The oldest town in Jasper Co. is still suffering from flooding that happened nearly a century ago. Sarcoxie's downtown found itself under water nearly every time in rained in the early 1900's.

Now, it stays dry, and, city leaders say, for the heart of the city to survive, the floodplain maps need to change.

Nearly 180 years ago, Sarcoxie became the first town in jasper county. Located along Center Creek, people living there know rain can bring trouble.

"When it starts, you better get out because it just keeps coming up, up, up," says long-time resident Joan Heidlege.

The town has flooded more than residents care to admit.

"The water would get pretty high at times and it was hard to get around the square. I know, in the year, I can't remember when, we had a flood here, it was pretty bad. They had to take people out of their homes," says Heidlege.

It's a part of history that has left a stain. What was once a bustling town has changed.

"It leaves it in a fairly deteriorated state," says Johnny Hankins, the President of Sarcoxie's Chamber of Commerce

The square used to be full of businesses. Now, about half of the storefronts sit empty. City leaders say the floods of the early 1900's are the cause.

"We can't get any support from the federal or state level," says Hawkins.

The majority of downtown Sarcoxie is considered a floodplain, making it a hard sell for businesses.

"You have issues with loans, you have issues with insurance, and you have issues with grants," says Hankins.

So, the city is looking to get re-mapped. After some flood prevention work nearly forty years ago, Sarcoxie hasn't faced any major flooding in its downtown.

Missouri's State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) is in the beginning stages of re-mapping all of jasper county.

That is leaving city leaders hopeful these downtown businesses will thrive once again.

"Anything that you can do to enhance the area or make money more available to businesses or entities that want to relocate here or build new facilities, that's great for this area," says Hankins.

SEMA is just beginning its study of Jasper Co. flood plains.

The preliminary maps are due out for public comment Sep., 2010. Contact: dmagditch@kspr.com