing fee: 250 USD (plus $100 per hour processing fee)

    “Construction permit fees include a filing fee and an hourly processing fee. The filing fee is dependent on the type of construction permit.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Permit applications for work on Missouri Department of Transportation right-of-way statewide.

    • The process applies to MoDOT right-of-way work.
    • Applicants may apply online, contact the area Traffic Specialist, or submit a hard-copy application by mail.
    • Additional documentation may be required depending on the work, including site plans, performance bond, certificate of liability, traffic studies, or a meeting with MoDOT personnel.
    • After issuance, Missouri One Call, a Notice of Intent, permit and approved-plan retention, and Traffic Specialist contact requirements apply.
    • Lane closures require a request at least two working days in advance and authorization before closing lanes.
    • The Traffic Specialist must be contacted at least 48 hours before beginning work and for necessary inspections.

    lane-closure advance request: >= 2 working days (authorization from MoDOT is also required) · Traffic Specialist pre-work contact: >= 48 hours (before beginning work)

    “Contact the Traffic Specialist a minimum of 48 hours prior to beginning work and for all necessary inspections.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Missouri counties adopting zoning regulations for unincorporated territory.

    • First-class charter counties are empowered under RSMo § 64.090; that section excludes first-class counties without a charter form of government.
    • A first-class noncharter county or a county of the second, third, or fourth class may establish county zoning under RSMo §§ 64.845 to 64.880 only after the zoning question is submitted to county voters and a majority of votes cast favors county zoning.
    • The authority applies to unincorporated portions or territory and does not apply to incorporated portions under § 64.090.
    • Section 64.090 excludes specified agricultural activities and certain farm structures, underground mining, and protects existing lawful uses subject to gradual elimination of nonconforming uses.
    “If a majority of the votes cast is in favor of county zoning, the county commission shall proceed with a program of county zoning”
  • county building authorityLimited

    County regulation of construction and issuance of building permits for buildings, including residential construction, in Missouri counties, with the practical focus on county-controlled areas outside incorporated territory.

    • RSMo § 64.170 grants the authority to counties of the first and second classification only.
    • The authority is subject to subsections 2 and 3.
    • A county that had not adopted a building code before August 28, 2001, under §§ 64.170 to 64.200, lacks authority to adopt one under those sections unless voters approve it.
    • The building-code authority vote is limited to voters in the affected area; a code affecting a county may not be voted on by citizens of incorporated territory.
    • The statute authorizes building regulations, building permits, inspections, licensing rules, and permit, license, and inspection fees.
    “the county commission in all counties of the first and second classification [...] is for this purpose empowered [...] to adopt [...] regulations to control the construction”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from building requirements in Atchison County.
  • Inspections — Building inspections in Atchison County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in Atchison County.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate of municipal and other local zoning within Atchison County.
  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts in Atchison County.
13 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Subdividing land
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Atchison County, Missouri

Is Atchison County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Atchison County scores 62/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (34.4″/yr rainfall).

Do you need a building permit in Atchison County, Missouri?

Atchison County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Atchison County, Missouri?

Land in Atchison County runs about $6,221 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Atchison County?

Atchison County gets about 34.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 6.2% of years.

How remote is Atchison County?

A representative private-land location has about 5,909 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,142,647 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Atchison County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Atchison compares in Missouri

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