Saint Joseph (also known as St. Joseph, St. Joe, or, even more informally, Joetown) is a city located in Buchanan County, Missouri. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 73,990. It is the county seat of Buchanan County⁶.

History

Saint Joseph was founded by Joseph Robidoux, a local fur trader, and officially incorporated in 1843. In its early days, it was a bustling outpost and rough frontier town, serving as a last supply point and jumping off point over the Missouri River toward the wild west, this due largely to the fact that it was the westernmost point in the US accessible by rail until after the Civil War.

Several events of particular historical note occurred in Saint Joseph. Between April 3, 1860, and late October 1861, Saint Joseph was one of the two endpoints of the Pony Express. In 1882, also on April 3, the notorious Jesse James was assassinated. These two events lend Saint Joseph the slogan, "Where the Pony Express started and Jesse James ended."

Geography

Saint Joseph is located at 39°45'29" North, 94°50'12" West (39.757944, -94.836541)¹, on the Missouri/Kansas border in northwestern Missouri.

The nearest major metropolitan area to Saint Joseph is the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, which begins approximately 20 miles to the south. The nearest major airport is Kansas City International Airport, which is approximately 25 miles to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 115.3 km² (44.5 mi²). 113.5 km² (43.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.7 km² (0.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.48% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 73,990 people, 29,026 households, and 18,460 families residing in the city. The population density is 651.6/km² (1,687.7/mi²). There are 31,752 housing units at an average density of 279.6/km² (724.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 91.88% White, 5.03% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 2.61% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 29,026 households out of which 30.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% are married couples living together, 12.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% are non-families. 30.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 2.98.

In the city the population is spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $32,663, and the median income for a family is $40,995. Males have a median income of $31,300 versus $21,592 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,445. 13.0% of the population and 9.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.5% of those under the age of 18 and 9.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Famous People Born Here

• Walter Cronkite
• Eminem
• Coleman Hawkins
• Ruth Warrick
• Jane Wyman

External links

• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=39.757944&longitude=-94.836541&zoom=6)
  • Topographic map from Topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=39.757944&lon=-94.836541&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100)
  • Aerial photograph from Terraserver (http://terraservice.net/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-94.836541&lat=39.757944&w=750&h=500)

StJoMo! St. Joseph History (http://www.stjomo.com/history1.htm)