Mount Sterling, Missouri facts for kids
Mount Sterling is a small, unincorporated community located in the western part of Gasconade County, Missouri, in the United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.
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Where is Mount Sterling Located?
Mount Sterling is easy to find because it sits right where two main roads meet: U.S. Route 50 and Missouri Route A. The Gasconade River flows along the western side of the community, which is a beautiful natural feature.
Just about one mile to the west of Mount Sterling, you'll find the border between Gasconade County and Osage County. The city of Hermann, which is the main government center for Gasconade County (called the "county seat"), is about 18 miles northeast of Mount Sterling.
The History of Mount Sterling
Mount Sterling has an interesting past, dating back to the 1820s.
Early Settlers and the Louisiana Purchase
This area became part of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase. This was a huge land deal in 1803 where the U.S. bought a vast amount of land from France. American pioneers, or early settlers, began to make their homes in Mount Sterling around the 1820s.
Mount Sterling as the County Seat
For a short time, Mount Sterling was a very important place for Gasconade County. In 1828, the "county seat" – which is the main town where the county government offices are located – was moved to Mount Sterling. It was moved from another town called Bartonville. The reason for the move was that Bartonville often had problems with flooding from the Gasconade River. Mount Sterling was on higher ground, making it a safer choice.
However, Mount Sterling didn't stay the county seat for long. In 1843, the people living in the county voted again. They decided to move the county seat to a larger city called Hermann. Hermann was a better choice because it was located right on the Missouri River, which was a major transportation route at the time.
The Post Office
A post office was opened in Mount Sterling in 1843, the same year the county seat moved. This post office helped people send and receive mail for many years. It stayed open until 1965. No one knows for sure why the name "Mount Sterling" was chosen for this community.
