Mo. Rev. Stat. § 72.050: Villages — certain towns declared to be, when — villages may vote to become fourth class cities.

1. All towns not now incorporated in this state containing less than five hundred inhabitants are hereby declared to be villages.

2. Any village in this state now or hereafter having more than two hundred inhabitants may by majority vote of the voters therein elect to become a city of the fourth class and shall retain such classification at its option.