Cape Girardeau, Missouri
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| Cape Girardeau, Missouri | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| 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] |
Cape Girardeau (pronounced /ˈkeɪp dʒɨˈrɑrdoʊ/) (French: Cap-Girardeau, pronounced 
[kap ʒiʀaʀdo]) 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. The city is not the county seat of Cape Girardeau County as some visitors mistakenly assume. The county seat of Cape Girardeau County is Jackson, Missouri.
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[edit] 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. It was built for Model-T cars and was only 20 feet (6.1 m) wide.[3]
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The City of Cape Girardeau was recognized in Jan. 2008 by First Lady Laura Bush as a Preserve America Community.[citation needed]
[edit] Geography
Cape Girardeau is located at (37.309042, -89.546498)[4].
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.
[edit] 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.
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[edit] Health and Education
The city is served by two major medical centers, Saint Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital, both of which have been noted for excellence in care.
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.
[edit] Transportation
Cape Girardeau Regional Airport serves the city.
Cape Girardeau is also served by Interstate 55 and a Interstate business loop, known locally as "Kingshighway".
[edit] Prominent Citizens
Cape Girardeau is the home or birthplace of several nationally recognized figures, including:
- Chic Hecht, Republican United States Senator from Nevada, Military Intelligence Hall of Fame agent and U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas was born in Cape Girardeau
- Talk radio star Rush Limbaugh was born to a prominent family of lawyers in Cape Girardeau; some "dittoheads" make pilgrimages there. [1] Rush's brother, David[2] runs a law firm in the city.
- Rush's cousin Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., a Missouri Supreme Court Judge, also resides in the city.
- Actor and military consultant, Captain Dale Dye was born in Cape Girardeau.
- Writer Terry Teachout was born in Cape Girardeau.
- Dr. Andrew Conway Ivy (1893-1978), medical researcher, president of the American Physiological Society (1939-41), and promoter of the controversial 1950's cancer drug Krebiozen, was raised in Cape Girardeau.
- Mark Littell, a baseball pitcher who played for Missouri teams the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals was born in Cape Girardeau.
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- The Show Me Center, a joint project of the city and the university, opened in 1987.
- The city has been called "The only inland cape in the world."
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- 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.
- The city is home to two large, acute-care hospitals: Saint Francis Medical Center established in 1875, and Southeast Missouri Hospital established in 1928.
- When completed, local television station KFVS-TV's tower, for a short period of time, was the world's tallest structure.
[edit] 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.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- City's official website
- Old Town Cape
- Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Southeast Missourian newspaper
- Show Me Center
- Cape Girardeau Public Schools
- LIVE View of Cape Girardeau
- Real Estate Listings for Cape Girardeau
- Cape Girardeau, Missouri is at coordinates Coordinates:
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