Gov. Mike Parson

shares how beauty of Cole County, its rich history amaze him.

Having spent many years serving as an elected official in Jefferson City, I have long considered Cole County my second home.

The beauty of Cole County has always amazed me with its tree-covered hills and beautiful bluffs overlooking the Missouri and Osage rivers.

Cole County is full of rich history with origins as early as 1816 when a few families from Kentucky and Tennessee moved within the county’s present limits. Officially organized in 1820, the county was named for the pioneer Temple Cole and divided into two townships — Marion and Moniteau.

In 1825, the City of Jefferson was founded with 31 families calling it home. One year later, the City of Jefferson became the state capital of Missouri as it remains today.

Between the years of 1840 and 1890, Missouri and Cole County in particular saw an influx of German families seeking religious freedom, independence, and fertile and inexpensive land. Centered around churches and later the railroads, many close-knit families grew up in Cole County creating the smaller communities we now know in the rural outskirts of Jefferson City. These historical towns include Schubert, Taos, St. Thomas, St. Martins, Wardsville, Lohman, Russellville, Osage Bend, Stringtown and Centertown, just to name a few.

In June 2020, Cole County celebrated its great bicentennial anniversary with a historic tour that kicked off in the town of Marion.

I am blessed to be able to spend so much time with my family here in Cole County and witness its beauty and rich history firsthand. It is an honor and a privilege to be governor during Cole County’s historic 200th anniversary.

As we finish out this historic year, let us reflect upon the many families, businesses and communities that contributed to the creation and history of Cole County.

Gov. Mike Parson is Missouri’s 57th governor.