Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is a city of 42,488 people in Callaway County, Missouri, founded in 1821.
Why visit Jefferson City
Townapedia lists 58 museums and landmarks, 36 parks and trails, 95 places to eat, 15 places to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Jefferson City Bridge, Capitol City Cinema, Missouri State Capitol and Jefferson City Community Center.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 21°F.
Weather in Jefferson City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Jefferson City
Jefferson City, officially City of Jefferson and informally Jeff City, is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri. It had a population of 43,228 at the 2020 United States census, ranking as the 16th most populous city in the state, but the 9th least populous U.S. state capital. It is also the county seat of Cole County and the principal city of the Jefferson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, the second-most-populous metropolitan area in Mid-Missouri and the fifth-most populous in the state. It forms part of the nine-county Columbia–Jefferson City–Moberly combined statistical area, which has 415,747 residents.
From the Wikipedia article Jefferson City, Missouri (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do5
Jefferson City Bridge
Bridge · 1.4 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Capitol City Cinema
Cinema and theater · 0.6 mi
126 East High Street, Jefferson City
Museums and landmarks58
Missouri State Capitol
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
State capitol building of the U.S. state of Missouri
201 West Capitol Avenue, Jefferson City
Jefferson City Community Center
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Missouri, United States
608 East Dunklin Street, Jefferson City
Albert and Wilhelmina Thomas House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Building in Missouri, United States
Broadway-Dunklin Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
National historic district located in Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri
Capitol Avenue Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Building in Missouri, United States
Charles J. and Clara B. Schmidt House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
House in Jefferson City, Missouri, United States
Claud D. Grove and Berenice Sinclair Grove House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic home located at Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri
Cole County Courthouse and Jail-Sheriff's House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Single-family detached home in Missouri, United States of America
Cole County Historical Society Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Building in Missouri, United States
Dr. Joseph P. and Effie Porth House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Missouri, United States
Dulle Farmstead Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Building in Missouri, United States
East End Drugs
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Building in Missouri, United States
46 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds36
Deborah Cooper Park on Adrian's Island
Park · 0.9 mi
130 West Capitol Avenue, Jefferson City
Mo-Su 05:00-22:00
Runge Conservation Nature Center
Hiking and trails · 3.4 mi
330 Commerce Drive, Jefferson City
Mo-Su 06:00-21:00
24 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes95
Pizza Hut
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.8 mi
517 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City
Su-Th 10:30-22:00; Fr,Sa 10:30-23:00
IHOP
Restaurant · Breakfast, Pancake · 1.8 mi
2011 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City
Mo-Th,Su 06:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 06:00-24:00
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.9 mi
505 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City
Mo-Fr 04:30-20:00; Sa-Su 05:00-20:00
Sweet Smoke BBQ
Restaurant · Barbecue · 0.7 mi
127 East High Street, Jefferson City
Mo-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00
West Main Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 2.1 mi
1931 West Main Street, Jefferson City
Su-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00
First Watch
Restaurant · American, Breakfast · 1.5 mi
1709 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City
07:00-14:30
Paddy Malone's
Bar and pub · 1.1 mi
700 West Main Street, Jefferson City
Tu-Th 16:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 16:00-01:00; Su,Mo off
83 more on the map.
History
In pre-Columbian times, this region was home of an ancient people known today as the Mound Builders, likely related to the Mississippian societies. They were subsequently replaced by Osage Native Americans. In the late 17th century, frontiersmen began to inhabit the area, including Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, Louis Jolliet, Jacques Marquette, Robert de LaSalle, and Daniel Boone, with the latter having the greatest influence on the region. Famed Western explorer and settler Daniel Boone's son, Daniel Morgan Boone (1769–1839), would later lay out and plat Jefferson City in the early 19th century.
When the Missouri Territory was organized in 1812, St. Louis was Missouri's seat of government for the territorial governor and territorial legislature. Later St. Charles would serve as the next capital town of the old Territory. Jefferson City was chosen as the new state capital in 1821, after Missouri was admitted to the Union as the 24th State. The village on the southern banks of the Missouri River was first called "Lohman's Landing", and when the new state legislature decided to relocate there, they proposed the name "Missouriopolis" before settling on "Jefferson" to honor former President Thomas Jefferson, who would still live at his Virginia home estate of Monticello for the next five years.
From the History section of Jefferson City, Missouri on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay15
Fairfield Inn & Suites Jefferson City
Motel and hotel · 4.5 mi
3621 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson City
Candlewood Suites Jefferson City
Motel and hotel · 4.3 mi
3514 Amazonas Drive, Jefferson City
Capitol Plaza Hotel & Convention Center Jefferson City
Motel and hotel · 0.8 mi
415 West McCarty Street, Jefferson City
Holiday Inn & Suites Jefferson City
Motel and hotel · 1.0 mi
1590 Jefferson Street, Jefferson City
Quality Inn & Suites Jefferson City
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
1716 Jefferson Street, Jefferson City
Churches and places of worship27
Zion Lutheran Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Temple Beth El
Place of worship · Reform · 0.5 mi
318 Monroe Street, Jefferson City
Shopping27
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries43
Healthcare10
West Gerbes Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.3 mi
2805 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson City
Map of Jefferson City
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 21°F | 2.2 in | 2.9 in |
| Feb | 45°F | 25°F | 2.3 in | 2.9 in |
| Mar | 56°F | 34°F | 3.2 in | 0.4 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 44°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 75°F | 55°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 64°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 69°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 58°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 46°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 55°F | 35°F | 3.2 in | 0.2 in |
| Dec | 44°F | 26°F | 2.3 in | 2.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Jefferson City Wtp Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Callaway County has had 21 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-08-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-05-21: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires (Severe Storm)
- 2021-09-01: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-07-09: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Jefferson City Memorial Airport (JEF) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Wardsville 5 mi south, about 8 min by car
- Holts Summit 6 mi northeast, about 10 min by car
- Taos 6 mi southeast, about 10 min by car
- St. Martins 9 mi west, about 14 min by car
- New Bloomfield 11 mi northeast, about 18 min by car
- Tebbetts 12 mi east, about 20 min by car
- Westphalia 13 mi southeast, about 21 min by car
- Russellville 15 mi west, about 24 min by car
- Fulton 23 mi northeast, about 37 min by car
- Columbia 27 mi north, about 44 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Jefferson City, Sarah Minor, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Public domain
- AP of Missouri State Capitol Building, KTrimble at English Wikipedia, CC0
- Jefferson City Community Center, Jefferson City, MO, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- Young Hall, Lincoln University of Missouri, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- Oscar G. and Mary H. Burch House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cole County Historical Society Building, Anneecox, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jefferson Female Seminary, Anneecox, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ruthven house 1, Mwrmwr, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Zion Lutheran Church (Jefferson City, Missouri), Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- John C. Edwards House 1122 Moreau Drive, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Carl F and Elizabeth Deep House 210 W. Dunklin St, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dallmeyer House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Grove House, Jefferson City, Anneecox, CC BY-SA 3.0
- East End Drugs, Jefferson City, Anneecox, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kaullen Mercantile Company building, Jefferson City, MO, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- Joseph and Elizabeth Wallendorf House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cole County MO Courthouse 20140920-1, Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0
- Ivy Terrace, Anneecox, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Herman Haar House, Jefferson City, Anneecox, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Miller Street entrance, Jefferson City National Cemetery, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- Hugh and Bessie Stephens House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- John M. and Lillian Sommerer House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Villa Panorama, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Charles J. And Clara B. Schmidt House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Porth House, Jefferson City, MO, Anneecox, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tergin Apartment Building, Jefferson City, MO, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- Missouri-governor-mansion, Americasroof of English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Missouri State Penitentiary Warden's House, Anneecox, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Albert and Wilhelmina Thomas House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dulle Farmhouse, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- H.E. Gensky Grocery Store Building, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- Jefferson Landing Building Jefferson City Cole County Missouri, Historic American Engineering Record, Public domain
- Nelson C. And Gertrude A Burch House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 120-122 E. Dunklin, Munichburg Commercial HD, Jefferson City, MO, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- Cornelius Roach House at 506 East Miller, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 600 and 606 E. Capitol Avenue, Jefferson City, MO, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- South side, 100 block of East High Street, Jefferson City, MO, TheCatalyst31, CC0
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