California

History

The City of California was established in 1834. The seat of justice of Moniteau County was originally known as Boonesborough. When Moniteau County was organized in 1845, it was decided that Boonsborough would become the county seat. Because the county court was unwilling to pay for land in Boonsborough, a site was selected one-mile (1.6 km) west which became the new county seat. In 1846, the Postal Service required a new name to be selected for Boonsborough since there was already a Boonsborough in Missouri. The city was renamed to California on January 25, 1847, for the territory on the West Coast that was just then drawing attention due to progress of the overland railroad. That same year, a courthouse was erected on the square. California was incorporated in 1848 and elected its first city officials in 1858, 10 years later. The Weekly California News printed its first edition on September 18, 1858, and is Moniteau County's oldest established business still in operation. Today, it is known as the California Democrat. By the end of the Civil War, California's population was around 1,000. The city had ten dry goods stores, two drug stores, a tobacco factory, a large steam flouring mill and carding machine, a high school, a printing office, and a bank. In 1867, money was appropriated for a new courthouse, which was completed in 1868 and is still in use today.

Geography

California is located in central Moniteau County. Missouri Route 87 passes through the center of the city as Oak Street, leading north to Jamestown and south to Eldon. U.S. Route 50 bypasses the city to the south, while its former route passes through the center of town as Buchanan Street. US 50 leads east to Jefferson City, the state capital, and west to Sedalia. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which , or 0.36%, are water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  510
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  455
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  397
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  389
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  371
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  342
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  337
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  321

Largest nearby schools

• CALIFORNIA ELEM.
  Elementary · CALIFORNIA · 507 students · 12.4:1 ratio
• CALIFORNIA MIDDLE
  Middle · CALIFORNIA · 432 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• CALIFORNIA HIGH
  High · CALIFORNIA · 422 students · 12.4:1 ratio
• CLARKSBURG ELEM.
  Elementary · CLARKSBURG · 54 students · 4.9:1 ratio
• LATHAM ELEM.
  Elementary · LATHAM · 27 students · 4.5:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.59 — 2022-12-05
  4 km SW of Madison, Missouri
• M 3.3 — 2005-07-31
  Missouri