Cape Girardeau, Missouri

All you want to know about Cape Girardeau, Missouri

"Cape Girardeau" redirects here. For the Cape Girardeau meteorite of 1846, see Meteorite falls.

Coordinates: 37°18′33″N 89°32′47″W / 37.30917, -89.54639
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Downtown Cape Girardeau
Location of Cape Girardeau
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Counties	Cape Girardeau, Scott
Area
- Total	24.3 sq mi (63.0 km²)
- Land	24.3 sq mi (62.9 km²)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Elevation	351 ft (107 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	35,349
- Density	1,456.5/sq mi (562.4/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	573
FIPS code	29-11242^[1]
GNIS feature ID	0731549^[2]

Waterfront of Cape Girardeau along the Mississippi River during the Great Flood of 1993

Cape Girardeau (pronounced /ˈkeɪp dʒɨˈrɑrdoʊ/) (French: Cap-Girardeau, pronounced [kap ʒiʀaʀdo]) (colloquially referred to as "Cape") is a city located in the county of the same name in Missouri, 115 miles (185 km) south of Saint Louis. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 35,349. The Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO-IL Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces Alexander County, Illinois, Bollinger County, Missouri and Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. It is the home of Southeast Missouri State University. Although it is the largest town in Cape Girardeau County, the county seat is actually Jackson, Missouri.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Health and Education
5 Transportation
6 In popular culture
7 Notable people
8 References
9 External links

History

The city is named after Jean Baptiste de Girardot, who established a temporary trading post in the area around 1733; he was a French soldier stationed at Kaskaskia, Illinois, 1704-1720. The 'Cape' in the city name was a rock promontory overlooking the Mississippi River, later destroyed by railroad construction. As early as 1765, a bend in the Mississippi about sixty miles south of the French village of Ste. Genevieve had been referred to as Cape Girardot or Girardeau. The settlement there dates from 1793 when the Spanish government, which had secured Louisiana in 1762, granted Louis Lorimier, a French-Canadian, the right of establishing a trading post. His grant gave him extensive trading privileges and a large tract of land surrounding his post. Lorimier was made commandant of the district and prospered from the returns on his land sales and trade with indigenous peoples such as the Ozark Bluff Dwellers and the Mississippian. The town of Cape Girardeau was incorporated in 1808, prior to Missouri statehood, and was reincorporated as a city in 1843. The advent of the steamboat in 1835 led it to become the biggest port on the Mississippi River between Saint Louis and Memphis.

The Civil War Battle of Cape Girardeau took place on April 26, 1863. The Union and Confederate Armies collided in a fierce, four-hour artillery barrage, on that day, 23 Union and 30 Confederate soldiers were killed. Today, Cape Girardeau is the home to numerous Civil War sites and memorials such as,

Fort D
Old Lorimier Cemetery
Common Pleas Courthouse
Confederate War Memorial
Minton House

Reflecting the area's rich appreciation of history, numerous murals create a beautiful backdrop to some of the city's most charming areas. The largest, and most dramatic of these, is the Mississippi River Tales Mural, located on the city's downtown floodwall. Covering nearly 18,000 square feet, this mural spans the length of the downtown shopping district, and features 24 panels that tell the tales of Cape Girardeau and the mighty Mississippi River. Behind the floodwall lies the Riverfront Park of Cape Girardeau Missouri, where riverboats dock and visitors can view the river.

The city is also known to some as "The City of Roses" because of a nine mile (14 km) stretch of highway that was once lined with dozens of rose bushes. There also used to be many prominent rose gardens around the community. Few of these gardens persist today. In December of 2003, a new four-lane cable-stay bridge crossing the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau was opened. Its official name is "The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge." The two towers of the bridge reach a height of approximately 91 meters. The "Old Bridge was completed in September 1928 to replace a ferry and was only 20 feet (6.1 m) wide.^[3] It was demolished after the completion of the Bill Emerson Bridge.

Bill Emerson Bridge at sunset

The City of Cape Girardeau was recognized in January 2008 by First Lady Laura Bush as a Preserve America Community.^[4]

Geography

Cape Girardeau is located at 37°18′33″N, 89°32′47″W (37.309042, -89.546498)^[5]. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.4 sq mi (16,875 acres or 68.4 km²). The "cape" that the city is named after no longer exists. A rock which remains from the previously existing cape can be seen on a promontory which overlooks the Mississippi River in Cape Rock Park.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 35,349 people, 14,380 households, and 8,297 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,456.5 people per square mile (562.4/km²). There were 15,827 housing units at an average density of 652.1/sq mi (251.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.32% White, 9.30% Black or African American, 1.13% Asian, 0.39% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.

There were 14,380 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.90.

The age distribution is 20.5% under the age of 18, 18.4% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,452, and the median income for a family was $43,917. Males had a median income of $31,575 versus $21,392 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,918. About 8.5% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Four of the largest employers in Cape Girardeau are Southeast Missouri Hospital, Saint Francis Medical Center, Procter and Gamble, and Southeast Missouri State University.

Health and Education

The city is served by two major medical centers, Saint Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital. There are three major school systems in the city: Cape Girardeau Public Schools (including Central Senior High School), the Catholic Church-run private schools (including Notre Dame High School), and Southeast Missouri State University. The city features several fitness centers and a walking/biking trail, as well as outdoor public sporting complexes.

Transportation

Cape Girardeau Regional Airport serves the city. Cape Girardeau is also served by Interstate 55 and an Interstate business loop, known locally as "Kingshighway". Cape County Transit provides public transportation of the city by buses and taxis.

The Bill Emerson Bridge from a distance

In popular culture

The James McMurtry's Song for a Deck Hand's Daughter is set in Cape Girardeau. The book Killshot by Elmore Leonard is partly set in Cape Girardeau. In January 2006, some scenes were shot on location for the movie adaptation starring Diane Lane, Thomas Jane, Johnny Knoxville, and Mickey Rourke.

Notable people

Chic Hecht, US Senator from Nevada
Rush Limbaugh, talk radio host
David Limbaugh, lawyer
Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., Missouri Supreme Court Judge
Dale Dye, actor
Terry Teachout, writer
Andrew Conway Ivy, (1893-1978), president of the American Physiological Society (1939-41)
Mark Littell, baseball player (St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals)
Billy Swan, singer who had a #1 hit song named I Can Help in 1974.

References

^ ^a ^b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Mary Charlotte Aubry Costello (1995). Climbing the Mississippi River Bridge by Bridge. Mary C. Costello, 48. 0-9644518-1-6.
^ Preserve America Community
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

Cape Girardeau, Missouri is at coordinates 37°18′33″N 89°32′47″W / 37.309042, -89.546498 (Cape Girardeau, Missouri)Coordinates: 37°18′33″N 89°32′47″W / 37.309042, -89.546498 (Cape Girardeau, Missouri)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Cape Girardeau County, Missouri

County seat: Jackson

Cities	Cape Girardeau \| Delta \| Jackson

Villages	Allenville \| Dutchtown \| Gordonville \| Oak Ridge \| Old Appleton \| Pocahontas \| Whitewater

Townships	Apple Creek \| Byrd \| Cape Girardeau \| Hubble \| Kinder \| Liberty \| Randol \| Shawnee \| Welch \| Whitewater

Unincorporated communities	Burfordville \| Daisy \| Friedheim \| Fruitland \| Millersville \| New Wells