Cape Girardeau County, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cape Girardeau County
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Old Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson
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Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
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 Missouri's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | October 1, 1812 |
| Named for | A rock promontory over the Mississippi River and Ensign Sieur Jean Baptiste de Girardot (also spelled Girardeau or Girardat) |
| Seat | Jackson |
| Largest city | Cape Girardeau |
| Area | |
| • Total | 586 sq mi (1,520 km2) |
| • Land | 579 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| • Water | 7.8 sq mi (20 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 81,710 |
| • Density | 139.44/sq mi (53.84/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
Cape Girardeau County is often called Cape County. It is located in the southeastern part of Missouri, a U.S. state. The Mississippi River forms its eastern border.
In 2020, about 81,710 people lived here. The main city, or county seat, is Jackson. This city was the first in the U.S. to be named after President Andrew Jackson. The county officially started on October 1, 1812. It is named after Ensign Sieur Jean Baptiste de Girardot, a French officer from long ago. The "cape" in the name refers to a large rock that used to overlook the Mississippi River. This rock was removed when railroads were built. Cape Girardeau County is a central part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson metropolitan area. Its biggest city is Cape Girardeau.
Contents
History of Cape Girardeau County
Cape Girardeau County was created on October 1, 1812. It was one of the first five counties in the Missouri Territory. This happened after the U.S. bought the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
The county is named after Ensign Sieur Jean Baptiste de Girardot. He was a French officer who worked in Kaskaskia from 1704 to 1720. In 1733, he started a trading post on the Mississippi River. This post grew into the city of Cape Girardeau we know today. The "cape" in the county's name was a big rock overlooking the river. This original rock was later removed for railroad construction.
Jackson, Missouri is the county seat. The first courthouse in Cape Girardeau County was built in 1818. It was built by John Davis. This building later burned down in 1870. The current courthouse in Jackson was finished in 1908. It was designed by P.H. Weathers.
Geography of Cape Girardeau County
Cape Girardeau County covers about 586 square miles. Of this, 579 square miles are land. The remaining 7.8 square miles are water.
The land in Cape Girardeau County changes a lot. Areas near Delta and Dutchtown are flat flood plains. These areas used to be cotton farms. The western and northern parts of the county are hilly and covered in forests.
Neighboring Counties
- Perry County (to the northwest)
- Union County, Illinois (to the northeast, across the river)
- Alexander County, Illinois (to the east, across the Mississippi River)
- Scott County (to the southeast)
- Stoddard County (to the south)
- Bollinger County (to the west)
Main Roads
Interstate 55
U.S. Route 61
Route 25
Route 34
Route 72
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People and Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 5,968 | — | |
| 1830 | 7,445 | 24.7% | |
| 1840 | 9,359 | 25.7% | |
| 1850 | 13,912 | 48.6% | |
| 1860 | 15,547 | 11.8% | |
| 1870 | 17,558 | 12.9% | |
| 1880 | 20,998 | 19.6% | |
| 1890 | 22,060 | 5.1% | |
| 1900 | 24,315 | 10.2% | |
| 1910 | 27,621 | 13.6% | |
| 1920 | 29,839 | 8.0% | |
| 1930 | 33,203 | 11.3% | |
| 1940 | 37,775 | 13.8% | |
| 1950 | 38,397 | 1.6% | |
| 1960 | 42,020 | 9.4% | |
| 1970 | 49,350 | 17.4% | |
| 1980 | 58,837 | 19.2% | |
| 1990 | 61,633 | 4.8% | |
| 2000 | 68,693 | 11.5% | |
| 2010 | 75,674 | 10.2% | |
| 2020 | 81,710 | 8.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2000, there were 68,693 people living in the county. There were 26,980 households and 17,941 families. About 31.2% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.42 people. The average family had 2.96 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 23.4% were under 18. About 13.4% were between 18 and 24. And 13.8% were 65 or older. The average age was 35 years.
Religious Groups
Cape Girardeau County is part of the Bible Belt. This means many people follow evangelical Protestantism. The main religious groups are Roman Catholics, Assemblies of God, and Lutherans (LCMS).
2020 Census Information
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (NH) | 67,393 | 82.5% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 6,459 | 8% |
| Native American (NH) | 170 | 0.21% |
| Asian (NH) | 1,300 | 1.6% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 14 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 4,140 | 5.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,234 | 2.73% |
Education in Cape Girardeau County
Most adults (81.1%) in Cape Girardeau County have a high school diploma or higher. About 24.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
- Delta R-V School District—Delta
- Delta Elementary School (Grades K–6)
- Delta High School (Grades 7–12)
- Oak Ridge R-VI School District—Oak Ridge
- Oak Ridge Elementary School (Grades K–6)
- Oak Ridge High School (Grades 7–12)
- Nell Holcomb R-IV School District—Egypt Mills
- Nell Holcomb Elementary School (Grades K–8)
- Jackson R-II School District—Jackson
- Gordonville Attendance Center (Grades K–3)—Gordonville
- Millersville Attendance Center (Grades K–3)—Millersville
- North Elementary School (Grades K–4)
- Orchard Drive Elementary School (Grades K–4)
- South Elementary School (Grades PK–5)
- West Lane Elementary School (Grades K–4)
- East Elementary School (Grades PK-4)
- Jackson Middle School (Grades 5-6)
- Russell Hawkins Jr. High School (Grades 7-9)
- Jackson High School (Grades 9–12)
- Cape Girardeau Public Schools No. 63—Cape Girardeau
- Alma Schrader Elementary School (Grades K–4)
- Blanchard Elementary School (Grades K–4)
- Clippard Elementary School (Grades K–4)
- Franklin Elementary School (Grades K–4)
- Jefferson Elementary School (Grades K–4)
- Cape Central Middle School (Grades 5–6)
- Cape Central Jr. High School (Grades 7–8)
- Cape Central High School (Grades 9–12)
- Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center (Grades 10–12)
Private Schools
- Cape Christian School (Grades K–8)—Cape Girardeau; Assembly of God/Pentecostal
- St. Mary Cathedral School (Grades K–8)—Cape Girardeau; Roman Catholic
- St. Vincent De Paul Elementary School (Grades K–8)—Cape Girardeau; Roman Catholic
- Trinity Lutheran School (Grades PK–8)—Cape Girardeau; Lutheran
- Immaculate Conception School (Grades PK–8)—Jackson; Roman Catholic
- St. Paul Lutheran School (Grades PK–8)—Jackson; Lutheran
- Eagle Ridge Christian School (Grades PK–12)—Cape Girardeau; Non-denominational Christian
- Notre Dame Regional High School (Grades 9–12)—Cape Girardeau; Roman Catholic
- Saxony Lutheran High School (Grades 9–12)—Jackson/Fruitland; Lutheran
Colleges and Universities
- Southeast Missouri State University—Cape Girardeau
Public Libraries
- Cape Girardeau Public Library
- Jackson Public Library
- Riverside Regional Library
Communities in Cape Girardeau County
Cities
- Cape Girardeau (a small part is in Scott County)
- Delta
- Jackson (the county seat)
- Scott City (mostly in Scott County)
Villages
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially cities or villages.
Notable People from Cape Girardeau County
Many interesting people have come from Cape Girardeau County. Here are a few:
- Jacob M. Appel, a writer of novels.
- William F. Barnes, a former head football coach for UCLA.
- A.J. Ellis, a former professional baseball catcher.
- Linda M. Godwin, a NASA astronaut and scientist.
- Chic Hecht, a former U.S. Senator and Ambassador.
- Peter Kinder, a former Lieutenant Governor of Missouri.
- Richard Kinder, a successful businessman.
- The Limbaugh family, including famous political commentators David and Rush Limbaugh.
- Mark Littell, a former professional baseball pitcher.
- Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver, who designed the Missouri State Flag.
- Susan Beth Scott, a U.S. Paralympic Medalist Swimmer.
- Billy Swan, a singer known for his #1 hit song "I Can Help".
- Roy Thomas, a well-known comic book writer and editor.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Cape Girardeau para niños
