Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
—  City  —
Downtown Cape Girardeau
Nickname(s): Cape, The City of Roses, River City
Location of Cape Girardeau
Coordinates: 37°18′33″N 89°32′47″W / 37.30917°N 89.54639°W / 37.30917; -89.54639
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Counties	Cape Girardeau, Scott
Government
- Type	Mayor-Council
- Mayor	Jay Knudtson (R)
Area
- City	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 (2007)
- City	37,525
- Density	1,456.5/sq mi (562.4/km2)
- Metro	134,051
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP Code	63701, 63702, 63703, 63705
Area code(s)	573
FIPS code	29-11242[1]
GNIS feature ID	0731549[2]
Website	http://www.cityofcapegirardeau.org/

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 Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately 115 miles (185 km) southeast of St. Louis. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city's population was 35,349. A 2007 estimate, however, showed the population to be 37,525. A booming college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri State University and the largest city in southeast Missouri. Although it is the largest city in Cape Girardeau County, the county seat is Jackson.^[3]

The Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area embraces Alexander County, Illinois, Bollinger County, Missouri and Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.

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 River about 60 miles (97 km) 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 to establish a trading post, which 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 April 26, 1863. The Union and Confederate armies collided in a fierce, four-hour artillery barrage on this day in which 23 Union and 30 Confederate soldiers were killed. Today, Cape Girardeau is 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 (1,700 m²), 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 lazy Mississippi 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. Although there used to be many prominent rose gardens around the community, few of these gardens exist today. In December 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.", honoring former U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson (R-Mo.) who led the fight in Congress to appropriate federal funding for the bridge's construction. 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.^[4] It was demolished after the completion of the Bill Emerson Bridge.

Bill Emerson Bridge

The City of Cape Girardeau was recognized in January 2008 by First Lady Laura Bush as a Preserve America Community.^[5]

Geography

Cape Girardeau is located at 37°18′33″N 89°32′47″W / 37.30917°N 89.54639°W / 37.30917; -89.54639 (37.309042, -89.546498)^[6]. 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.

In the city the population was spread out with 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 $36,502, and the median income for a family was $47,592. Males had a median income of $31,575 versus $21,392 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,877. 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, St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital, as well as subsidiary and independent medical offices and laboratories in an area known as Doctors Park. There are three major school systems in the city: Cape Girardeau Public Schools (including Cape Central High School), the Roman Catholic Church-run private schools (including Notre Dame Regional High School), and Southeast Missouri State University. The city features several fitness centers and a walking/biking trail as well as indoor and outdoor public sporting complexes. Cape Girardeau is the hub of Southeast Missouri in health and education.

Politics

Cape Girardeau is the largest city in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District and, along with the county, is a Republican stronghold, especially in federal elections. In Election 2008, Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) carried Cape Girardeau County by a convincing 2-to-1 margin over Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois), 66.30-32.68 percent. Four years earlier, President George W. Bush (R-Texas) trumped Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) 68.90-30.57 percent in Cape Girardeau County. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Cape Girardeau County was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

In the 2008 presidential primaries, Cape Girardeau County was the only county in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District won by former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) over former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) who carried almost every other county in Southeast Missouri and John McCain who ultimately won the state. On the Democratic side, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) carried Cape Girardeau County with a solid 56.55 percent of the vote over Barack Obama’s 39.44 percent. Clinton’s margin of victory in Cape Girardeau County, though, was one of her weaker showings considering that in virtually all of the rural parts of the state she often received anywhere from the upper 60s to lower 70 percent of the vote. Obama may have been able to siphon off some votes from Clinton in Cape Girardeau County because of the college subplot in Southeast Missouri State University and/or from the city’s modest African American population.

The City and County of Cape Girardeau is a part of Missouri’s 8th Congressional District and is served in the U.S. House of Representatives by Jo Ann Emerson (R) who has held the seat since 1997 following the special election to succeed her late husband Bill Emerson. Since then, Emerson has won six landslides for the seat, receiving 70 percent or more of the vote. The last Democrat to represent MO-08 was Bill Burlison who held the seat from 1968-1980.

At the state level, most of the City of Cape Girardeau is a part of Missouri’s 156th Legislative District and is currently served by State Representative Mary Kasten (R). Kasten won the February 5, 2008 special election with 50 percent of the vote over postmaster Mike Keefe’s (D) 43 percent in a bid to succeed former State Representative Nathan Cooper (R), who had pleaded guilty to immigration fraud in August 2007. The lopsidedness of the city’s political culture led no Democrat to run in this year’s election to succeed Kasten. Clint Tracy (R), son of Cape Girardeau City Councilwoman Debra Tracy, clinched the Republican nomination in the August 5, 2008 primary over Wayne Wallingford (R) and Jeff Glenn (R) and then went on to defeat Robert Roland, the Libertarian candidate, with 76.3 percent of the vote.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson is also a Republican.

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 Girardeau County Transit Authority provides public transportation of the city with buses and taxis. Southeast Missouri State University operates several shuttle routes for on-campus transportation[1] as well as on off-campus transportation system (WINGS)[2] which transports students to various areas around the town.

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, and Mickey Rourke. However, many of these scenes were cut from the final film.

Notable people

• Dale Dye, actor
• Chic Hecht, US Senator from Nevada
• Andrew Conway Ivy, (1893-1978), president of the American Physiological Society (1939-41)
• Rush Limbaugh, talk radio host
• David Limbaugh, poitical commentator and author.
• 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.
• Terry Teachout, writer
• Linda Godwin, NASA Astronaut, was born in Cape Girardeau, but her hometown is nearby Jackson, Missouri.
• General William Sebastian Stone was born in Cape Girardeau
• General James Terry Conway went to college in Cape Girardeau

References

External links

• City's official website
• Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Southeast Missourian newspaper
• Cape Girardeau Public Schools
• Cape Girardeau City Guide
• Bill Emerson Bridge at Cape Girardeau

• Cape Girardeau, Missouri is at coordinates 37°18′33″N 89°32′47″W / 37.309042°N 89.546498°W / 37.309042; -89.546498 (Cape Girardeau, Missouri)Coordinates: 37°18′33″N 89°32′47″W / 37.309042°N 89.546498°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 | Scott City‡ 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 Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Scott County, Missouri County seat: Benton Cities Benton | Cape Girardeau‡ | Chaffee | Miner‡ | Morley | Oran | Scott City‡ | Sikeston‡ Villages Blodgett | Commerce | Diehlstadt | Haywood City | Kelso | Lambert | Vanduser Townships Commerce | Kelso | Moreland | Morley | Richland | Rootwad | Sandywoods | Sylvania | Tywappity Unincorporated communities Illmo | Perkins Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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