‘G. COUN TIES. OF: MISsolU 1. 
PLATTSBURG, the county seat, population in 1870, 1,067, is 
located near the center of the county, on the Lexington & St. 
Joseph Branch of the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern Rail- 
way, 29 miles southeast of St. Joseph, and 281 miles from St. 
Louis, at the junction with the Southwestern Division of the 
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway. 
Cameron, population in 1870, 1,428, is 19 miles from the county 
seat, and is a station on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railway, 35 
miles east of St. Joseph, 171 miles west of Hannibal, and 264 
miles from St. Louis, and is also on the Cameron Branch of the 
Hannibal & St. Joseph Railway, 55 miles from Kansas City, and is 
also on the Southwestern Division of the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific Railway. Lathrop, population in 1870, 523, is a station at 
the crossing of the Lexington & St. Joseph Branch of the St. 
Louis, Kansas City & Northern Railway, and on the Cameron 
Branch of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railway, 8 miles east from 
the county seat, 37 miles from St. Joseph, 38 miles from Kansas 
City, and 269 miles from St. Louis. 
The surface of the county is gently undulating, about two-thirds 
prairie and the remainder timber. The soil is fertile and excellent 
for agricultural purposes, including fruit and stock raising. Blue 
and gray lime stone and sandstone are abundant in portions of 
the county, and there are indications of coal. 
Cole County—Is located near the central portion of the State. 
It is drained by the Missouri and Osage Rivers and Moreau Creek, 
the first two forming respectively its northern and southeastern 
boundaries. 
JEFFERSON City is the county seat and capital of the State. Its 
population in 1870 was, native born, 3,374; foreign born, 1,046; 
white, 3,704; colored, 716; total, 4,420. The city has a com- 
manding site on the south bank of the Missouri River, 154 miles 
from its confluence with the Mississippi River, and 157 miles east 
from Kansas City, and 125 miles west from St: Louis, with both of 
which cities it is connected by the Missouri Pacific Railway. It is 
also just opposite Cedar City, the southwestern terminus of the 
Louisiana Branch of the Chicago & Alton Railway. Its latitude 
is 38° 36’ north, and longitude 92° 8’ west from Greenwich. It is 
800 miles nearly due west air line from Washington, D. C. 
The county seat was removed to Jefferson City in 1828, having 
previously been located since 1822 at Marion, 14 miles above 
Jefferson. The seat of government of the State was removed 
from St. Louis to St. Charles in 1821, and thence to Jefferson City 
in 1826. The first State House cost $25,000, and was completed 
in 1826. The present State House cost $350,000, and was first 
occupied in the winter of 1840 and 1841. The principal public 
buildings of the city are the Capitol, the State Penitentiary, the 
Governor’s Mansion, Lincoln Institute and the Court House. 
The county was first settled in 1816, and was formed from Cooper 
County, November 16, 1820, and named in honor of Captain 
STEPHEN COLE, a bold pioneer. 
The soil along the water courses is very fertile. The majority 
of the county is broken and rolling. The climate is especially 
adapted to fruit culture, the grape taking the lead. A _ beautiful 
limestone called ‘Cotton Rock,’’ of which the Capitol is con- 
structed, sandstone suitable for building, clays and sands for brick, 
stone coal, and many varieties of lumber, are found in abundance. 
Lead also exists in the county. The area of the county is 410 
square miles, or 262,400 acres. 
Cooper County—Is situated in the central portion of the State, 
and is drained by the Missouri River (which forms its northern 
boundary, ) and the Lamine, Little Saline, and Moniteau Creeks. 
BoonvILLE, the county seat and principal town, population in 
1870, 3,506, has a fine location on the southern bank of the Mis- 
souri River, 232 miles above St. Louis, and is a station on the 
Boonville Branch of the Missouri Pacific Railway, 25 miles north 
of Tipton, 145 miles east from Kansas City, and 187 miles west 
from St. Louis by railroad. The United States Land Office for the 
State of Missouri is located at Boonville. 
The soil of the county is very fertile, and well adapted to cereals 
and fruit. The surface is about equally diversified with timber and 
prairie. Wheat, corn, and oats are the chief exports. Grapes are 
very extensively raised. Coal and iron in large, and lead, zinc, 
and manganese in small, quantities are found. There are numerous 
fresh and mineral springs in the county, and some for which medi- 
cinal properties are claimed. 
The county was first settled by Captain STEPHEN COLE, DANIEL 
Boone, and others. Its area is 558 square miles, or 357,120 acres. 
Crawford County—lIs situated southeast of the center of the 
State, and is drained by the Maramec River and its tributaries. 
STEELVILLE, the county seat, population in 1870, 232, is located 
near the center of the county, 8 miles south of Cuba City, which 
is astation on the Atlantic & Pacific Railway, 48 miles air line 
from Jefferson City, and g1 miles by railroad from St. Louis. 
Steelville was organized in 1856. 
The surface of the country is quite diversified, and the soil of 
numerous varieties, such as prairie and timber, valley and table 
land, adapted to all agricultural purposes, including stock and 
fruit culture. Wheat and corn are the chief exports. Iron and 
lead are found in great abundance ; copper and coal are also found. 
This county was first settled in 1815 by WiLLIAM Harrison and 
others. It has been called the ‘‘ mother of counties,’’ from the 
fact that from time to time a number of counties have been organ- 
ized from its original territory. 
Dade County—Lies in the southwestern part of the State, and is 
drained by the Sac River, Horse and Cedar Creeks, and other tri- 
butaries of the Osage River. 
GREENFIELD, the county seat, population in 1870, 364, is about 
35 miles northwest of Springfield, Greene County, which is a sta- 
tion on the Atlantic and Pacific Railway, 241 miles southwest from 
St. Louis. 
The surface of the country is undulating, and in some portions 
broken. ‘There is more prairie than timber land. The climate is 
healthy, and the soil is fertile, and well adapted to the purposes of 
agriculture and stock raising. Coal and iron in large, and lead and 
copper in small, quantities are found. The county was organized 
in 1841. 
Dallas County—Is located in the southwestern central part of 
the State, and is drained by the Niangua River and its numerous 
and rapid tributaries. 
