Van Buren is a city in Carter County, Missouri, United States.

[5] In 1833, a commission appointed to choose a site for the county seat of Ripley County selected a site one-half mile (0.8 km) west and across Current River from the present location of Van Buren.

The city had one small general merchandise store run by a man named Shaw and a water powered grist mill owned by John George.

After removing the county seat to Doniphan, the town declined until only three or four families remained.

In 1874, the Vidette, a newspaper published by Dr. McDonald, began a brief run of only a few months before it folded.

In 1893–94, the first bridge to cross the Current River was built at Van Buren at a total cost of $4,500.

In 1907, the company of Pitman and Henry began a motorboat passenger service up and down the Current River between Van Buren and Doniphan.

Sometime after 1907 the lines of the Willow Springs Local Long Distance Phone Company reached Van Buren bringing phone service to Van Buren.

In 1909, a structural steel bridge was built across the Current River at a total cost of approximately $9,000.

It is on the Current River and adjacent to the Mark Twain National Forest.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.00 square miles (5.18 km2), all land.

41.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

40.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.