Jefferson City

History

In pre-Columbian times, this region was home of an ancient people known today as the Mound Builders, likely related to the Mississippian societies. They were subsequently replaced by Osage Native Americans. In the late 17th century, frontiersmen began to inhabit the area, including Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, Louis Jolliet, Jacques Marquette, Robert de LaSalle, and Daniel Boone, with the latter having the greatest influence on the region. Famed Western explorer and settler Daniel Boone's son, Daniel Morgan Boone (1769–1839), would later lay out and plat Jefferson City in the early 19th century. When the Missouri Territory was organized in 1812, St. Louis was Missouri's seat of government for the territorial governor and territorial legislature. Later St. Charles would serve as the next capital town of the old Territory. Jefferson City was chosen as the new state capital in 1821, after Missouri was admitted to the Union as the 24th State. The village on the southern banks of the Missouri River was first called "Lohman's Landing", and when the new state legislature decided to relocate there, they proposed the name "Missouriopolis" before settling on "Jefferson" to honor former President Thomas Jefferson, who would still live at his Virginia home estate of Monticello for the next five years. Over the years, the city was most often referred to as "Jefferson City"; the common name eventually stuck. For years, this village was little more than a trading post located in the wilderness about midway between St. Louis and Kansas City. In 1825, the settlement was formally incorporated, and a year later, the state legislature of the General Assembly of Missouri moved to Jefferson City, where they would continue to meet. Jefferson City was also chosen by the lawmakers as the…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Jefferson City has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) with hot, rainy summers and cold winters. The city borders on having a humid subtropical climate but falls just short due to January having a mean temperature of which is below the isotherm. Thunderstorms are common in both the spring and summer. Light snow is common during the winter, although about half of wintertime precipitation falls as rain.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,411
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,653
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  2,593
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,529
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,486
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  2,302
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,108
• Eastern Bluebird

  Sialia sialis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,033

Largest nearby schools

• CAPITAL CITY HIGH SCHOOL
  High · JEFFERSON CITY · 1,404 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• JEFFERSON CITY HIGH
  High · JEFFERSON CITY · 1,296 students · 12.8:1 ratio
• LEWIS AND CLARK MIDDLE
  Middle · JEFFERSON CITY · 1,005 students · 12.3:1 ratio
• THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE
  Middle · JEFFERSON CITY · 957 students · 12.4:1 ratio
• PIONEER TRAIL ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · JEFFERSON CITY · 477 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• BLAIR OAKS HIGH
  High · JEFFERSON CITY · 457 students · 16.3:1 ratio
• CLARENCE LAWSON ELEM.
  Elementary · JEFFERSON CITY · 419 students · 11.3:1 ratio
• BELAIR ELEM.
  Elementary · JEFFERSON CITY · 377 students · 12.6:1 ratio