Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of 2008, the population was 40,771.[3] Jefferson City was named after Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States of America.
Jefferson City is on the northern edge of the Ozark Plateau on the southern side of the Missouri River near the geographic center of the state, in a region known as Mid-Missouri. It is at the western edge of the Missouri Rhineland, a wine-producing region. The city is dominated by the domed Capitol, rising from a bluff overlooking the Missouri River to the north. Lewis and Clark passed beneath that bluff on their historic expedition upriver before Europeans established any settlement there.
History
In pre-Columbian times, this region was home of an ancient people known only as the Mound Builders. By the time European settlers began arriving, the Mound Builders had vanished into history. The contemporary indigenous peoples were called the Osage Indians. When the Missouri Territory was organized in 1812, St. Louis was the seat of government. St. Charles next served as the capital.
In the middle of the state, Jefferson City was chosen as the new capital in 1821. The village was first called Lohman's Landing. When the legislature decided to relocate there, they proposed the name "Missouriopolis" but later settled on Jefferson City.[4] For years the village was little more than a trading post located in the wilderness about midway between St. Louis and Kansas City. In 1826 the Missouri legislature first met here and in 1839 the settlement was incorporated as a city.
During the American Civil War, Jefferson City was occupied by Union troops. Many of the people in the state supported the Union, although Missouri's Little Dixie section along the river in western counties was strongly Confederate.
German immigrants created vineyards in small towns on either side of the Missouri River, especially on the north from Jefferson City east to Marthasville outside St. Louis. Known as the Missouri Rhineland for its vineyards, first established by German immigrants in the mid-19th century, this area has become a part of the agricultural and tourist economy.
Geography
Jefferson City is located at 38°38′58″N 92°12′52″W / 38.64944°N 92.21444°W / 38.64944; -92.21444 (38.572954, -92.189283).[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.3 square miles (73.2 km²), of which, 27.2 square miles (70.6 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (3.61%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 39,636 people, 15,794 households, and 9,207 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,454.4 people per square mile (561.6/km²). There were 16,987 housing units at an average density of 623.3/sq mi (240.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.50% White, 14.70% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. 1.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 15,794 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 105.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,628, and the median income for a family was $52,627. Males had a median income of $35,050 versus $25,521 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,268. About 7.3% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The city uses a mayor council system. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The city council has ten members. Two are elected from each of the city's five wards.
Education
Jefferson City is served by the Jefferson City Public School District, which operates Jefferson City High School, Simonsen 9th Grade Center, Lewis and Clark Middle School and Thomas Jefferson Middle School, and eleven elementary schools. There are 4 private elementary schools: St. Joseph's Cathedral, St. Peter, Immaculate Conception, and Trinity Lutheran. Calvary Lutheran , Helias , and Lighthouse Preparatory Academy are the private high schools in the city.
Lincoln University, is a historically black university (HBCU), with open enrollment and 4 year and graduate degree programs. Columbia College also has a location in Jefferson City at which it is possible to earn a 4 year degree.
Transportation
Note: Jefferson City is one of few state capitals in United States that is not served by an interstate highway. Only four other state capitals nationwide share in this oddity. Interstate 70 passes by the city 30 miles to the north, in Columbia. Interstate 70 is accessible from both US 63 and US 54.
Sister cities
- Jefferson City is sister city to the German city of Münchberg. The historically German section of Jefferson City is called "Old Munichburg."
Notable residents
- Exene Cervenka, Noted musician (lead singer of the band X), poet, author and artist, current resident of Jefferson City.
- James T. Blair, Jr., mayor of Jefferson City in 1947 and later governor of Missouri.
- Lorenzo Greene, Lincoln University faculty and civil rights pioneer
- Jack S. Kilby, inventor and physicist, born in Jefferson City.
- Cedric the Entertainer, (Cedric Kyle), born in Jefferson City.
- Deborah Digges (born Deborah Sugarbaker), poet, born in Jefferson City.
- Kent Jones, writer and radio personality, attended Jefferson City public schools.
- John Opel, former president of IBM, attended Jefferson City public schools.
- Steve Rogers (baseball player), born in Jefferson City.
- John Farris, author born in Jefferson City.
- Chester Himes, author born in Jefferson City.
- William Rose (screenwriter), screenwriter born in Jefferson City.
- Justin Smith (football player), (San Francisco 49ers) was born in Jefferson City.
- Justin Gage, (football player - Tennessee Titans) attended Jefferson City public schools.
- Steve Martin (football player), attended Jefferson City public schools.
- Joe Crede, major league baseball player born in Jefferson City.
- Dennis Meyer, (former Pittsburgh Steelers football player ) born in Jefferson City.
- Jamaal Tatum, college basketball player for the Southern Illinois Salukis born in Jefferson City.
- Maya Moore, college basketball player for the University of Connecticut Huskies was born in Jefferson City and attended Jefferson City public schools prior to moving to Georgia.
- Christian Cantwell, 2009 shot put world champion, born in Jefferson City.
References
External links
