TheBoonslick, orBoone's Lick Country, is a cultural region of the state ofMissouri along theMissouri River that played an important role in the westward expansion of the United States and the development of Missouri's territorial and subsequent statehood in the early 19th century.[1] TheBoone's Lick Road, is a longtime historic route paralleling the north bank of theMissouri River from southeast to northwest, betweenSt. Charles andFranklin, Missouri. It was the primary thoroughfare for settlers moving westward from the major river port on theMississippi River ofSt. Louis (founded by the French, 1764) and the first capital of the old federalMissouri Territory (1812–1821), in the early 19th century.St. Louis was also a major settlement town since the 17th and 18th century era along with the nearby, across the river upstream to the east, French colonial settlementsKaskaskia andCahokia in the adjacentIllinois Country of theNew France colonial empire of the oldKingdom of France, leading from its capital inQuebec (in future Canada) in the north, and east of theGreat Lakes and extending southward through the centralMississippi River Valley down to the lower river port ofNew Orleans on theGulf of Mexico and inFrench Louisiana, the heartland and central watershed of theNorth American continent. St. Louis was also important because of its proximity to the confluence of the central Mississippi with theOhio River flowing from the northeast and theMissouri River streaming from the far westernRocky Mountains northwest in the earlier federalLouisiana Territory (1804–1812), organized after the sale of the huge unchartedLouisiana Purchase of 1803, from the EmperorNapoleon I /Napoleon Bonaparte of France (theFirst French Empire) for $15 million.
The western terminus of the Boone's Lick Road further west in Franklin also marked the eastern end and beginning of the continuing famousSanta Fe Trail, leading further southwestward across theGreat Plains toSanta Fe, theRoyal Spanish colonial capital of its province ofNew Mexico in the largerViceroyalty ofNew Spain dominions of itsSpanish Empire in the twin continents of the Americas (Western Hemisphere). This well-known historical trail, first explored in 1806–1807, byU.S. Army officerZebulon Pike (1779–1813), and his military expedition eventually became a major conduit for continuing overland American-Spanish trade in the future Southwestern United States. Later it inter-connected with the other heavily used emigrant westward trails, including theOregon andCalifornia Trails, used by pioneers, mountain men/fur trappers, gold-seekers and other early settlers of theAmerican frontierWest.[2]
The region takes its name from the local historical landmarka salt spring or referred to as a "lick" (known today asBoone's Lick State Historic Site) in westernHoward County, used by brothersNathan Boone (1780–1856), andDaniel Morgan Boone (1769–1839), sons of famed Western explorer (inKentucky), settler, and frontiersmanDaniel Boone (1734–1820).
Many of Missouri's early leaders came from the Boonslick region. Its earlyFrench andSpanish colonial vestiges in oldLouisiana were overtaken by settlement of newer European-American migrants moving westward from theOriginal Thirteen States on theEast Coast, down theOhio River from theOhio Country,Pittsburgh and theUpland South — largely new states ofKentucky andTennessee with its connecting tributary rivers from the south of theTennessee andCumberland streams, and crossing in the gaps / passes of theAppalachian Mountains chain, fromVirginia further east – who brought numerous African-Americanslaves with them.[3][4] The region's borders often vary in definition but have included the present-day counties ofBoone,Callaway,Cooper,Howard, andSaline.[5] Before and after theAmerican Civil War, the area developed as the center of a larger region known asLittle Dixie.[6]
Franklin, Missouri, founded in 1816, became a large port on the Missouri River and an early center of settlement and economic activity. There, the Boone's Lick Trail ended andWilliam Becknell (c.1787/88-1856), blazed theSanta Fe Trail further to the southwest to the adjacentSpanish Empire's colonial territories in its province ofNew Mexico. TheChouteau brothers of St. Louis had previously established a fur trade monopoly with the Spanish inSanta Fe, and the fur trade was the basis of early St. Louis' prosperity and wealth, in addition to river-borne commerce.[citation needed]
Columbia, Missouri is the largest city in the region andcounty seat ofBoone County; it is the location of the flagship Columbia campus of theUniversity of Missouri system, which was established in 1839. Famed artistGeorge Caleb Bingham (1811–1879), painted in both Franklin and Columbia. His artworks illustrateWesternAmerican frontier pioneer, political and river life in the early and mid-19th century. Other early towns wereArrow Rock,Boonville,Fayette, andRocheport.
In 1827, waterfront Franklin was lost to the powerful devastating floods of the river that year, and the town was re-built higher upon the flanking bluffs as renamedNew Franklin. TheSmithton Company established the village of Smithton, in the oldMissouri Territory in 1818, which would later grow into and be renamed the city of Columbia in 1821.
In the current 21st century, the area is still predominantly rural, with the exception of the city of Columbia. The region is adjacent to theMissouri Rhineland and maintains its own developed vineyards. TheKaty Trail State Park runs along the Missouri River, providing recreational access by a conversion of former railroad lines to trails for biking and walking / hiking.
39°04′59″N92°40′01″W / 39.083°N 92.667°W /39.083; -92.667
