Jefferson is located in the state of Missouri and was considered to be geographically centered in the state. The area was the state capital and the land has been donated in recognition to the United States Congress Act wherein it specified that it should be within 40 miles of the mouth of the Osage River. The area was named after President Thomas Jefferson and was then laid out by the son of a Kentucky frontiersman, Daniel M. Boone. When the loyalties were then divided during the American Civil War, the city had remained to be a Union. It was developed as a trading center for the surrounding farmlands and has diversified manufacturing for automotive seating, printing, and specialty paper, electric appliances and transformers, cosmetics, and others. When the state prison was established, it prevented the city from becoming a site of the state university. However, Lincoln University was founded in 1866 by the African American Union Army veterans, and has now been racially integrated. From the glorious murals of the Missouri State Capitol to the gristly exhibits of the Missouri State Penitentiary Museum, a visit to Jefferson City is as educational as it is entertaining. While Jefferson City has strong ties to its history, don’t mistake it for a sleepy town. Its charming Downtown area has many museums, vibrant art and dinner theaters, interesting shops, and expansive parks that encourage an active lifestyle. There’s not a very high level of migration to Jefferson City, mostly because residents tend to stay for life. Those lucky enough to snag real estate in Jefferson City can expect their property to rise in value as the area continues to be one of the most popular destinations in the US.