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Home Page2004 Katy Trail Ride
Day 3 - June 23, 2004 - Jefferson City to Boonville
History on the Trail
Before Katy Trail State Park became a great way to travel across the state, the Missouri River, known as the highway of the frontier, led many settlers to travel into central Missouri and make it their home. One such great town along both the river and the Katy Trail is the city of Boonville.
Boonville, named after Daniel Boone, is the oldest town in central Missouri. A party of pioneers, which included the Cole family led by widow Hannah Cole, settled the town in February of 1810. The Coles were the first white settlers to locate on the south side of the Missouri River west of St. Louis. The beginning years of Boonville’s existence were marked by years of conflicts with the Native American tribes.
Boonville thrived in its early years due to the incredibly fertile land in the surrounding area. Another benefit was its location at the intersection of ancient Native American trails that have gone unchanged even today as they mark our modern interstate highway system.
Today, the city of Boonville offers dozens of events throughout the year to entertain and educate its citizens and visiting tourists. During the summer, there are Brown Bag Concerts at the Hain House Gardens, the annual Katy Trail Ride that goes through Boonville, the Prairie Home Fair of Cooper County, and Festival of the Arts in Thespian Hall. In the fall, there are Swapper Days and the Festival of Leaves, plus many more events throughout the year.
No matter what time of the year your schedule takes you to the city of Boonville, there will always be a rewarding and historic time awaiting you. For more information log onto www.mo-river.net or call the Chamber of Commerce at 660-882-2721.
