|
Jefferson County,
Missouri
Jefferson County’s 200,000
residents comprise the
largest rural population in the state of Missouri. To
the north is St. Louis County, the Mississippi River is
on the east side, and to the south and west are Ste.
Genevieve County, St. Francois County, Washington County
and Franklin County.
The county was fashioned from parts of Saint Louis and
Sainte Genevieve counties on Dec. 8, 1818. It was named
after Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the
United States and father of the Louisiana Purchase.
Herculaneum was the first county seat, but by 1831,
Hillsboro was selected because it was near a spring, and
was a stopping point along the trail that passed between
Potosi and St. Louis. Some of its cities and towns:
| Antonia |
Arnold |
Barnhart |
Byrnes
Mill |
| De
Soto |
Dittmer |
Cedar
Hill |
Crystal
City |
| Festus |
Grubville |
Herculaneum |
High
Ridge |
| Hillsboro |
House
Springs |
Imperial |
Kimmswick |
| Mapaville |
Otto |
Pevely |
Scotsdale |
| Ware |
|
|
|
Among the many points of interest are several
archaeological sites on the National Register of
Historic Places. Archeologists have found remains of
eight different Indian cultures dating back 10,000 years
in the area. European settlement of Jefferson County
began in the late 1700s. Around 1774, John Hildebrand,
from France, set down roots near Saline Creek in the
northeastern part of the county, an area later known as
the Meramec settlement. Other county sites of historical
significance include the De Soto Historical Society
Museum; Fenton History Museum; Fletcher
House (built by Missouri’s first
native-born governor); Mastodon
State Historic Site (where bones of American
mastodons have been found) and the Missouri
Pacific Historical Society Museum.
In recent years, Jefferson County has planned to build a
casino Barnhart, on a 150-foot bluff overlooking the
Mississippi River. When completed, the casino is
expected to employ more than 1,000 people, making it the
largest employer in Jefferson County. << Back
to Community Page
|
