CUURTIES OF MISSOUR. 67 
Platte County—Is situated in the western part of the State, on 
the eastern border of Kansas, from which it is separated by the Mis- 
souri River. Its interior is intersected and well watered by the 
Platte River and Brush, Rush and Bee Creeks and their numerous 
tributaries. 
PLATTE City, the county seat, population in 1870, 599, has a 
fine location on the left bank of the Platte River, about 40 miles 
from its mouth, and is a station on the Southwestern Division of 
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, 6 miles from Beverly, 
11 miles from Leavenworth City, 45 miles south from St. Joseph, 37 
miles northwest from Kansas City, and 312 miles west from St. 
Louis. It was laid out in 1839 and incorporated February 3, 
1853. 
Weston, population in 1870, 1,614, has a pleasant location on 
the east bank of the Missouri River, and is on the Kansas City, 
St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railway, 9 miles west from the county 
seat. It was laid out in 1837. 
The surface of the country is undulating, timber land interspersed 
with prairies, The soil is generaHy exceedingly fertile and well 
adapted to agriculture. The principal products are corn, wheat 
and hemp. This is one of the leading agricultural counties in the 
State ; it contains an enterprising community, and offers excellent 
educational advantages. 
Polk County—Is situated in the southwestern central portion of 
the State, and is drained by the Little Sac and Pomme de Terre 
Rivers and other tributaries of the Osage River. 
Botivar, the county seat, population in 1870, 635, is pleasantly 
located near the center of the county, 3o miles north of Springfield, 
which isa station on the Atlantic & Pacific Railway 241 miles 
from St. Louis. Bolivar is 120 miles southeast air line from 
Kansas City, and 95 miles southwest from Jefferson City. 
The surface of the country is generally undulating, and along 
the streams very rugged and broken. About two-fifths of the 
county is prairie, the remainder timber land with trees of rather 
inferior quality. The soil in the bottoms is very fertile, and well 
adapted to agriculture. _Corn, tobacco and stock are chief pro- 
ducts. There are large deposits of lime and of stone for building. 
The county was first settled in 1810 by Tennesseans, and was 
organized in 1834, and named in honor of President James K. 
POLK. 
Pulaski County—Is situated in the south central portion of the 
State, and is drained by the Gasconade and Big Piney Rivers, and 
the Robidoux and other Creeks, which furnish good water power. 
WAYNESVILLE, the county seat, population in 1870, including 
township, 849, is situated on the Robidoux Creek, near the center 
of the county, and 11 miles south from Crocker, which is a station 
on the Atlantic & Pacific Railway 150 miles southwest from St. 
Louis. 
The surface of the country is generally broken and uneven, and 
heavily timbered. The soil is very fertile in the valleys and por- 
tions of the uplands. The principal products are corn and wheat, 
and the chief exports are wheat and stock. Iron in several varie- 
ties, lead and building materials are abundant, and saltpeter has 
been found in several of the caves. The county was first settled 
about 1832. 
Putnam County—Is situated in the northern part of the State, 
on the southern border of Iowa, and is drained by Locust and 
Blackbird Creeks and other south-flowing affluents of the Grand 
and Chariton Rivers. 
UNIONVILLE, the county seat, population in 1870, 462, is located 
on Blackbird Creek near the center of the county, 25 miles west 
from Glenwood, which is a station on the St. Louis, Kansas City & 
Northern Railway, at its junction with the Missouri, Iowa & 
Nebraska Railroad, 227 miles northwest from St. Louis, and 58 miles 
north of Macon City. 
The surface of the country is undulating, with prairie and timber 
interspersed, the latter more abundant in the eastern part of the 
county. The soil is fertile and well adapted to agriculture. Corn 
and stock are the chief products. This county was formed from 
Linn and Adair Counties in 1845. 
Ralls County—lIs situated in the northeastern part of the State, 
on the western border of Illinois, from which it is separated by the 
Mississippi River. Its interior is intersected and drained by Salt 
River and Lick and Spencer Creeks, upon each of which are sev- 
eral good mill sites. 
New Lonpon, the county seat, population in 1870, 410, was 
settled in 1820, and is situated in the northeastern part of the 
county, 9 miles south of Hannibal, and 22 miles northwest from 
Louisiana, Pike County, which is on the Mississippi River, 114 miles 
above St. Louis, and on the Louisiana Branch of the Chicago & 
Alton Railway, ror miles northeast from Jefferson City. 
The surface of the country is undulating and broken, nearly one- 
half prairie, the remainder timber land. The soil is very fertile and 
well adapted to agriculture. Stock, wheat and corn are the chief 
exports. There are several saline springs in the county, some of 
which have been worked. The county was first settled previous to 
1800, and was organized from Pike County in 1820. 
Randolph County—Is situated north of the center of the State, 
and is drained by affluents of the Chariton and Salt Rivers. 
HUNTSVILLE, the county seat, estimated population in 1870, 
1,200, is located near the center of the county, on the St. Louis, 
Kansas City & Northern Railway, 153 miles northwest from St. 
Louis, and 122 miles east of Kansas City. 
Moberly, population in 1870, 1,514, is located 7 miles east of 
the county seat, and is a station on the St. Louis, Kansas City & 
Northern Railway, at the junction with its Northern Branch and 
on the Hannibal & Central Missouri Railway, and is 146 miles 
northwest from St. Louis, 71 miles from Hannibal, and 129 miles 
east from Kansas City. 
The surface of the country is level or undulating, about one-fifth 
prairie, with timber abundant and convenient. The soil is fertile 
and well adapted to agriculture. Stock-growing is extensively fol- 
lowed. Coal, limestone, clay for brick, and building materials are 
abundant. The county was first settled in 1820, principally by Ken- 
tuckians and North Carolinians, and was organized in 1829. This 
county in early days suffered from the attacks of Indians, and sev- 
eral brave companies of rangers were formed to resist the foe. 
~ Ray County—Is situated in the western part of the State, on the 
north bank of the Mississippi River: Its interior is principally 
drained by Crooked and Fishing Rivers and their branches. 
