Callao

History

Callao was laid out in 1858, a year before the railroad was extended to that point. The town most likely took its name from the port city of Callao, Peru. Townsfolk did not know what to call the new town. They hung a map of the world on the wall, blindfolded a man like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, aimed him at the map and his finger landed on Callao, Peru. A post office called Callao has been in operation since 1859. The Johnson Morrow House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

Geography

Callao is in southwestern Macon County. U.S. Route 36 passes just south of the city limits, leading east to Macon, the county seat, and west to Brookfield. Missouri Route 3 passes through the center of Callao as Chestnut Street, leading north to Kirksville and south to Clifton Hill. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Callao has a total area of , all land. The city drains east to the Middle Fork of the Little Chariton River and to the west to Stinking Creek, a tributary of the Middle Fork. Via the Little Chariton River, Callao is within the watershed of the Missouri River.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• MACON ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · MACON · 486 students · 11.6:1 ratio
• MACON SENIOR HIGH
  High · MACON · 438 students · 16.2:1 ratio
• MACON MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · MACON · 286 students · 11.4:1 ratio
• BEVIER ELEM.
  Elementary · BEVIER · 141 students · 10.8:1 ratio
• BEVIER HIGH
  High · BEVIER · 73 students · 10.4:1 ratio
• MACON CO. HIGH
  High · NEW CAMBRIA · 51 students · 7.3:1 ratio
• MACON CO. ELEM.
  Elementary · NEW CAMBRIA · 44 students · 5.5:1 ratio
• CALLAO ELEM.
  Elementary · CALLAO · 39 students · 19.5:1 ratio