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.
That background helps the county page feel rooted. The Audrain name, Mexico’s role, and the prairie-to-farm landscape all belong together instead of floating as separate bits of history.
References
Where this fits: this note belongs to Audrain County. See every local note for the county on its page.