Caffeyville sat on the 1926–1977 alignment of Route 66 in Laclede County, tucked into the Ozark hills near present-day I-44. The town was established roughly around 1870 and it was named for a settler and entrepreneur named John Floyd Caffey. The town maintained a modest identity as a farming community and after a few years, its post office opened in 1876, becoming the lifeline for the settlers and their families. The post office remained active until 1957.
When Route 66 arrived, Caffeyville gained a small store and a gas station to serve passing motorists. But unlike larger towns, it never developed into a major stop. The post office closure in 1957 marked the beginning of the town’s quiet decline, and over time, its landmarks slowly disappeared, leaving little evidence of its existence. Today, only scattered traces remind travelers that a community once stood here.
While Caffeyville itself no longer exists, its spirit endures as part of the overall Route 66 story for Laclede County. Nearby Lebanon also keeps it alive with its annual Route 66 Festival and its Route 66 Museum - experiences which continue to include even obscure enclaves like Caffeyville as part of the best-known American road.
