Editing Monett, Missouri (section)

===20th century===
From about 1908 through 1911, Monett investors led by L. B. Durnil and U. S. Barnsley sought to build an airplane. Their most successful attempt was the DeChenne airplane. The DeChenne airplane gave its first public demonstration flight in Monett on July 4, 1911, flown by Monett pharmacist Logan McKee.  It then made an exhibition tour in Oklahoma and Texas.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/bill-caldwell-logan-mckee-ed-dechenne-pioneered-aviation-in-southwest-missouri/article_9c6f51f9-14d9-5a03-8f4b-ba74f378e834.html | title=Bill Caldwell: Logan McKee, Ed DeChenne pioneered aviation in Southwest Missouri}}</ref>

The population had reached 4,177 by 1910,<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://population.us/mo/monett/ | title=Monett, MO population}}</ref> due in large part to the railroad and its roundhouse. By 1937, a promotional pamphlet reported one out of eight people in Monett worked for the railroad.<ref name="Times Bishoff">{{cite news|title=Monett Historic Preservation District gets final approval|first=Murray|last=Bishoff|work=[[Monett Times]]|date=November 18, 2014|url=https://www.monett-times.com/story/2139001.html}}</ref>

In a postwar industrialization effort, the Monett Industrial Development Corporation brought light industry to the town, further diversifying the local and broader economy.<ref name="Times Bishoff" /> This diversification nearly doubled the population during the century, to 7,396 by 2000.