County of city: Moniteau County
Location of city: central part of state at crossroads of US 50 & MO 87
Courthouse location: E. Main St. & N. East St., California
Organized: Feb. 14, 1845
Elevation: 892'
Population: 4,350 (2013)
Named after: The word "Moniteau" is a French derivation of the Indian word Manitou meaning the "Great Spirit."
County seat: California
"The family-oriented community, home to about 4,000 residents, is strategically located in the central Missouri area, with great access to business centers, shopping, activities, beautiful parks and the Moniteau County Fair. Citizens enjoy a thriving economy in the heart of Moniteau County." ~ City of California
"The Moniteau County Courthouse, built 1867, is a late example of
the "Classic Revival" style. The two story structure with full
basement faces south and is located in the center of the 200 x 200
foot Courthouse block landscaped with lawn and trees. The surrounding commercial structures on the Courthouse Square are contemporary with the courthouse" ~ NRHP Nomination Form
"Moniteau County was formed in 1845 from land originally in Cole County and the present site of
the City was selected by the County Court. This site was purchased when the little settlement of
Boonsborough set a high price for land which the County Court was unwilling to pay. The new
town of Boonsborough was laid out in February 27, 1845 on fifty acres of land purchased from
Alfred T. Byler. Two years later, Byler platted the first addition to the county seat, now called
California, Missouri.
"The community was laid out with five streets running east and west with three streets running
north and south, all were 60 feet wide. The edges of this platted area contained commons that
were 12 feet wide on the west, 20 feet on the south, and 15 feet on the east. The East /West
streets were North, Main, Third, Madison, and South Street. The North /South streets were
named from the east side as East Street, High Street and Oak Street. The County Courthouse site
was bounded by North Street, East Street, Main Street and Oak Street. This original plat was not
symmetrical in that the Courthouse Square had one block of lots to the north, two blocks of lots
to the east, four blocks of lots south, and two lots on the west, with one block 210 feet wide and
one block 333 feet wide on the west with one additional North/South street.
"Byler’s Addition of 1847 added three tiers of four blocks north of the original plat that used the
north commons area as the east west street and lined up the three north south streets with the
original streets.
"The next major addition was the Smith and Howard Addition to California that was platted July
27, 1854 in anticipation of the construction of the railroad between Jefferson City and Kansas
City. The East/West streets were named Howard Street, Smith Street and Buchanan Street. One
additional North/South street was included east of East Street that was called Randolph Street.
(Present day Highway 50 roughly follows the layout of Buchanan Street.)
"California originally envisioned Main Street as the primary East/West route with Oak Street the
road toward Boonville and High Street the road to Jamestown. The location of the railroad in the
1850’s south of the original town, lead to the platting of the Smith and Howard Addition to take
advantage of the railroad. When it was completed, the depot was constructed south of the
railroad tracks.
"California was platted in 1845, was incorporated in 1848, but it was 1858 before the first elected
officials exercised their rights of local government. The first brick commercial building was
constructed in 1857. In 1859, the town population was 714 and there was a local newspaper,
“The Weekly California News” that was started the year before. " ~ California District Survey Report