Centralia Missouri & Boone County: Area History

Much of the first 100 years' history of Centralia centered around the railroads. Founded in 1857

<
<
<
<
<

along the newly constructed North Missouri Railroad, the city's economics, street patterns and lifestyles were substantially influenced by this transportation. One of the area's most notable and infamous incidents of the Civil War is today known as the Centralia Massacre. It occurred in 1864 when 22 unarmed Union soldiers returning home on leave were pulled from a train in Centralia and executed by Confederate bushwhackers led by Bloody Bill Anderson. The massacre was said to have been in revenge for an earlier incident where a number of Anderson's men were brutally killed. A Union force pursuing the guerillas was also ambushed with about another 150 men killed. Frank and Jesse James were members of Anderson's guerilla force at the time.

Boone County was named after the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone. It is one of 114 counties in Missouri, and was organized in 1820 from a portion of the territorial Howard County. The area was known as Boone's Lick Country, because of the location of a salt lick that was utilized by the sons of Daniel Boone.

Boone County has had 3 courthouses over the years, with the present one having been built in 1909.

Home | Search Real Estate | Site Map | Contact Us

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.

United Country Panther Realty - Centralia Missouri & Boone County
Privacy Statement | Terms Of Use

Each Office Independently Owned And Operated. The information provided
herein is deemed accurate, but subject to errors, omissions, price changes, prior sale or withdrawal. United Country
does not guarantee or is anyway responsible for the accuracy or completeness of information, and provides
said information without warranties of any kind. Please verify all facts with the affiliate.