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St. Joseph, Missouri History |
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Lake Contrary
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The
State of Missouri was organized in 1821 and
Joseph Robidoux established the Blacksnake
Hills trading post with the Indians in 1826.
Robidoux's trading post soon became a fur-trading
empire stretching to the southern Rocky Mountains.
The Platte Purchase joined his land to the
state of Missouri in 1837. Ideally situated,
Robidoux's trading post became the City of
St. Joseph in 1843 and remained relatively
small until the discovery of gold in California
in 1848 which greatly altered and accelerated
westward migration. St. Joseph became the
head water for the journey west  as
hundreds of thousands of settlers arrived
by steamboat and hundreds of wagon trains
lined the streets waiting to be ferried across
the Missouri River. The covered wagons, oxen,
and supplies purchased by the emigrants established
the economic foundation of the City.
Additional growth
commenced in 1859 when the railroad reached
St. Joseph assuring its role as a supply
and distribution point to the entire western
half of the country. St. Joseph's proximity
to the Missouri River and accessibility
by way of river, rail, and land, was to
be the impetus for phenomenal growth throughout
the 19th century. Political tension leading up to the Civil War led to the establishment of the Pony Express in 1860 and 1861, with St. Joseph becoming the eastern terminus. The war years were very difficult, with divided loyalties and violence, but after 1865 recovery was rapid. Principal channels of distribution were established in the 1870's with St. Joseph becoming a leading wholesale center for the building of the West. The 1880's and 1890's were the Golden Age of prosperity, whose mansions and traditions remain a part of the City. In 1886, the Chicago Times reported that "St. Joseph is a modern wonder--a city of 60,000 inhabitants, eleven railroads, 70 passenger trains each day, 170 factories, thirteen miles of the best paved streets, the largest stockyards west of Chicago, a wholesale trade as large as that of Kansas City and Omaha combined..." One count of the U.S. Census had the City's population in 1900 at 102,000.
The City of St. Joseph is the county seat of Buchanan County and the sixth largest city in Missouri with 73,990 residents as of the 2000 Census. St. Joseph is the central service provider for a seven county area of northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas with a combined population of over 155,000. The City's population represents 47.7% of that of the total service area. St. Joseph maintains
an average civilian labor force of 35,357 with approximately 30,501
employed at June 30, 1999. The The City is less reliant today on the prominent industries operating during the late 1800's and early 1900's. The City's job base has become more diversified with the ten largest employers comprising ten different industries. The ten largest companies and organizations employ 26.8% of the total employed work force. The City's largest employer provides 7.13% of total jobs in the community. St. Joseph possesses
a number of assets that can assure the success of the community. St.
Joseph is a unique community famous for its historical link to the
Pony Express and Jesse James and for its many fine museums. These
long-time assets, the more recent opening of the Frontier Casino Riverboat
and related river front development, and the establishment of the
County Tourism Bureau increase the importance of tourism as one of
the City's major new growth industries. St. Joseph is rich in urban
resources including exquisite historic architecture; continuous 26-mile
parkway |
Meat
packing had been active in St. Joseph from
the early days. With the opening of the
St. Joseph Stockyards in 1887 and the opening
of several new packing houses from then
through 1923, St. Joseph became an important
meat packing center becoming one of the
leading sources of revenue of the City and
its surrounding agricultural area. As the
City grew and industries were established,
neighborhoods developed in close proximity
to the factories, stockyards, and railroads.
local
economy has reflected the events of the last few months with the unemployment
rate rising from 2.4% in 2000 to 5.6% in 2001.
system with picturesque landscapes, vast wooded areas, hike and bike
trails, and family oriented parks. St. Joseph's educational opportunities
are many including a four-year state college, a two-year private community
college, and a privately operated post-secondary vocational/technical
school. The City also has a well-regarded public school system and
many fine private and parochial elementary, middle and high schools.
St. Joseph is large enough to sustain its economic base and support
its diverse entertainment. St. Joseph's close proximity to the Kansas
City metropolitan area and Kansas City International Airport, its
relatively low cost of living, and its low crime rate make the City
an attractive location for families and businesses.