Cedar City, Missouri facts for kids

Cedar City was once a small town in Callaway County, Missouri, in the United States. It was located right on the Missouri River, directly across from Jefferson City. It was also close to where two major roads, U.S. Route 54 and U.S. Route 63, meet. Cedar City was considered part of the larger Jefferson City area.

What Was Cedar City?

Cedar City was officially planned and mapped out in 1866. It got its name from the eastern redcedar trees that grow in the area.

Becoming an Official City

In 1870, a man named David Kenney, who owned the Cedar City Land Company, asked for the community to become an official, self-governing city. This meant it could have its own local government and rules.

Joining Jefferson City

Cedar City remained its own city until 1989. At that time, it officially joined with Jefferson City, becoming a part of the larger city. Before this merger, a count of the population in 1980 showed that 427 people lived in Cedar City. This count is done every ten years by the government and is called the Decennial Census.

The Great Flood of 1993

A big event changed Cedar City forever. In 1993, the Missouri River had a massive flood. The floodwaters covered the entire community. Because of this, most of the homeowners were offered a chance to sell their properties to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). FEMA is a government agency that helps people and communities recover from disasters.

Today, much of the area where Cedar City once stood is used for parks and businesses. A post office named Cedar City has been in operation since 1870, serving the area even after the town merged and changed.