Cape Girardeau: Progressive regional hub

Cape Girardeau, population 35,833, is growing. Real estate developments are springing up and businesses are moving in and thriving. Both Southeast Missouri Hospital and Saint Francis Medical Center are in the midst of expansion projects.

The city boasts West Park Shopping Mall, featuring Macy's, Barnes & Noble, and other nationally known major outlets. Nearby Park West Centre is the community's newest shopping area, opening with a Talbot's store and growing alongside new restaurants and motels near the Interstate. Businesses along Siemers Drive on the west side continue to move in: Sears Grand, Kohl's, numerous car dealerships, discount chains, a movie theater, specialty stores and restaurants.

Cape Girardeau has an active Chamber of Commerce which houses MAGNET, an industrial recruitment association. John Mehner is president of the chamber (335-3312) and Mitch Robinson heads up the recruitment association (334-5000).

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau is the sales and marketing arm of the city. Located downtown, the bureau's goal is to attract conventions ,meetings, trade shows, group tours, sports and hobby groups, leisure travelers and travel-related media representatives to the city. It also provides tourist information to visitors and residents alike. Chuck Martin is the director (335-1631).

Also working to promote the downtown area of Cape Girardeau is Old Town Cape. Headed by Marla Mills, OTC coordinates and promotes events that bring visitors to enjoy the downtown area, involving locally owned businesses and restaurants.

Mississippi riverboats dock along the downtown riverfront, and passengers stroll and shop in the area.

At Riverfront Park, the inside of the floodwall facing Water Street, are colorful depictions of the history of the area in murals. Called Mississippi River Tales, the murals cover nearly 18,000 square feet and span 1,800 feet of the flood wall.

At the south end of the floodwall is the newly renovated Wall of Fame featuring 45 famous Missourians. Another mural shows the sunrise over the Mississippi on the morning of Lewis and Clark's visit.

Libraries

Cape Girardeau Public Library is located at 711 N. Clark, (573) 334-5279. Library Hours are Monday-Thursday 9 a.m-9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Voter Registration

Missouri does not require that you live in the state any length of time as many states do, so you can register as soon as you move in. You must be at least 171?2 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and will turn 18 by the next election. You will need to have confirming identification, such as a driver's license and you Social Security number.

Registration sites are available at such public agencies as the License Bureau, Department of Social Services, Department of Labor, the County Clerk's Office, and the Cape Girardeau Public Library. You can register at the License Bureau (112 South Spanish) while you are getting new license plates. You may register by mail by obtaining registration forms from one of the above sites or by requesting a form from the County Clerk's Office.

For more information, call the County Clerk's Voter Registration Office at 573-335-9060 or visit them at the Common Please Courthouse Annex, 44 North Lorimier.

Water and Sewer

Water and sewer service is provided by the City of Cape Girardeau. If you recently moved to Cape Girardeau and need to start a new account, visit the Customer Service Office at City Hall, 401 Independence, or call 573-334-1332 for more information.

Trash and Recycling

Curbside trash and recycling pick-ups for residences are provided by the City of Cape Girardeau. If you live in a single-family home or duplex, you will receive two curbside pick-ups each week: one for solid waste and one for recyclables. Apartment complexes and businesses must use commercial trash haulers.

For more information about pick-up days for your residence, visit Public Works online or call the Public Works Department's Solid Waste Division at 573-334-9151.

Electricity and Natural Gas

AmerenUE provides electric and natural gas service to Cape Girardeau. For information on rates and starting a new account, call 800-552-7583.

Telephone

AT & T: To start a new account with AT&T , call (800)203-4040 on Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Big River Telephone: To start a new account with Big River Telephone Company , call 573-651-3373 on Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cable TV

Charter Communications provides cable TV service for Cape Girardeau. To start a new account, call them at 888-871-4485 or visit their office at 623 S. Silver Springs Road, Suite 500.

History

This year Cape Girardeau celebrates its bicentennial. It was plotted and chartered in 1806. Its history goes back even further. Long before Europeans settled here, the area was home to many tribes of American Indians, including the Osage and Shawnee.

Two pioneers were instrumental in the founding of the city: The first was French soldier Jean B. Girardot. Around 1765, Girardot began boating down the river to trade with local Indians near a rock promontory overlooking the river -- known now as cape Rock.

In 1793, French-Canadian trader Louis Lorimier set up a trading post at Cape Rock and was named commandant of the new District of Cape Girardeau.

Two years later he received a land grant of 2,715 acres from the Spanish governor that included the future site of the city, south of his original trading post.

In November of 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark stopped at Lorimier's post on their way to St. Louis on their historic expedition.

Also in 1803, the region became an American possession through the Louisiana Purchase. Lorimier donated four acres for establishing a seat of justice. In 1806 the city was plotted and incorporated into a town in 1808. By 1835 Cape Girardeau had become a river boom town with the busiest port between St. Louis and Memphis.

Gen. U.S. Grant was stationed in Cape Girardeau for a short time during the Cvil War.

In 1873, the Southeast Missouri Normal School was established to prepare students for teaching careers. It grew to become Southeast Missouri State University.

The Cape Girardeau commercial club as formed in 1888, and recruited the Frisco railroad to open a line. That led to the city's first major em employer, the International Shoe Co., of St. Louis.

The cap Girardeau Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1917, making it the second oldest chamber of commerce in the state.

Today the area has more than 150 industries employing more than 10,000 workers. Retail sales exceed $800 million and more than 27,000 people are employed.

Cape Girardeau is known as the River City and the City of Roses.

City officials

Mayor Jay B. Knudtson

City Manager Douglas K. Leslie

Aldermen

Ward 1 John Voss

Ward 2 Charles J. Herbst

Ward 3 Debra A. Tracy

Ward 4 Dr. Loretta Schneider

Ward 5 Matthew Hopkins

Ward 6 Marcia K. Ritter, mayor pro tempore.

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Quotes

Cape Girardeau is a progressive city that rests on the shores of the mighty Mississippi River. We are home to Southeast Missouri State University, superb medical facilities, diverse and stable industry and a retail and restaurant base that draws people from all over the region to our city. Although our stated population may reflect 36,000 people, on any given day we will have over 100,000 people that are shopping, working, eating and living in our city. All this excitement and activity clearly establishes Cape Girardeau as a regional hub, nestled midway between St. Louis and Memphis.

But, without a doubt, it is our citizens that make Cape Girardeau so special! Our citizens are constantly focused on exploring new and better ways to improve our community, while remaining committed to the roots that have defined and shaped our great city. Our citizens are committed to their religion, families, employers, friends, and their community. A Cape Girardeau citizen is somebody that may greet a visitor with a firm handshake or gentle wave -- but without exception, you will be greeted to a great big Heartland smile that says, "Welcome to Cape Girardeau, where the river turns a thousand tales!"  

~ -- Jay Knudtson, Mayor

"Not only is Cape Girardeau a beautiful city, we have the benefits of the university and the town is big enough to allow its citizens a lot of opportunity that some smaller towns don't offer. And the people are great. The people are wonderful."

~-- Susan McClanahan