Ste. Genevieve: Missouri's oldest town

Ste. Genevieve's newest trade is tourism and the town is the home to a large variety of antique and specialty shops. A number of bed and breakfasts and hotels provide exceptional lodging for those planning an extended stay. Many of these establishments are located in the National Historic Landmark District. There are many exceptional restaurants in Ste. Genevieve with choices ranging from fine dining to lighter fare.

Just north of town is the Ste.Genevieve-Modoc Ferry which the locals like to call "The French Connection." This ferry, two miles north of the Great River Road Interpretive Center on Main Street, takes vehicles and passengers across the Mississippi River to Randolph County, Ill., where visitors can experience more of French Colonial life at the Pierre Menard Home, Fort Kaskaskia, and Fort de Chartres. Hawn State Park and Pickle Springs Natural Area are located west of town and provide its visitors with unique outdoor experiences.

There are special events held throughout the year and the historic downtown area is the focus of many of these events. The French Heritage Festival in June and Jour de F'te, held every August with French colonial activities and over 600 participating artisans and the French are just two of the events held in Ste. Genevieve that appeal to visitors from all over.

City information

Ste. Genevieve, known as Missouri's most historic town, has a population of 4,463. Revenue comes from a sales tax of 7.225 and a property tax of .7486 per 4100 valuation.

Utilities

New residents can connect to water and sewer at city hall. Citizen Electric provides electrical power and Missouri Natural Gas is the gas supplier.

History

Sainte Genevieve is on the Mississippi River. It was founded by French farmers who moved here from Illinois.

Ever since early fur traders, miners and farmers established what is known to be the first permanent settlement on the west bank of the Mississippi River, Ste. Genevieve has withstood the test of time.

In 1600s, Pere Jacques Marquette descended the Mississippi River to convert the indigenous Indians. In 1703, the Immaculate Conception Church, now on Kaskaskia Island, was founded by Fr. Mariot. The Kaskaskia Indians were "industrious and skillful" farmers, salt processors, hunters and fishers.

Jean Baptiste le Moyne de Bienville from France founded New Orleans c.1718, extending the corridor down the Mississippi River to the Gulf. While 1735 is celebrated as Ste. Genevieve's birth date, the village of Ste. Genevieve was established somewhere between 1722 and 1749.

Settlers moved to higher ground after a 1785 flood destroyed the community, and later grew as a shipping point for lead mined in the area.

The town's first church was built about 1753 directly on the banks of the Mississippi River. It was later moved to higher ground in 1753 due to repeated flooding. This log church was replaced by a stone building about 40 years later. The present Victorian Gothic brick church was constructed in 1876. Foundations of the log and stone churches are still visible in the basement of the brick church. Several prominent citizens are buried beneath the nave of the structure, including Commandant Francois Valle II and his wife and several of the church's early pastors.

Ste. Genevieve holds the distinction of the having the largest concentration of French Colonial buildings in the country. Three of these buildings - the Amoureux, the Bolduc, and the Guibourd-Valle houses - are open to the public. The Felix Valle Home is open to the public and demonstrates the effect of the American influence.

As the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 propelled Ste. Genevieve into another chapter in history, its French-speaking residents suddenly found themselves citizens of the United States. Soon the rush of Americans into the Louisiana Territory left its mark in Ste. Genevieve as well. Merchants, lawyers and entrepreneurs settled in the village, building their homes and businesses among the old French houses, creating the delightful mix of early nineteenth-century architecture found today. German immigrants in the mid-century left a legacy of charming brick homes and stores throughout the community.

Today Ste. Genevieve's National Landmark Historic District offers visitors an unparalleled glimpse into its colonial past. Its residents join together to preserve and interpret this most remarkable community.

City government

Mayor Richard Greminger

police chief Dale Newman

fire chief Mick Schwendt

Aldermen

Tim Kunzel

John Wibbnenmeyer

Darryl Roth

Michael Jokrst

Carl Okenfuss

Tracey Newman

Linda Brumfield

Kevin Pike

---

Quote

On behalf of the Mayor Richard "Dick" Greminger, the Board of Alderman and City Administrator Dick Herbel welcome to Ste. Genevieve. We take great pride in our community and its heritage.

As Missouri's oldest town we celebrate not only the history, but also the unlimited potential for its future. Nestled on the Mississippi River's western bank with access to the river as well as railways and Missouri, U.S. and Interstate highways, our community is moving with expediency into the twenty-first century.

A wealth of natural resources, most prominently limestone, has presented Ste. Genevieve with unlimited potential for growth and prosperity. From the beautiful rolling landscape to the wineries, the historic homes and access to the metropolitan areas our community presents the calm and peacefulness of country living with the amenities of city life.

As the county seat of Ste. Genevieve County our city serves the entire community and we look forward to the opportunity to assist anyone and everyone on making Ste. Genevieve their new home.

~-- John Wibbenmeyer, Alderman