Plato is an incorporated village[3] in northwestern Texas County, Missouri, United States.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.38 square miles (0.98 km2), all land.

In March 2011 Plato was declared the 2010 mean center of United States population based on 2010 Census data.

Even though it's on Fort Leonard Wood, it is jointly run by the cities of Waynesville and St. Robert and is available for civilian use by private pilots and scheduled commercial passenger service.

[8] The Daily Guide covers school sports and the occasional big story in Plato.

[citation needed] Fort Leonard Wood is in Pulaski County and a high percentage of military personnel live off post in surrounding communities, especially St. Robert and Waynesville but also the farther-out cities of Richland, Crocker, and Dixon, and the unincorporated communities of Laquey, Swedeborg and Devil's Elbow, all of which have a lower housing cost than nearer housing in St. Robert and Waynesville.

Military personnel assigned to training areas on the south end of the post sometimes choose to live in the unincorporated areas of Big Piney and Palace in Pulaski County, or the northern Texas County communities of Plato and Roby.

All seven school districts have a high percentage of Fort Leonard Wood military dependents, and over two-thirds of Waynesville students fall into that category.