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Our Town
California, Missouri was originally founded as the township of Boonesborough in 1834 and later as the city of California in 1848. The story is told that the City was named after an early settler named California Wilson. According to this legend, California Wilson told two men during a "house raising" he would buy local residents two gallons of whiskey if they would name the town after him. We haven't heard if Mr. Wilson made good on his promise, but it makes a good story!
California is the County Seat of Moniteau County and is located 22 miles West of the state capital, Jefferson City on U.S. Highway 50. The Missouri River runs along the Northeastern border of the county, Union Pacific Railroad and Amtrak run freight and passenger service through California. In 1990, California had a census population of approximately 3,500.
Despite its small size, California has some of the most unique and prosperous industries in Mid-Missouri. These include Burger's Smokehouse which cures and processes hams, turkeys, and other specialty meats; Arkansas Valley Feather, which processes and markets feather products; and Tana Wire Marker, which produces the brightly colored balls affixed to electrical wires to warn aircraft of their presence. California is also home to Honeysuckle White, a division of Cargill, Inc. (vertically integrated turkey processor), California Manufacturing, Inc. (coats and jackets), and MO-Wood Products (cabinets and wood products |
Click here to visit the California Chamber of Commerce
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