Missouri, centrally located in the United States, was made a territory in 1812 and a state in 1821. when it was first organized as a state, Cooper County filled the whole central part of the state. In 1845 the area of the state was broken down into smaller counties and Moniteau County was formed.

The name for the county was chosen because of a stream that ran through the western and northern part of the county. The Indians had called the stream, Monitou, meaning Deity. The name Moniteau is a French spelling of the Indian word Monitou, meaning God. On the bank of the Missouri just below the Moniteau was a formation of stone which resembled the face of a man and, to the Indians, this typified the face of Manitou, the Great Spirit. This name was given to the creek, later to a township, and then to the county. This rock was blasted out in building the river route for the Missouri Pacific railroad.

Moniteau County is in the heart of Missouri. It is the most centrally located north and south and east and west within the state, and contains approximately 400 square miles. The county is well watered with springs and water is easily reached by drilling a well. There is a diversity of hills and valleys, heavily timbered forests and gentle rolling prairie and there are mineral resources within the county. Mines were opened here in 1854, 1857, 1867 and 1874.