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Jefferson City, Missouri
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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 2006, the population was 39,274. 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.
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Encyclopedia
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 2006, the population was 39,274. 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. 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 Missouri 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 here 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 (38.572954, -92.189283).
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 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.
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's, Immaculate Conception, and Trinity Lutheran. and are the only private high schools located in the city.
Lincoln University, a historically black university (HBCU), is the only four-year college in Jefferson City.
Transportation
Note: Jefferson City is one of the few state capitals that is not served by an interstate highway. Interstate 70 passes by the city 40 miles to the north, in Columbia. Interstate 70 is accessible from US 63.
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 Citizens
- 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, born in Jefferson City.
- Cedric the Entertainer, (Cedric Kyle) was born in Jefferson City.
- 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), (Cincinnati Bengals) 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.
- Hermon Mehari, [amateur jazzersician] 2008 National Trumpet Competition Jazz Division Winner [UMKC]
External links
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