Cape Girardeau

Quick Facts: Who was Cape Girardeau?

Subject:

Cape Girardeau

Known for:

Missouri city named for Jean Baptiste de Girardot, an economic hub of SE Missouri.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Cape Girardeau ( jirr-AR-doh, French: Cap-Girardeau [kap ʒiʁaʁdo] ; colloquially referred to as "Cape") is a city in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 39,540 at the 2020 census, making it the 17th-largest city in the state. It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson metropolitan area with 97,517 residents. Cape Girardeau is the economic center of southeastern Missouri and the home of Southeast Missouri State University.

Career & Major Achievements

It is located approximately 100 miles (160 km) southeast of St. Louis and 150 miles (240 km) north of Memphis, Tennessee. The city is named after Jean Baptiste de Girardot, who established a temporary trading post in the area around 1733. He was a French soldier stationed at Kaskaskia between 1704 and 1720 in the French colony of La Louisiane.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The "Cape" in the city name referred to a rock promontory overlooking the Mississippi River; it was later destroyed by railroad construction. As early as 1765, a bend in the Mississippi River, about 60 miles (97 km) south of the French village of Ste. Genevieve, had been referred to as Cape Girardot or Girardeau (both pronounced the same in French).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1704: 1704 Milestone — He was a French soldier stationed at Kaskaskia between 1704 and 1720 in the French colony of La Louisiane.
2. 1733: 1733 Milestone — The city is named after Jean Baptiste de Girardot, who established a temporary trading post in the area around 1733.
3. 1765: 1765 Milestone — As early as 1765, a bend in the Mississippi River, about 60 miles (97 km) south of the French village of Ste.
4. 2020: 2020 Milestone — The population was 39,540 at the 2020 census, making it the 17th-largest city in the state.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Cape Girardeau

True or False: “True or False: The original 'Cape' in the city name was a permanent, natural rock formation that remains visible today.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): False. The original 'Cape' was a rock promontory that was later destroyed by railroad construction, meaning it is no longer visible.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Parker — Historical peer (Died in 2020) (2020): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Albert Uderzo — Historical peer (Died in 2020) (2020): Pioneering French comic artist, co-creator of the iconic Astérix series.
• Anne Bonny — Historical peer (Died in 1733) (1733): Iconic Irish pirate of the Golden Age, known for her daring service under John Rackham.
• Augustus II the Strong — Historical peer (Died in 1733) (1733): Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, known for his strong physique and patronage of the arts.
• Guillaume de l'Hôpital — Historical peer (Died in 1704) (1704): Pioneering French mathematician, known for l'Hôpital's rule and differential calculus.
• Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber — Historical peer (Died in 1704) (1704): Master Baroque composer and violinist, renowned for his technical brilliance.
• Carlo Gozzi — Historical peer (Born in 1720) (1720): Influential Venetian playwright and staunch defender of Commedia dell'arte.
• Charles Edward Stuart — Historical peer (Born in 1720) (1720): The Young Pretender, claimant to the British thrones, leader of the Jacobite Rising of 1745.
• Eli Whitney — Historical peer (Born in 1765) (1765): American inventor best known for the cotton gin, shaping the Antebellum South's economy.
• Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor — Historical peer (Died in 1765) (1765): Last non-Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor; founder of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cape Girardeau