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The
Heart of the Midwest
Surrounded
by the rolling hills of Central Missouri, the Mark Twain National Forest,
the Missouri River, and hundreds of acres of wildlife and conservation
areas, Callaway County offers a rich terrain for natural wonders, sightseeing
and recreation.
Callaway County is in the heart of the Midwest, so all four seasons are experienced here. Average temperatures range from 32 degrees in the winter to 78 degrees in the summer. Average annual rainfall measures 36 inches, while snowfall averages 22 inches. Callaway County's central location is within a 500-mile radius of many major metropolitan markets, making it ideal for an efficient transportation network. The county is situated halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City and just north of Missouri's capital, Jefferson City. The renowned Lake of the Ozarks is located one hour south of Fulton on Missouri Highway 54. Part of a rapidly developing corridor bounded by Interstate 70 and U.S. Highways 54 and 63, the region is easily accessible to any point in the country. In fact, Callaway County has more miles of four-lane highways than any other Missouri county outside the metropolitan areas. In addition to these major highway corridors, the area is accessible via rail (Kansas City Southern), barge service, and small and commercial-sized airway systems. The airport in Fulton provides hanger space and repair service for light air and small business planes, while the nearest commercial service is available in Columbia. St. Louis' Lambert International Airport, 90 minutes away from Fulton, provides major commercial and international air service. Callaway County is experiencing rapid growth. The 2000 U.S. Census placed the county's population at 40,766, a growth of 24.3 percent from 1990 totals. The county's estimated 2002 population of 42,210 shows a growth of 3.5 percent in just two years. The county's largest city, Fulton, with a population of 12,128, has increased its number of residents by 20.9 percent. These were two of the highest growth rates in a mid-Missouri region that grew almost 18 percent overall.
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