Saint Joseph, Missouri
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Saint Joseph is the county seat and largest city in Buchanan County and the sixth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 73,990. The St. Joseph Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Buchanan, Andrew, and DeKalb counties in Missouri and Doniphan County, Kansas, has an estimated population of 122,934 in the year 2003. Saint Joseph is also home to Missouri Western State University.
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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 United States accessible by rail until after the American 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."
Saint Joseph peaked as an expansionist city in 1900, with a census population of 102,979.
In 1997, Saint Joseph was named an "All-America City" by the National Civic League. [1]
Geography
Image:MOMap-doton-Saint Joseph.png
Saint Joseph is located at 39°45'29" North, 94°50'12" West (39.757944, -94.836541)Template:GR, 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 30 miles to the south. The nearest major airport is Kansas City International Airport, which is approximately 35 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 censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 73,990 people, 29,026 households, and 18,460 families residing in the city. The population density was 651.6/km² (1,687.7/mi²). There were 31,752 housing units at an average density of 279.6/km² (724.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 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 were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 29,026 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,663, and the median income for a family was $40,995. Males had a median income of $31,300 versus $21,592 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,445. 13.0% of the population and 9.1% of families were below the poverty line. 15.5% of those under the age of 18 and 9.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Places of interest
Born in St. Joseph
- Walter Cronkite
- Eminem
- Jody Hamilton
- Coleman Hawkins
- Mike Rucker
- Jay Sarno
- Ruth Warrick
- James H. Webb
- Jane Wyman
Media outlets
Television stations
- KQTV, Channel 2, KQ2 (ABC)
- KTAJ, Channel 16, TV16 (TBN)
Radio stations
- KFEQ, 680 AM (News/talk radio)
- KGNM, (Christian radio)
- KKJO, 105.5 FM, K-Jo (Hot AC)
- KSFT, 1550 AM (Oldies)
- KSJQ, 92.7 FM, Q Country (Country)
- KSRD, 91.9 FM (Chrisitan Radio)
See also
External links
Template:Geolinks-US-cityscale
- St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau
- StJoMo! St. Joseph History
- Pony Express National Museum
- Jesse James Home Museum & Patee House Museum (Formerly World's Hotel)
- JoeTownRock.com
- Radio & Television stations from St. Joseph's Chamber of Commerce
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