This is the forty-second article in our series about Ozarks culture and heritage in the counties of Missouri that are part of the Ozarks region. All or parts of 55 counties in Missouri are considered part of the Ozarks. Moniteau County is located directly northeast of Morgan County. Moniteau County was organized in 1845 and named for Moniteau Creek ('Moniteau' is a French spelling of Manitou, Algonquian for the Great Spirit). The county seat is Calilfornia. Moniteau County is part of the Jeffereson City, Missouri, Metropolitan Statistical Area.
California is the third largest city in the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. California is home to several industries and currently 40% of the jobs in the town are in manufacturing. These include: Burger's Smokehouse, Honeysuckle White, Tana Wire Marker, Arkansas Valley Feather, Racker's Manufacturing, Aerosonics, Mo-Wood, and California Manufacturing. The Cultural Heritage Center, the old Post Office building, now houses the Moniteau County Historical Society, a musuen, information center, gift shop and genealogy library.
The nine entries on the National Register of Historic Places listed for Moniteau County are in five different communities: Russellville, California, Sandy Hook, High Point, and Tipton. U.S. Route 50 runs from Sedalia to California and from California to Jefferson City. In 2011, the Moniteau County Fair celebrated its 145th anniversary. The Moniteau County Fair began in 1866 and is believed to be the oldest continuous fair west of the Mississippi.
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