Joplin is a city in Jasper and Newton counties in the southwestern corner of the state of Missouri with a population of 51,762 as of the 2020 census.  Lead was discovered in the Joplin Creek Valley before the Civil War, but only after the war did significant development take place.  By 1871, numerous mining camps sprang up in the valley and resident John C. Cox filed a plan for a city on the east side of the valley.  Cox named his village Joplin City after the spring and creek nearby, which had been named for the Reverend Harris G. Joplin, who settled upon its banks circa 1840.  

   While Joplin was first settled for Lead mining, Zinc was the most important mineral resource.  As railroads were built to connect Joplin to major markets in other cities, it was on the verge of dramatic growth.  By the start of the 20th century, the city was becoming a regional metropolis.  Construction centered around “Main Street”, with many bars, hotels, and fine homes nearby.  Trolley and rail lines made Joplin the hub of southwest Missouri and it soon became the lead-and zinc-mining capital of the world. 

   This card, published by the "Souvenir Post Card Co., "Street Scene, Main Street Joplin Mo." It is not postmarked but is a UDB, 1900-1907 and has a bent lower right corner and is overall in good condition.  The image of a busy downtown "Joplin" is clean and clear with signs for "Joplin National Bank", "Hardware Clover, Clover", horses, wagons and a few people on the street.   The reverse is also clean. 

The colors on the card may vary due to the scanner settings and screen projections.