[5] The community owes its present name to a stand of trees near the original elevated town site.

A post office was established in Hickory Spring, the original name of Mountain Grove, in 1851, but was removed in 1861.

[8][9] A new post office was named for Judge Robert W. Fyan, a prominent figure in early county history.

[6] In 1859, a general store was built at the crossroads about one mile west of Hickory Spring.

One of the most famous incidents in Mountain Grove occurred in the middle of May 1883, when what was called a "nipping frost" caused every tree, sapling and shrub in the community of Fyan and the Fyan depot to be cut clean as from an axe.

The town reapplied for a charter in 1886, changed its boundaries and held its first election.

Buildings within or near the city listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the Administration Building, Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station, Mountain Grove Bandstand, and Mountain Grove City Hall.

[10][11] Mountain Grove is located in the Ozarks, along the south edge of the Salem Plateau.

[13] The city of Mountain Grove is also directly on the border with neighboring Texas County.

34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Mountain Grove Christian Academy has approximately 68 students, grade Pre-K through 12th.

The station includes the Center for Grapevine Biotechnology and the Mountain Grove Cellars.

It is associated primarily with the university's Plant Science master's degree Program.