City buses

After the demise of the electric railway, Joplin Public Service Company swooped in to fill the void. For a nickel fare, bus riders could get downtown from just about anywhere—Blendville, Smelter Hill, Chitwood, Duquesne, Royal Heights, Castle Rock, County Line, and Iron Gates. A dime bought a trip to Webb City. During wartime rationing, fewer automobiles took to the streets and bus usage increased. Joplin Public Service Company offered 30-minute bus service all over the city, as well as hourly service between Joplin and Camp Crowder, for a 40-cent fare. On weekends, downtown Joplin filled up with the local citizenry and soldiers from Camp Crowder. Public bus service in Joplin ended in 1973.