Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau
and Scott
counties in Southeast Missouri
in the United States
. It is located approximately 115 miles (185.1 km) southeast of St. Louis
and 175 miles (281.6 km) north of Memphis
. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A 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
.
The Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area encompasses Alexander County, Illinois
, Bollinger County, Missouri
and Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.
s around the community, few of these gardens exist today.
The city is also known as Cape Girardeau: Where the River Turns a Thousand Tales, due to the history of the town and the Mississippi River as well as the annual Storytelling Festival.
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 (96.6 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 1764, granted Louis Lorimier, a French-Canadian, the right to establish a trading post, which gave him 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
. It was established on January 4, 1793.
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.
The Old Federal Courthouse located at Broadway and Fountain Streets, built in the late 1940s, was the subject of a U.S. Supreme Court
case, United States v. Carmack, 329 U.S. 230 (1946), in which the Court upheld the federal government's authority under the Condemnation Act
of 1888 to seize land owned by a state or locality. 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. It was demolished after the completion of the Bill Emerson Bridge.
The City of Cape Girardeau was recognized in January 2008 by First Lady Laura Bush
as a Preserve America Community.
, located on the city's downtown floodwall. Covering nearly 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²), it spans the length of the downtown shopping district and features 24 panels. Behind the floodwall lies the Riverfront Park of Cape Girardeau Missouri
, where riverboats dock and visitors can view the lazy Mississippi River.
There are 39 historic sites in Cape Girardeau that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. Of these, eight are historic districts, such as Cape Girardeau Commercial Historic District
, which was listed in 2000 and includes multiple contributing properties. The growth of the town can be documented through Sanborn Maps
, over 80 of which are available online. Other landmarks include the Fort D
Historic Site and the Confederate War Memorial
. Among the city's older cemeteries are Apple Creek
Cemetery, Salem Cemetery
, and Old Lorimier Cemetery
and
s 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. Cape Girardeau will be in the totality path of the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse.
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 per square mile (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.
, Saint Francis Medical Center, Procter and Gamble, and Southeast Missouri State University
.
), the Roman Catholic Church
-run private schools (including Notre Dame Regional High School and St. Vincent de Paul Parish 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.
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 as well as an off-campus transportation system (WINGS) which transports students to various areas around the town.
's Song for a Deck Hand's Daughter is set in Cape Girardeau., as is the book Killshot
by Elmore Leonard
; some scenes for the 2009 film based on Leonard's novel
were shot on location in Cape Girardeau, though many were cut from the final film.
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Cape Girardeau County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 75,764. While the largest city in the county is Cape Girardeau, the county seat is actually Jackson, which was the first city named in honor of President...
and Scott
Scott County, Missouri
Scott County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 40,422; a 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 40,673. Its county seat is Benton...
counties in Southeast Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located approximately 115 miles (185.1 km) southeast of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and 175 miles (281.6 km) north of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University, is a public, accredited university located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States, near the banks of the Mississippi River. The institution, having started as a normal school, has a traditional strength in teacher education...
and the largest city in southeast Missouri. Although it is the largest city in Cape Girardeau County, the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Jackson
Jackson, Missouri
Jackson is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,758 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cape Girardeau County. Jackson is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson. It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan...
.
The Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area encompasses Alexander County, Illinois
Alexander County, Illinois
Alexander County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 8,238, which is a decrease of 14.1% from 9,590 in 2000. Its county seat is Cairo. Alexander County is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical...
, Bollinger County, Missouri
Bollinger County, Missouri
Bollinger County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 12,363; despite a 2009 estimate that showed the population to be 11,841. The county seat is Marble Hill, which is the only city in Bollinger County...
and Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.
Nickname
The city is known to some as "The City of Roses" because of a 9 miles (14.5 km) stretch of highway that was once lined with dozens of rose bushes. Although there used to be many prominent rose gardenRose garden
A Rose garden or Rosarium is a garden or park, often open to the public, used to present and grow various types of garden roses. Designs vary tremendously and roses may be displayed alongside other plants or grouped by individual variety, colour or class in rose beds.-Origins of the rose...
s around the community, few of these gardens exist today.
The city is also known as Cape Girardeau: Where the River Turns a Thousand Tales, due to the history of the town and the Mississippi River as well as the annual Storytelling Festival.
History
The city is named after Jean Baptiste de Girardot, who established a temporary trading postTrading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
in the area around 1733; he was a French soldier stationed at Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia is a village in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. In the 2010 census the population was 14, making it the second-smallest incorporated community in the State of Illinois in terms of population. A major French colonial town of the Illinois Country, its peak population was about...
, 1704-1720. The 'Cape' in the city name was a rock promontory overlooking the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, later destroyed by railroad construction. As early as 1765, a bend in the Mississippi River about 60 miles (96.6 km) south of the French village of Ste. Genevieve
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
Ste. Genevieve is a city in and the county seat of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,654 at the 2000 census...
had been referred to as Cape Girardot or Girardeau. The settlement there dates from 1793 when the Spanish government, which had secured Louisiana
Louisiana (New Spain)
Louisiana was the name of an administrative district of the Viceroyalty of New Spain from 1764 to 1803 that represented territory west of the Mississippi River basin, plus New Orleans...
in 1764, granted Louis Lorimier, a French-Canadian, the right to establish a trading post, which gave him 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
Mississippian culture
The Mississippian culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 CE to 1500 CE, varying regionally....
.
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
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
in 1835 led it to become the biggest port on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
between Saint Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. It was established on January 4, 1793.
The Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Battle of Cape Girardeau
Battle of Cape Girardeau
The Battle of Cape Girardeau was a military demonstration of the American Civil War, occurring on April 26, 1863 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The conflict was part of the pursuit of US Brigadier General John McNeil through Southeast Missouri by Confederate Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke...
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.
The Old Federal Courthouse located at Broadway and Fountain Streets, built in the late 1940s, was the subject of a U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
case, United States v. Carmack, 329 U.S. 230 (1946), in which the Court upheld the federal government's authority under the Condemnation Act
Condemnation Act
An Act to authorize the condemnation of lands for sites for public buildings, and other purposes , commonly known as the Condemnation Act or the Act of August 1, 1888, is a federal statute adopted by the United States Congress and signed into law on August 1, 1888, which authorizes federal...
of 1888 to seize land owned by a state or locality. 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
Bill Emerson
Norvell William "Bill" Emerson was an American politician from Missouri. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 until his death in 1996. He was succeeded in the House by his widow, Jo Ann 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. It was demolished after the completion of the Bill Emerson Bridge.
The City of Cape Girardeau was recognized in January 2008 by First Lady Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
as a Preserve America Community.
Historic landmarks and related sites
Numerous murals commemorate the city's history. The largest and perhaps most dramatic is the Mississippi River Tales MuralMississippi River Tales Mural
The Mississippi River Tales is a mural containing 24 panels covering nearly of the -high downtown Floodwall in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It illustrates the history of the area beginning with the Native Americans who inhabited the area between 900 and 1200...
, located on the city's downtown floodwall. Covering nearly 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²), it spans the length of the downtown shopping district and features 24 panels. Behind the floodwall lies the Riverfront Park of Cape Girardeau Missouri
Riverfront Park of Cape Girardeau Missouri
Cape Girardeau Missouri River Front ParkThe Cape Girardeau, Missouri River Front Park is located in front of the levee wall that protects the town from high water of the Mississippi River. The park has a stepped concrete seating platform that will allow viewing of the river by visitors...
, where riverboats dock and visitors can view the lazy Mississippi River.
There are 39 historic sites in Cape Girardeau that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Of these, eight are historic districts, such as Cape Girardeau Commercial Historic District
Cape Girardeau Commercial Historic District
Cape Girardeau Commercial Historic District is a historic district in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000....
, which was listed in 2000 and includes multiple contributing properties. The growth of the town can be documented through Sanborn Maps
Sanborn Maps
Sanborn Maps is an American publisher of historical and current maps of U.S. cities and towns that were initially created to estimate fire insurance liabilities. The company's maps are frequently used for preservation and restoration efforts....
, over 80 of which are available online. Other landmarks include the Fort D
Fort D
Fort D, Cape Girardeau, MissouriThe earthwork walls are the original Fort D, as constructed in 1861 and restored in 1936. A palisade wall, probably made of upright logs, constituted the rear wall and was pierced by a gate. The gap in the south wall may have been a “sally” port, allowing soldiers...
Historic Site and the Confederate War Memorial
Confederate War Memorial
The Confederate War Memorial is located behind the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.On October 10, 2011, the monument was vandalized with spray paint. Cape Girardeau County spent about 600 Dollars to remove the graffiti....
. Among the city's older cemeteries are Apple Creek
Apple Creek Township, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Apple Creek Township is one of ten townships in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,960.-Geography:Apple Creek Township covers an area of and contains two incorporated settlements: Oak Ridge and Old Appleton...
Cemetery, Salem Cemetery
Salem Cemetery
Salem Cemetery can refer to*Salem Cemetery in Racine Township, Mower County, Minnesota*Salem Cemetery, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri...
, and Old Lorimier Cemetery
Old Lorimier Cemetery
Old Lorimier Cemetery Cape Girardeau, MissouriOld Lorimier Cemetery was established in 1808 by Louis Lorimier. The location of the cemetery is 500 North Fountain Street . There is believed to be more than 6,500 burials in the cemetery, most being unmarked. A sidewalk serves as a north – south...
and
Geography
Cape Girardeau is located at 37°18′33"N 89°32′47"W (37.309042, -89.546498). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.4 square miles (16,875 acreAcre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s 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. Cape Girardeau will be in the totality path of the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 35,349 people, 14,380 households, and 8,297 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,456.5 people per square mile (562.4/km²). There were 15,827 housing units at an average density of 652.1 per square mile (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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Economy
Four of the largest employers in Cape Girardeau are Southeast Missouri HospitalSoutheast Missouri Hospital
Southeast Missouri Hospital is a private, not-for-profit hospital located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Southeast Missouri Hospital first opened in 1928 and has grown into a regional medical complex serving over 600,000 people in 22 counties in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois...
, Saint Francis Medical Center, Procter and Gamble, and Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University, is a public, accredited university located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States, near the banks of the Mississippi River. The institution, having started as a normal school, has a traditional strength in teacher education...
.
Health and education
The city is served by two major medical centers, Saint 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 SchoolCentral High School (Cape Girardeau, Missouri)
Central High School is a public high school located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA.-Campus:Central High moved from its old building to the newly constructed one in 2002. The campus has a variety of athletic facilities on-site, including tennis courts, a full track, baseball and softball fields,...
), the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
-run private schools (including Notre Dame Regional High School and St. Vincent de Paul Parish School
St. Vincent de Paul Parish School
St. Vincent de Paul Parish School is a K-8 Catholic school in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. In the 2009-10 school year, 420 students attended the school. The principal is Kay Glastetter. The head pastor is David Hulshof, and the associate pastor is Saviour Nundwe. The St...
), and Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University, is a public, accredited university located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States, near the banks of the Mississippi River. The institution, having started as a normal school, has a traditional strength in teacher education...
. 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.
Transportation
Cape Girardeau Regional AirportCape Girardeau Regional Airport
Cape Girardeau Regional Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located five nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Cape Girardeau, a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri although the airport is located in Scott County, Missouri, United States...
serves the city. Cape Girardeau is also served by Interstate 55
Interstate 55
Interstate 55 is an Interstate Highway in the central United States. Its odd number indicates that it is a north–south Interstate Highway. I-55 goes from LaPlace, Louisiana at Interstate 10 to Chicago at U.S. Route 41 , at McCormick Place. A common nickname for the highway is "double...
and an Interstate business loop, known locally as "Kingshighway
King's Highway
King's Highway or Kings Highway may refer to:* King's Highway an ancient trade route from Egypt to Syria* Kings Highway , Australia* King's Highway , United States* King's Highway King's Highway or Kings Highway may refer to:* King's Highway (ancient) an ancient trade route from Egypt to Syria*...
." 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 as well as an off-campus transportation system (WINGS) which transports students to various areas around the town.
In popular culture
James McMurtryJames McMurtry
James McMurtry is a Texas rock/Texas Country singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader and occasional actor...
's Song for a Deck Hand's Daughter is set in Cape Girardeau., as is the book Killshot
Killshot
Killshot, the 1989 novel by author Elmore Leonard, tells the story of a married couple who find themselves in Cape Girardeau, Missouri while on the run from a pair of hitmen.-Plot summary:...
by Elmore Leonard
Elmore Leonard
Elmore John Leonard Jr. , better known as Elmore Leonard, is an American novelist and screenwriter. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.Among his...
; some scenes for the 2009 film based on Leonard's novel
Killshot (film)
Killshot is a 2009 thriller film based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard. The film is directed by John Madden and stars Diane Lane and Thomas Jane as a couple who, despite being in a witness protection program, are confronted by the criminal they outed, portrayed by Mickey...
were shot on location in Cape Girardeau, though many were cut from the final film.
Notable people
- William F. BarnesWilliam F. Barnes-Post coaching:He resigned after the 1964 season after learning that Athletic Director J.D. Morgan was not going to renew his contract. After leaving UCLA, he became an NFL scout. He later became a Real Estate developer.-Death:...
, UCLA Coach and Alamo ScoutsAlamo scoutsThe Alamo Scouts was a reconnaissance unit of the Sixth United States Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II... - Joseph Cable, a Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient during the American Indian Wars - Dale DyeDale DyeDale Adam Dye is an American actor, presenter, businessman, and retired U.S. Marine captain who served in combat during the Vietnam War.-Early life & Marine service:...
, actor - Linda Godwin, astronaut, born in Cape Girardeau, though her hometown is nearby Jackson, MissouriJackson, MissouriJackson is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,758 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cape Girardeau County. Jackson is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson. It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan...
- Chic HechtChic HechtMayer Jacob "Chic" Hecht was a Republican United States Senator from Nevada and U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas.-Early life and career:...
, US SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its... - Andrew Conway IvyAndrew Conway IvyAndrew Conway Ivy was appointed by the American Medical Association as its representative at the 1946 Nuremberg Medical Trial for Nazi doctors.Ivy grew up in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His father was a science professor and his mother was a teacher...
, (1893–1978), president of the American Physiological SocietyAmerican Physiological SocietyThe American Physiological Society was founded in 1887 with 28 members. Of them, 21 were graduates of medical schools, but only 12 had studied in schools that had a professor of physiology. Today, the APS has 10,500 members, most of whom hold doctoral degrees in medicine, physiology or other...
(1939–41) - Terry Jones (pastor)Terry Jones (pastor)Terry Jones is the senior pastor of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainsville, Florida, the author of book Islam is of the Devil, and a 2012 Independent presidential candidate.-Biography:...
(b. 1951) pastor of Dove World Outreach CenterDove World Outreach CenterDove World Outreach Center is a 50 member non-denominational charismatic Christian church in Gainesville, Florida led by pastor Terry Jones and his wife, Sylvia. The church first gained notice during the late 2000s for its public displays and criticism of Islam and gays, and was designated as...
who burned a Qur'anQur'anThe Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
in 2011 - The Limbaugh family, including brothers and political commentators Rush LimbaughRush LimbaughRush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
and David LimbaughDavid LimbaughDavid Limbaugh is a conservative American political commentator and author.-Biography:Limbaugh was born on December 11, 1952 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He is the younger brother of talk radio host Rush Limbaugh... - Mark LittellMark LittellMark Alan Littell , is a professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1973-1982 for the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals. Littell had a lifetime ERA of 3.32 and saved 56 games from 1976 to 1981...
, baseball player (St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
) - Jess StacyJess StacyJess Stacy was an American jazz pianist who gained prominence during the Swing era.-Early life:Stacy was born Jesse Alexandria Stacy in Bird's Point, Missouri, a small town across the Mississippi River from Cairo, Illinois. In 1918 Stacy moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri...
, Jazz pianist with Benny Goodman was raised in Cape Girardeau - General William Sebastian StoneWilliam S. StoneGeneral William Sebastian Stone was an American United States Air Force General and the third Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy. His final assignment was as the air deputy to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.Stone was born at Cape Girardeau, Missouri on January 6, 1910....
was born in Cape Girardeau - Billy SwanBilly SwanBilly Lance Swan is an American songwriter and singer, best known for his 1974 single, "I Can Help".-Life:Swan was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. As a child, he learned drums, piano and guitar, and began writing songs...
, singer who had a #1 hit song named "I Can HelpI Can Help"I Can Help" is a song written and performed by Billy Swan. Released in September 1974, the song was a big crossover smash, reaching #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Singles charts late that fall....
" in 1974. - Terry TeachoutTerry TeachoutTerry Teachout is a critic, biographer and blogger. He is the drama critic of The Wall Street Journal, the chief culture critic of Commentary, and the author of "Sightings," a column about the arts in America that appears biweekly in the Friday Wall Street Journal...
, writer - Tony SpinnerTony SpinnerTony Spinner , is an American rock and blues singer and guitarist who toured with Toto from 1999 until their break-up in 2008. Spinner was personally selected by David Paich as a backup guitarist and backing vocalist and would perform lead vocals on the song "Stop Loving You," originally performed...
, guitarist and singer
External links
- City's official website
- Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection - Cape Girardeau at the University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...