Zinc

Zinc is a small town in the Ozarks with fewer than one hundred residents. Sugar Orchard Creek flows through the area and defines the natural landscape of this rural settlement.

The area was founded in 1890 when Elias Barham claimed the land and started extracting lead and zinc. A general store was built and became the center of this mining settlement.

The Barham House reveals how early settlers built their homes and organized life here. The architecture reflects the daily routines of a founding family that shaped the community's character.

Visitors can walk across the historic swinging bridge over the creek and explore the old buildings on foot. The nearest larger city is Harrison, roughly 14 kilometers to the west, where more services are available.

A pedestrian swinging bridge was built after the major flood of 1927 to reconnect the community across the creek. Today it stands as a historic landmark and remains one of the few structures preserved from that period.

Location: Boone County

Elevation above the sea: 268 m

GPS coordinates: 36.28528,-92.91556

Latest update: December 20, 2025 02:15