Central Missouri
Audrain County began as prairie country around Mexico
Audrain County's official history says the county was organized in 1836, named for James H. Audrain, and was once mostly prairie, with Mexico as the oldest town and county seat.
The prairie around Mexico gives Audrain County’s name a clean starting point. The county was organized on December 17, 1836, as Missouri’s 52nd county and was named for James H. Audrain, a state legislator.
Mexico was more than a handy courthouse stop. The town sat near the center of the county, was the oldest town in Audrain County, and became the county seat. The first county court met there in February 1837, and a courthouse was built on the public square within two years.
The Audrain name, Mexico’s role, and the prairie-to-farm landscape belong together. They connect the county’s 1836 organization to the courthouse square and the land surrounding it.
Where to see it
- Audrain County history
Use the county history page for the official county-origin, James Audrain, prairie, and Mexico county-seat context.
References
More from Audrain County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: July 16, 2026.