Happy TravellerWelcome to Fort Leonard Wood, a U.S. Army training installation located in the Missouri Ozarks. The post was created in December 1940 and named in honor of General Leonard Wood (former Chief of Staff) in January 1941. Originally intended to train infantry troops, in 1941 it became an engineer training post with the creation of the Engineer Replacement Training Center. During World War II Italian and German POWs were interned at the fort. In 1984, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process, most of the U.S. Army Engineer Schools operations were consolidated at Fort Leonard Wood. Before that, officer training was conducted at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In 1999, again as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process, Fort McClellan, Alabama, was closed, and the U.S. Army Chemical Corps and Military Police Corps schools were transferred to Fort Leonard Wood, which was concurrently redesignated the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center. In 2009, the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center was redesignated the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE); the center of excellence designation was placed on almost all U.S. Army training institutions.
History:
Fort Leonard Wood has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1940. Originally intended to train infantry troops, the post became an engineer training post in 1941 with the creation of the Engineer Replacement Training Center. During World War II, Italian and German POWs were interned at the fort. In 1984, most of the U.S. Army Engineer Schools operations were consolidated at Fort Leonard Wood. Before that, officer training was conducted at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In 1999, Fort McClellan, Alabama, was closed, and the U.S. Army Chemical Corps and Military Police Corps schools were transferred to Fort Leonard Wood, which was concurrently redesignated the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center. In 2009, the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center was redesignated the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE).
Geography:
Fort Leonard Wood is located in the Missouri Ozarks at 37°44′17″N 92°7′2″W (37.738191, −92.117275). The base has a total area of 97.6 square miles (252.8 km2), of which 97.2 square miles (251.7 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km2) (0.43%) is water.
Demographics:
The base is a Census-designated place (CDP), and as of the census of 2000, there were 13,667 people, 2,639 households, and 2,335 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 140.6 people per square mile (54.3/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 64.8% White, 21.6% African American, 1.1% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 5.0% from other races, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.4% of the population.
Attractions:
Fort Leonard Wood is primarily a military installation and training center, but there are still plenty of things to see and do in the surrounding area. The Old Stagecoach Stop in downtown Waynesville is a must-see attraction. It is now a museum but began as a tavern and boarding house and is the oldest standing structure in the county. It was used as a Civil War hospital for Union troops who were garrisoned above the city in Fort Wayne, which was demolished after the war. The Old Courthouse Museum in downtown Waynesville is near the Old Stagecoach Stop. Three bridges cross the Big Piney River at Devils Elbow—the modern Interstate 44 bridge, the later U.S. Route 66 alignment on Highway Z that was made possible by the Hooker Cut through a steep hillside, and the original U.S. Route 66 alignment on Teardrop Road that includes
