Holden, MO

Holden is a western Johnson County city laid out in 1857 in anticipation of the Pacific Railroad. Major Nathaniel Holden helped bring the railroad to the area and supplied the town's name, while the city incorporated in 1861. Missouri Routes 131 and 58 meet in town, with Warrensburg about 13 miles east. Holden City Lake, operated by the city, covers 385 acres of water inside a 600-acre recreation area and has become a notable western Johnson County bird area, with over 225 species observed there. The Rock Island Spur of Katy Trail State Park runs south of town near Medford. Holden R-III School District, the local library, and the city lake fill out the present map. Holden is a Missouri railroad town with a lake, a trail, and a name tied to the line that brought it here.