Tipton, the railroad, and the early overland mail era

Tipton sits in the western part of Moniteau County. The town grew up as a railroad town in the mid-1800s. That is when the Pacific Railroad reached this part of central Missouri. A railhead is the spot where a rail line ends and goods or mail move on by other means. For a while, Tipton’s railhead made it an important place to switch between the train and the stagecoach. From here, mail and stage routes headed west. This role was tied to the Butterfield Overland Mail. That was a big mail and stage system used before trains crossed the whole country. This past helps explain Tipton’s street layout, its start as a depot town, and its feel as a rail town rather than a river town. Want the exact dates, Tipton’s precise role, or any “first” or “end of the line” claims? Check with the State Historical Society of Missouri and the Missouri State Archives. They are the right places for this kind of 1800s transportation history.