Home to the Missouri tribe of the Native American Indians in the early 1500's, Glasgow was orginally settled by European settlers in 1836. Thirteen men purchased land that was considered a healthy site for river traffic and began selling lots, naming the settlement after one of the founders, James Glasgow.

Because of its prime location on the Missouri River, the City of Glasgow was destined to become the next great riverport on the Missouri, second only to St. Louis.