Key events in Novinger history include the arrival of the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific railroad and filing of the town plat by founder John C. Novinger in 1878, the establishment of a U.S. Post Office the next year, and the first shaft coal mine in 1883.

A turn-of-the-century coal mining boom saw Welsh, Germans, Scots-Irish, Italians, natives of the Balkan countries and many others and their families immigrate from all over the world.

Several homes in the low-lying southwestern part of town were heavily damaged, as was the historic 1800s log homestead and Novinger Community Center.

On May 13, 2009 a large tornado, estimated as a strong EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, struck the southern edge of Novinger.

Additionally, other homes and barns were also badly damaged or destroyed in rural Adair County southwest of Novinger.

Adding insult to injury two days later on May 15 heavy rains once again caused severe flash flooding to Novinger's low-lying areas, including once again the Novinger Community Center and log homestead -— both of which had only recently been repaired from damage suffered in the June 2008 flood.

[4] Late on the night of September 11, 2010 a major fire swept through the Novinger business district.

In 2011 an outdoor basketball court was constructed with the assistance of Toolbox Ministries, a traveling Christian-based community betterment organization.

At various times Novinger has employed a town marshal, but the majority of law enforcement protection comes from the county sheriff's department and state patrol.

Recreation activities include deer and turkey hunting, along with fishing in the nearby lakes, ponds and the Chariton River, boating and waterskiing at Thousand Hills State Park, four miles east of Novinger.

In October 2012, Novinger received two first place honors from the Missouri Community Betterment Organization.

The year 2012 marked the third consecutive in which Novinger had received awards from Missouri Community Betterment.

[6] Novinger is located at the intersection of Missouri routes 6 and 149 approximately six miles west-northwest of Kirksville.