Jefferson City, Missouri Information

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 the 2010 census, the population was 43,079.^[4] Jefferson City was named after Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States.

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, one of the major wine-producing regions of the Midwest. 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 while Thomas Jefferson was actually still alive. 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.^[5] 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.

Jefferson City was selected as the site for a state prison and, in 1836, the Missouri State Penitentiary was opened. The prison was home to a number of infamous Americans, including: former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston, assassin James Earl Ray, and bank robber Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd.

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 Dixie section along the Mississippi River in southeastern counties was strongly pro-Confederate.

German immigrants created vineyards in small towns on either side of the Missouri River, especially on the north from Jefferson City 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°38′58″N 92°12′52″W / 38.64944°N 92.21444°W (38.572954, -92.189283).^[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.3 square miles (73 km²), of which, 27.2 square miles (70 km²) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) (3.61%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] 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 per square mile (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.

Government

The city uses a mayor council system. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The city council has ten members. Two are elected from each of the city's five wards.

The Missouri Department of Corrections (MDOC) operates the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City.^[7][8]

MDOC operated the Missouri State Penitentiary (later named the Jefferson City Correctional Center) in Jefferson City.^[9] Before its closure it was the oldest operating penal facility west of the Mississippi River. It served as the State of Missouri's primary maximum security institution,^[10] And it housed male death row prisoners until April 1989, when they were moved to the Potosi Correctional Center.^[11] The current JCCC was opened on September 15, 2004, replacing the Missouri State Penitentiary.^[7]

The United States Postal Service operates several postal facilities, including the Jefferson City Main Post Office.^[12]

Economy

Top employers

According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,^[13] the top employers in the city are:

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. The district is currently considering building a second high school. There are 4 private elementary schools: St. Joseph's Cathedral, St. Peter, Immaculate Conception, and Trinity Lutheran. Calvary Lutheran, Helias Catholic, and Lighthouse Preparatory Academy are Jefferson City's private high schools.

Lincoln University is a public historically black university with open enrollment and certificate, associate, bachelor, and graduate programs. Columbia College, Linn State Technical College, William Woods University, Metro Business College, and Merrell University also have locations in Jefferson City with varying degree levels and options.

Transportation

Jefftran operates a public bus system year-round.^[14] Jefferson City is one of the five state capitals not served by an interstate highway.^[15] Interstate 70 passes by the city 30 miles (48 km) to the north, in Columbia. U.S. Highways in the city include U.S. Route 50, U.S. Route 54, and U.S. Route 63. Also Route 179 and Route 94 run through the city, giving it four highways that intersect with I-70. Jefferson City is also home to an Amtrak station.

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 residents

• James T. Blair, Jr., mayor of Jefferson City in 1947 and later governor of Missouri.
• Lorenzo Greene, Lincoln University faculty and civil rights pioneer
• Tom Henke, major league baseball player, won the 1992 World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays and also pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, lives in nearby Taos.
• Jack S. Kilby, Nobel Prize-winning inventor and physicist, born in Jefferson City.
• Cedric the Entertainer, (Cedric Kyle), born in Jefferson City.
• Deborah Digges (born Deborah Sugarbaker), poet, born in Jefferson City.
• Kent Jones, writer and radio personality, attended Jefferson City public schools.
• John Opel, former president of IBM, attended Jefferson City public schools.
• 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), (San Francisco 49ers) 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 nearby Westphalia.
• Dennis Meyer, (former Pittsburgh Steelers football player ) born in Jefferson City.
• Karl L. Rundberg (1899–1969), Los Angeles City Council member
• Jamaal Tatum, college basketball player for the Southern Illinois Salukis born in Jefferson City.
• Maya Moore, college basketball player for the University of Connecticut Huskies was born in Jefferson City and attended Jefferson City public schools prior to moving to Georgia.
• Christian Cantwell, 2009 shot put world champion, born in Jefferson City.
• Shaman's Harvest, hard rock band.

References

1. ^ "Contact the Mayor." City of Jefferson. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
2. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2008-04-29.xls
5. ^ McMillen, Margot Ford & Murphy, Dennis. A to Z: The Dictionary of Missouri Place Names. Columbia, MO. Pebble Publishing, 1996. ISBN 0-9646625-4-X.
6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
7. ^ ^{a b} "Jefferson City Correctional Center." Missouri Department of Corrections. May 7, 2006. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
8. ^ "MidMoGIS Mapping Website." City of Jefferson. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
9. ^ "Jefferson City Correctional Center." Missouri Department of Corrections. August 14, 2003. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
10. ^ Lombardi, George, Richard D. Sluder, and Donald Wallace. "The Management of Death-Sentenced Inmates: Issues, Realities, and Innovative Strategies." Missouri Department of Corrections. 8. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
11. ^ Lombardi, George, Richard D. Sluder, and Donald Wallace. "The Management of Death-Sentenced Inmates: Issues, Realities, and Innovative Strategies." Missouri Department of Corrections. 9. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
12. ^ "Post Office™ Location - JEFFERSON CITY." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
13. ^ City of Jefferson CAFR
14. ^ http://www.jeffcitymo.org/cd/transit/documents/routescheduleweb.pdf,
15. ^ Staff. "Interstate Highway Fact Sheet" (PDF). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20081010060935/http://www.interstate50th.org/docs/InterstateHighwayFactSheet.pdf. Retrieved February 22, 2012.

External links

• City of Jefferson City
• Jefferson City Convention and Visitor's Bureau
• Old Munichburg
• Missouri River Regional Library - Public Library
• Historic maps of Jefferson City in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri

Categories:

• Cities in Callaway County, Missouri
• Cities in Cole County, Missouri
• Jefferson City, Missouri
• County seats in Missouri
• Missouri Rhineland
• Populated places established in 1821
• Jefferson City metropolitan area
• Missouri populated places on the Missouri River

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See Also:

• Carson City, Nevada
• City
• Garden City, Idaho
• Jefferson City, Missouri
• Jefferson County, Idaho
• List of Cities In Idaho
• Missouri
• Oklahoma City
• Race and Ethnicity In the United States Census
• Salt Lake City