Norwood, Missouri
A Great Little Place to Live.
Norwood, Missouri, founded in 1881, is the type of small town that you like to call home. In work or play, it's friendly atmosphere shines through.
Norwood is located on U.S. Highway 60 in Wright County in Southwest Missouri. Many travelers fuel up and get a cup of coffee in our friendly little town. While in Norwood, people visit our Old Hotel Museum. It houses many pictures and antiques depicting life in the Norwood area in the early 1900's. Other local points of interest are all around Norwood.
Just west is the town of Mansfield where the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home (where the "Little House" books were written) is located.
Just one hour west of Norwood is Springfield. Springfield is the third largest city in the state. It is known worldwide for the Bass Pro Outdoor World. It is also the home of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Frisco Railroad Museum, Dickerson Park Zoo, conservation nature center, and many history and art museums.
Just outside of Springfield you can take a "wild ride" through Exotic Animal Paradise, relive Civil War history at the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and General Sweeney's, and go underground at Fantastic Caverns, America's only ride-through cave.
Just south of Springfield is Branson, America's new live entertainment capital. Branson is known for its live music shows, Silver Dollar City, WhiteWater, and other theatres and sightseeing spots. Branson also recently hosted the Miss America Pageant.
East of Norwood is Mountain Grove. It is the shopping center of Wright County and also offers the Old Mill Tour, which display some of the best pioneer water mills in the nation.
About one hour east is West Plains, which hosts many concerts and other events at its Civic Center, offers many shopping centers, museums and historical points of interest.
For you fisherman and water adventurers, there is Bull Shoals Lake south of Norwood in Theodosia.
The Norwood area offers something for everyone, from music fan to outdoors adventurers to history buff.
Come for a visit!! Stay for a while!!
Government
Norwood is a fourth class city and has a Mayor/City Council form of government. Our Mayor is Bobby Bennett. Our City Council Members are elected from the Northside and the Southside. The Northside Council Members are Marvin Elliott and Becky Russell. The Southside Council Members are Jan Brill and Angie Richardson. The City Council meets each month at City Hall. Meeting dates and times are posted at City Hall.
The Norwood Police Chief, Glenn Adler, keeps the peace in our small town. Fire Chief, James Bradshaw, leads the Volunteer Fire Department to assist the area with fire protection and medical first responders. The fire department currently has an ISO rating of 8.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact City Hall at 746-4602 or E-mail us at
Norwood@windo.missouri.org.
Organizations
Community Betterment Club
Visit our Museum at 175 W Burnam Street.
The Norwood Community Betterment Club is an organization dedicated to the citizens of Norwood. They organize the Farmers Day activities, Christmas Parades, Jamborees, Easter Egg Hunts, and many other activities that the entire community can enjoy. The Community Betterment Club also hosts a Senior Citizens Dinner on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the museum. All seniors are welcome.
The Community Betterment Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month at the museum at 7:00 p.m.
Norwood Parks and Recreation Board
The newest addition to our list of organizations is the Norwood Parks and Recreation Board. This board, led by President Leah Vaughan, is planning many projects for the Norwood Community. Contact city hall for meeting dates and times.
Community Activities
Farmers Day 
The annual Farmers Day Activities are held the first weekend in October. The festivities start on Friday evening with the Farmers Day Pageant. During intermission, the Farmers Day Committee provides entertainment. The fun continues Saturday with the children's parade and the main parade. Floats, fire trucks, pageant winners, classic cars, bands and more travel through downtown Norwood while area people line the streets. After the parade, people make their way to the pavilion at City Hall where there is music and prizes. There are also several booths set up ranging from crafts to baked potatoes. The night is ended with a dance where area kids and kids at heart kick up their heels and have a great time. Come and join us.
Christmas Parade 
The annual Christmas Parade is held on the second Saturday in December. Bands, floats, fire trucks, Santa Claus, and much more join the parade. After the parade, Santa is available for pictures at the museum. As part of the festivities, a homeowner and a business are awarded for best decorated home and business.
Jamboree
Each summer, the Betterment Club organizes the Saturday night Jamborees. Bluegrass, County, Gospel, and other bands perform at the Norwood City Hall Pavilion. Look for advertisements.
Community Calendar
Norwood City Council Meeting - 1st Tuesday of each month
School Board Meeting - 3rd Monday of each month
Betterment Club Meeting - 3rd Tuesday of each month
Senior Citizen Dinner - 2nd Tuesday of each month
Jamborees - Saturday evenings (seasonal)
Farmers Day - 1st weekend in October
Christmas Parade - 2nd Saturday of December
Education 
Norwood R-I Schools - Excellence in Education
The Norwood R-I Schools are located at a single location on Highway 60 in Norwood. The school district includes approximately 90 square miles of Wright and Douglas counties.
The school's enrollment has doubled over the past 14 years. The school is currently serving 529 children (EC-12). To accommodate its growing enrollment, the school has added 36 new classrooms. District patrons have provided needed support by passing three bond issues and two tax levy increases since 1975. The school currently has no bonded indebtedness.
Norwood School is large enough to provide a full range of programs yet small enough to maintain a friendly family atmosphere.
Norwood School's teacher salary schedule enables the school to employ some of the best teachers available. The $25,000 teacher salary base is among the highest in Southwest Missouri and ranks in the top five percent of all schools in out-state Missouri. With career ladder and extra duty pay, Norwood teachers can earn in excess of $50,000 per year.
Norwood School currently employs 47 teachers. This staff is sufficient to maintain a 13-1 pupil to teacher ratio. In addition to regular classroom instruction, the school provides:
- On-campus College classes for adults.
- An alternative school for adults wishing to complete their high school education or GED
- An early childhood program for three and four year olds.
- School age childcare program before and after school
- A day-care program for pre-schoolers
- An extended summer school program
- A full range of vocational programs
- A parents as first teachers program
- A full-day kindergarten
- Special education services for all handicapped children
Norwood School is also proud of its students' achievements, both academically and athletically. Norwood students regularly score high in academic competitions. Norwood School athletic teams have made five final four appearances in the 1990's in softball, baseball and basketball including two state championships.
Liberty Faith Christian Academy
Liberty Faith Christian Academy, located East of Norwood R-I Schools, is committed to academic excellence. It is Liberty Faith Christian Academy's philosophy that a student graduating from a Christian school should have a superior academic background.
The L.F.C.A. academic program is distinctively Christian in its content. That does not mean that L.F.C.A. is just a glorified Sunday school. The staff teaches the basic subjects of Math, English, Social Studies and Science. The difference is that each of these is taught from the foundation of the Word of God. Proverbs 1:7 "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: At L.F.C.A., knowledge is Truth..". Science is a study of God's creation. Social Studies is a study of how man has interacted with God and His Word. Math shows the orderliness and infinity of God. English is the study of communication, without which we can't read God's Word or tell others about Him.
The academic program is also distinctively Christian in its approach to learning. God deals with us as individuals. At L.F.C.A., students are dealt with as individuals. No student is put in a particular level of work because of his age or his grade. Testing is done with each incoming student and work is given that is appropriate for him. Students are not bored by work that is too easy or frustrated by work that is too hard. When their subjects are prescribed, they are allowed to progress at a rate that is right for them. Each student is encouraged to fulfill his individual potential. The system also encourages the student to take the initiative in learning. They learn responsibility by setting and meeting goals.
To insure a high quality of learning, L.F.C.A. allows students to advance only when they have mastered the material they've been working on. A minimum test score of 80% is required before the student is allowed to proceed. Nobody progresses unless they have really learned. At the end of each quarter, Progress Reports are sent home to keep parents posted on their child's progress. L.F.C.A. also utilizes the California Achievement Test so a student's progress can be objectively measured.
To the students at Liberty Faith Christian Academy, a Christian education means content based on the Word of God, a system of learning that deals with children as individuals and teaches them character, and a high standard of academic achievement.
Wright County Library - Norwood Branch
**Celebrating 50 years of serving the Norwood Community**
The Norwood Branch of the Wright County Library is located south of the post office on Eagle Street (Hwy C). The library has experienced much growth over the last few years. The library now has Internet access, movies, and has increased its number of books and other reading materials tremendously. Come by and check it out.
The Library Hours are:
Monday & Friday - 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday - 9:30 am to 4:30 p.m.
Every other Saturday - 9:00 am to 12:00 noon
Industry
Tharp Industrial Park
The Tharp Industrial Park is located on Norwood Street (Old Highway 60) and can be viewed from U.S. Highway 60. There are currently four lots available. Contact city hall for more information.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NORWOOD, CONTACT NORWOOD CITY HALL.
