Unincorporated communities in Missouri are areas that are not governed by their own local municipal corporation. Instead, they fall under the jurisdiction of the county in which they are located. These communities often lack a formal government structure, which means they do not have elected officials or city services like police and fire departments. Many unincorporated communities in Missouri are small and may consist of a few homes, businesses, or farms. They can be found throughout the state, often in rural areas, and may be identified by names that reflect local history or geography, such as Hickory Grove or Pineville.