Arcadia Valley in Missouri is located 80 miles south of St. Louis in the St. Francois Mountains of the Ozark Plateau. The valley includes of the towns of Arcadia, Ironton and Pilot Knob, all founded in the 19th century. Arcadia Valley has been a non-indigenous settlement for over 300 years. It became a permanent settlement as a mining community, primarily mining iron and lead ore. Elephant Rocks State Park is located in the valley. Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park and Taum Sauk State Park are nearby.