Mid-Missouri is a loosely defined region comprising the central area of theU.S. state ofMissouri. The region's largest city isColumbia (population 121,717);[1] the Missouri state capital,Jefferson City, and theUniversity of Missouri are also located here. The region also includes portions of theLake of the Ozarks, theOzark Mountains, and theMissouri Rhineland. Mid-Missouri is centered on two contiguous metropolitan areas: theColumbia Metropolitan Area and theJefferson City Metropolitan Area, which together have a population of over 400,000.[2]
Counties that are usually considered to be in Mid-Missouri areAudrain,Boone,Callaway,Camden,Chariton,Cole,Cooper,Gasconade,Howard,Macon,Miller,Moniteau,Montgomery,Morgan,Osage,Pettis,Randolph, andSaline. Counties that are sometimes considered to be in the region areAdair,Benton,Laclede,Maries,Phelps,Pulaski, andWarren.
Interstate Highways70 (concurrent withU.S. 40) and44 both pass through the region and intersect with each other inSt. Louis.Columbia Regional Airport (COU) is the only commercial airport in Mid-Missouri and is served byAmerican Eagle with non-stop service to eitherDallas/Fort WorthChicago-O'Hare or Denver International as well as providinggeneral aviation services.
U.S. Route 24
U.S. Route 36
U.S. Route 40 (mostly concurrent with I-70)
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 63
U.S. Route 65
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