Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Cape Girardeau County is a county located 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...

. As of the 2010 U.S. Census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...

, the county's population was 75,764. While the largest city in the county is Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and 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...

, 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 actually 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...

, which was the first city named in honor of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

 Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...

 . The county was officially organized on October 1, 1812.

Cape Girardeau County is the central hub of the Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and 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...

–Jackson, MO-IL
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

 Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The county is the site of the oldest cold case in the state of Missouri. Bonnie Huffman, a 20-year-old schoolteacher, was found murdered in a ditch just outside of Delta
Delta, Missouri
Delta is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 517 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Delta is located at ....

 on July 2, 1954.

History

Cape Girardeau County was organized on October 1, 1812, as one of five original counties and is named after Ensign Sieur Jean Baptiste de Girardot (also spelled Girardeau or Girardat), a French officer originally 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...

 from 1704-1720 who later developed a trading post on the site on the present-day city of Cape Girardeau around 1733. The "cape" in the county 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...

 and Claire's house the original cape rock was destroyed by railroad construction. The county's name derives from a district located in the area when the Spanish controlled the region.

The first Cape Girardeau County Courthouse was constructed in 1818 by John Davis. This courthouse burned in 1870. The present courthouse in Jackson was completed in 1908 and was designed by P.H. Weathers.

Education

Of adults 25 years of age and older in Cape Girardeau County, 81.1% possess a high school diploma
High school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...

 or higher while 24.2% hold a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...

 as their highest educational attainment.

Public Schools

  • Delta R-V School District - Delta
    Delta, Missouri
    Delta is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 517 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Delta is located at ....

    • Delta Elementary School (K-06)
    • Delta High School (07-12)
  • Oak Ridge R-VI School District - Oak Ridge
    Oak Ridge, Missouri
    Oak Ridge is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 202 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town...

    • Oak Ridge Elementary School (K-06)
    • Oak Ridge High School (07-12)
  • Nell Holcomb R-IV School District - Egypt Mills
    • Nell Holcomb Elementary School (K-08)
  • Jackson R-II School District - 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...

    • Gordonville Attendance Center (K-03) - Gordonville
      Gordonville, Missouri
      Gordonville is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 425 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...

    • Millersville Attendance Center (K-03) - Millersville
      Millersville, Missouri
      Millersville is an unincorporated community in western Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. It is located six miles west of Jackson on Route 72....

    • North Elementary School (K-05)
    • Orchard Drive Elementary School (K-03)
    • South Elementary School (PK-05)
    • West Lane Elementary School (03-05)
    • Jackson Middle School (06-07)
    • Russell Hawkins Jr. High School (08-09)
    • Jackson High School (10-12)
  • Cape Girardeau Public Schools No. 63 - Cape Girardeau
    Cape Girardeau, Missouri
    Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and 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...

    • Alma Schrader Elementary School (K-04)
    • Blanchard Elementary School (K-04)
    • Clippard Elementary School (K-04)
    • Franklin Elementary School (K-04)
    • Jefferson Elementary School (K-04)
    • Cape Central Middle School (05-06)
    • Cape Central Jr. High School (07-08)
    • Cape Central High School (09-12)
      Central 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,...

    • Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center (10-12)

Private Schools

  • Cape Christian School (K-08) - Cape Girardeau - Assembly of God
    Assemblies of God
    The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...

    /Pentecostal
  • Deer Creek Christian Academy (PK-07) - Cape Girardeau - Christian
    Non-denominational Christianity
    In Christianity, nondenominational institutions or churches are those not formally aligned with an established denomination, or that remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations...

  • St. Mary Cathedral School (K-08) - Cape Girardeau - Roman Catholic
    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...

  • St. Vincent De Paul Elementary School (K-08) - Cape Girardeau - Roman Catholic
    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...

  • Trinity Lutheran School (PK-08) - Cape Girardeau - Lutheran
    Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
    The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...

  • Immaculate Conception School (PK-08) - Jackson - Roman Catholic
    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...

  • St. Paul Lutheran School (PK-08) - Jackson - Lutheran
    Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
    The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...

  • Eagle Ridge Christian School
    Eagle Ridge Christian School
    Eagle Ridge Christian School is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on route k. This school has programs from preschool through high school. Estimated number of students is 190. The student teacher ratio is less than 9 to 1.-History:...

     (PK-12) - Cape Girardeau - Non-denominational Christian
    Non-denominational Christianity
    In Christianity, nondenominational institutions or churches are those not formally aligned with an established denomination, or that remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations...

  • Notre Dame Regional High School (09-12) - Cape Girardeau - Roman Catholic
    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...

  • Saxony Lutheran High School (09-12) - Jackson/Fruitland
    Fruitland, Missouri
    Fruitland is an unincorporated community in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. It is located on U.S. Route 61 five miles north of Jackson and just northeast of the intersection of US. Route 61 and Interstate 55....

     - Lutheran
    Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
    The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...


Post Secondary Education

Cape Girardeau County is home to two public post-secondary educational facilities.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Cape Girardeau County is a part of the Bible Belt
Bible Belt
Bible Belt is an informal term for a region in the southeastern and south-central United States in which socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is a significant part of the culture and Christian church attendance across the denominations is generally higher than the nation's average.The...

 with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Cape Girardeau County who adhere to a religion are Roman Catholics (25.06%), Southern Baptists
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...

 (23.60%), and Lutherans
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...

 (18.31%).

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 586.29 square miles (1,518.5 km²), of which 578.62 square miles (1,498.6 km²) (or 98.69%) is land and 7.67 square miles (19.9 km²) (or 1.31%) is water.

The geography of Cape Girardeau County varies greatly. The areas around the towns of Delta and Dutchtown are flood plains, while western and northern areas are hilly and forested.

Adjacent counties

  • Perry County
    Perry County, Missouri
    Perry County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,132. In 2008 the population was estimated to be 18,743. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 from Ste...

      (north)
  • Union County, Illinois  (northeast)
  • 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...

      (east)
  • Scott County
    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...

      (southeast)
  • Stoddard County
    Stoddard County, Missouri
    Stoddard County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 29,705. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 29,537. The county seat is Bloomfield while the largest city in the county is Dexter...

      (south)
  • Bollinger County
    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...

      (west)

Major highways

  • Interstate 55
  • U.S. Route 61
  • Route 25
  • Route 34
  • Route 72

Demographics

As of the census
Census
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 68,693 people, 26,980 households, and 17,941 families residing in the county. 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 119 people per square mile (46/km²). There were 29,434 housing units at an average density of 51 per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.13% White, 5.28% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% 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 1.15% from two or more races. Approximately 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 26,980 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% 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, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 13.40% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,862, and the median income for a family was $58,037. Males had a median income of $32,371 versus $20,833 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 county was $24,303. About 6.70% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

Local

Politics at the local level in Cape Girardeau County is predominantly controlled by the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

. In fact, all but one of Cape Girardeau County’s elected officials are Republicans.

State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

Third Parties
Third party (United States)
The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a...

2008
Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008
-Polling:-Results:-See also:* U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2008* Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004* Missouri Lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2008-External links:* from the Missouri Secretary of State* at Project Vote Smart...

56.23% 20,672 41.75% 15,348 2.02% 744
2004
Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004
The 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election took place on 2 November 2004 for the post of Governor of Missouri. Missouri Secretary of State Republican Matt Blunt defeated State Auditor Democrat Claire McCaskill...

65.26% 22,433 33.49% 11,511 1.25% 429
2000 62.50% 18,543 35.36% 10,491 2.14% 635
1996 49.68% 13,781 48.38% 13,422 1.94% 538


Cape Girardeau County is divided among four legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...

. All four seats are held by Republicans.
  • District 157 - Currently represented by Scott Lipke (R-Jackson) and consists of most of the northern parts of the county and includes all of the city of Jackson and a small northern part of the city of Cape Girardeau as well as the towns of Oak Ridge, Old Appleton and Pocahontas. Lipke is term limited and is finishing out his last term. He will be succeeded by fellow Republican Donna Lichtenegger in the next legislative session in January 2011.

  • District 158 - Currently represented by Rep. Clint Tracy
    Clint Tracy
    Clinton "Clint" Tracy is a state representative currently serving his first term in the Missouri House of Representatives. He succeeded the seat held by former State Representative Mary Kasten who retired after filling out the remainder of the term of former State Representative Nathan Cooper...

     (R-Cape Girardeau) and consists of most of the city of Cape Girardeau. Tracy resigned the seat to seek a local office in Cape Girardeau County. He will be succeeded by fellow Republican Wayne Wallingford in the next legislative session in January 2011.

  • District 159 - http://house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=159Rep. Billy Pat Wright
    Billy Pat Wright
    Billy Pat Wright is an American, former real estate agent, former rancher, and a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives. He has represented the 159th district, which includes parts of Stoddard County, Cape Girardeau County, and Wayne County, since 2005...

     (R-Dexter
    Dexter, Missouri
    -Government:* Mayor: Joe Weber* City Administrator: Mark Stidham* Aldermen:* Ward 1: Jerry Corder, Terry Battles* Ward 2: Kent Essner, Rick Hux* Ward 3: Ray Pixley, John "Kirby" Taylor-Notable residents:* George K. Sisler, Medal of Honor recipient...

    ). The 159th District consists of the more rural, western parts of the county and includes the towns of Delta
    Delta, Missouri
    Delta is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 517 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Delta is located at ....

    , Whitewater
    Whitewater, Missouri
    Whitewater is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 113 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town...

    , Allenville
    Allenville, Missouri
    Allenville is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, U.S. As of the 2000 census, the population was 104. It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Allenville is located at ....

    , and Gordonville
    Gordonville, Missouri
    Gordonville is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 425 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...

    . In a rematch of 2008, in 2010 Wright again defeated former U.S. Representative Bill Burlison (D
    Democratic Party (United States)
    The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

    ) by an even larger margin of victory in the Cape Girardeau precincts.

  • District 160 - Rep. Ellen Brandom (R-Sikeston
    Sikeston, Missouri
    Sikeston is a city located both in southern Scott County and northern New Madrid County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is geographically situated just north of the "Missouri Bootheel", although many locals consider Sikeston a part of it. By way of Interstate 55, Sikeston is close to the...

    . The 160th District consists of the south central part of the county and includes Dutchtown
    Dutchtown, Missouri
    Dutchtown is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States, located at the intersection of Routes 25 and 74. The population was 99 at the 2000 census...

    . Brandom ran unopposed in 2010 and was reelected with 100% of the vote.

In the Missouri Senate
Missouri Senate
The Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000...

, all of Cape Girardeau County is a part of Missouri's 27th District and is currently represented by State Senator
Missouri Senate
The Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000...

 Jason Crowell
Jason Glennon Crowell
Jason Glennon Crowell is a state senator from the U.S. state of Missouri currently serving his second term in the Missouri Senate. He succeeded the seat previously held by Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder...

 (R-Cape Girardeau). Crowell defeated Linda Sanders (D-Jackson) in the November 4, 2008 general election. The 27th Senatorial District includes all of Bollinger
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...

, Cape Girardeau, Madison
Madison County, Missouri
Madison County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 11,800. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,276. Its county seat and largest city is Fredericktown...

, Mississippi
Mississippi County, Missouri
Mississippi County is a county located in the Bootheel of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,427. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 13,504. The largest city and county seat is Charleston...

, Perry
Perry County, Missouri
Perry County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,132. In 2008 the population was estimated to be 18,743. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 from Ste...

 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.

Federal

In the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

, Cape Girardeau County is represented by Jo Ann Emerson
Jo Ann Emerson
Jo Ann Emerson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1996. The district consists of Southeast and South Central Missouri and includes the Bootheel, the Lead Belt and the Ozarks. Emerson is a member of the Republican Party....

 (R-Cape Girardeau) who also represents all of Southeast Missouri as part of Missouri's 8th Congressional District.

Political Culture

Past Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

Third Parties
Third party (United States)
The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a...

2008 66.30% 24,768 32.68% 12,208 1.02% 379
2004 68.90% 23,814 30.57% 10,568 0.53% 183
2000 66.42% 19,832 31.26% 9,334 2.32% 693
1996 56.32% 15,557 36.05% 9,957 7.63% 2,108


At the presidential level, Cape Girardeau County is one of, if not the, most reliably Republican strongholds in Southeast Missouri. Although a predominantly urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...

 and relatively affluent, upper-middle class county with a college/university subplot, Cape Girardeau County is situated in the Bible Belt
Bible Belt
Bible Belt is an informal term for a region in the southeastern and south-central United States in which socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is a significant part of the culture and Christian church attendance across the denominations is generally higher than the nation's average.The...

 and is also the home of conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush 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...

. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Cape Girardeau County was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964
United States presidential election, 1964
The United States presidential election of 1964 was held on November 3, 1964. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson had come to office less than a year earlier following the assassination of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy. Johnson, who had successfully associated himself with Kennedy's...

. Since then, voters in the county have solidly backed the Republican presidential nominees by convincing margins. George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....

 carried Cape Girardeau County by more than two-to-one margins in 2000
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....

 and 2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...

. Like most other counties in Southeast Missouri, voters in Cape Girardeau County favored John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....

 over Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...

 in 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...

.

Like most areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Cape Girardeau County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...

 principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2004)
Constitutional Amendment 2 of 2004 is an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that prohibited same-sex marriages from being conducted or recognized in Missouri. The Amendment passed via public referendum on August 3, 2004 with 71% of voters supporting and 29% opposing. Every county voted in...

—it overwhelmingly passed Cape Girardeau County with 83.19 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....

. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2006)
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 is a state constitutional amendment initiative that concerns stem cell research and human cloning in Missouri...

—it failed in Cape Girardeau County with 63.12 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research
Embryonic stem cell
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, an early-stage embryo. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50–150 cells...

. Despite Cape Girardeau County’s longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...

 causes like increasing the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...

. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Cape Girardeau County with 60.04 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.

Missouri Presidential Preference Primary (2008)

  • Former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
    Hillary Rodham Clinton
    Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...

     (D-New York
    New York
    New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

    ) received more votes, a total of 4,510, than any candidate from either party in Cape Girardeau County during the 2008 Missouri Presidential Preference Primary.

Cities

  • Cape Girardeau
    Cape Girardeau, Missouri
    Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and 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...

  • Delta
    Delta, Missouri
    Delta is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 517 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Delta is located at ....

  • 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...


Villages

  • Allenville
    Allenville, Missouri
    Allenville is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, U.S. As of the 2000 census, the population was 104. It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Allenville is located at ....

  • Dutchtown
    Dutchtown, Missouri
    Dutchtown is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States, located at the intersection of Routes 25 and 74. The population was 99 at the 2000 census...

  • Gordonville
    Gordonville, Missouri
    Gordonville is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 425 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...

  • Oak Ridge
    Oak Ridge, Missouri
    Oak Ridge is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 202 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town...

  • Old Appleton
    Old Appleton, Missouri
    Old Appleton is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 82 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town...

  • Pocahontas
    Pocahontas, Missouri
    Pocahontas is a town in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 127 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...

  • Whitewater
    Whitewater, Missouri
    Whitewater is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 113 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town...


Unincorporated towns

  • Burfordville
    Burfordville, Missouri
    Burfordville is an unincorporated community in western Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. It is located five miles west of Jackson on Route 34. Bollinger Mill State Historic Site is located here, on the banks of the Whitewater River....

  • Daisy
    Daisy, Missouri
    Daisy is an unincorporated community in northwestern Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. It is located sixteen miles northwest of Cape Girardeau and is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area....

  • Friedheim
    Friedheim, Missouri
    Friedheim is an unincorporated community in northwestern Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. It is located twenty miles northwest of Cape Girardeau and is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area. The community was founded in 1887. Its name is...

  • Fruitland
    Fruitland, Missouri
    Fruitland is an unincorporated community in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. It is located on U.S. Route 61 five miles north of Jackson and just northeast of the intersection of US. Route 61 and Interstate 55....

  • Millersville
    Millersville, Missouri
    Millersville is an unincorporated community in western Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. It is located six miles west of Jackson on Route 72....

  • New Wells
    New Wells, Missouri
    New Wells is an unincorporated community in northern Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. It is located twenty miles north of Cape Girardeau and is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area....

  • Oriole
  • Egypt Mills

See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri

External links

  • Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Cape Girardeau County from University of Missouri
    University of Missouri
    The 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...

     Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
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