right|thumb|200px|The Lewis County, Missouri courthouse in Monticello as it appeared in the mid-1870s.
Lewis County is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,032. Its county seat is Monticello. The county was organized January 2, 1833, and named for Meriwether Lewis, the explorer and Governor of the Louisiana Territory.
Lewis County is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Early history and founding
What is now Lewis County was once (like much of the Midwest) home to the Mound Builders, a general term for a group of Pre-Columbian peoples that established complex mound earthworks and existed roughly 2-3 millennia ago. The area eventually fell under control of the Missouria tribe. Lewis County was first scouted by Europeans in 1673, when a French expedition led by Father Jacques Marquette came across the region. Several French expeditions followed, and small numbers of settlers would occasionally settle in the area, though never permanently. The Missouria and European settlers were joined in the early 19th century by the Sauk people, with who they engaged in frequent skirmishes.
Following the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory, the area was calmed when the United States established a peace treaty with the Sauk. The Sauk, however, fought against the United States during the War of 1812, after which a series of treaties were established, culminating in a final treaty in 1824 where the Native Americans of the area renounced their territorial claims. Following several failed attempts at settlement, the town of La Grange was founded in 1832. The county was largely settled by farmers from Virginia and Kentucky. They brought slaves and were attracted to the fertile land and easy river transportation. The economy was based on subsistence agriculture, timber harvesting, and lead mining. In 1845, Knox County was split off, leaving Lewis County with its present boundaries. The county continued to prosper through the 1850s, with hemp emerging as the main crop. Secessionists remained popular, however, and the county was split for much of the war between Unionists at La Grange and Secessionists at Canton, although the county was spared from open conflict aside from occasional partisan attacks and skirmishes.
Modern history
Today, Lewis County is all rural, with a few small towns under 2500 population, and Canton at 2800. The economy is built on soybeans, corn and timber, as well as higher education. Canton is the home of Culver–Stockton College. The National Register of Historic Places celebrates 12 historic locations in the county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.1%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Clark County (north)
- Hancock County, Illinois (northeast)
- Adams County, Illinois (southeast)
- Marion County (south)
- Shelby County (southwest)
- Knox County (west)