Audrain County is available for adoption.
If you have a local connection
to Audrain County or an interest in Missouri in
general, Please consider joining the MOGenWeb
as a County Coordinator.
Requirements are simple, peruse
them here.
https://mogenweb.org/moccguide.htm
MOGenWeb Policies and
Procedures
https://www.mogenweb.org/pol-pro.htm
Contact Bob
Jenkins if you are interested.
In addition:, we would
appreciate any contribution that you would like to
make to
this site: biographies, obituaries,
birth, marriage, death info, grave info,
photographs....etc
Audrain County, Missouri
Audrain County was officially organized on December 17, 1836, carved from parts of Callaway, Monroe, and Ralls counties. It was named in honor of James H. Audrain, a prominent state legislator and veteran of the War of 1812.
Early settlers arrived primarily from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, drawn to the region’s fertile soil and abundant timber. The county seat, Mexico, was laid out in 1836 and named during the era of the Texas Revolution, reflecting the settlers’ fascination with the Mexican struggle for independence.
The arrival of the North Missouri Railroad in 1856 transformed the county into a hub of trade and migration. During the Civil War, Audrain County was deeply divided, with residents serving on both Union and Confederate sides. Notably, Ulysses S. Grant briefly commanded Union forces stationed in Mexico.
Post-war decades brought agricultural prosperity, especially with the influx of German immigrants who settled the eastern prairies. Towns such as Vandalia, Laddonia, and Martinsburg grew along rail lines, supporting the county’s grain, livestock, and manufacturing industries.
Today, Audrain County is known for its rich agricultural heritage, resilient communities, and deep ties to Missouri’s frontier and railroad history.
