AFTER ROCKY START, CAPE GREW THROUGH MANY ANNEXATIONS

Established as a trading post in 1793 and incorporated in 1808, Cape Girardeau had a labored debut.

Political and legal factions led many settlers to choose to live outside the town, and by 1818, Cape Girardeau had dwindled to two stores and about 50 houses. Neighboring Jackson, on the other hand, had a half-dozen stores and 200 houses in 1818.

It wasn't long, though, until the value of Cape Girardeau's location along the river was recognized, and the town began to grow.

Below is a summary of the growth of the city through annexations.

By 1857, the original city boundaries had expanded west to Henderson Street, north to Normal, and south to Jefferson.

20By the turn of the century, the city had expanded again. Minnesota Street became the western boundary and New Madrid and Amethyst became the alignment for the northern boundary. To the south, the city limits extended roughly to what is now Southern Expressway or old Route 74.

20In 1925, the western borders were pushed to Clark Street, south to Brink then east to Minnesota and south to the city's present southern border. Bertling Street and Country Club Drive became the new northern boundary.

The city expanded again in 1947. It moved north to an alignment with Timon and Hillcrest Lanes, and the western boundary aligned with Masters and the area of Patricia Street. The western boundary for the first time moved west of Arena Park.

In 1958, the city expanded north to Lexington, and west to Mt. Auburn Road and Silver Springs Road.

In 1968, about two years after Interstate 55 was constructed through Cape Girardeau County, the western boundary of the city extended to the east side of the interstate. The northern border also was extended to include the area where the Woodland Hills, San Dangaro and Lake Shore subdivisions are now. The boundary moved northwest to the intersection of I-55 and Highway 61/34, and in the northeast, the boundary extended to include what is now the Cape Girardeau Country Club.

The city also expanded south to align with Old Route 74, which now is the extreme south end of Sprigg Street near its intersection with I-55.

In 1974, a small tract north of Lexington and east of Woodland Hills was added to the city limits, along with the area around Cape Budget Inn, west of I-55.

Voters nixed a massive annexation plan in 1977.

In 1985, the tract north of Lexington was extended further.

20Ib 1989, the city annexed the area of Cape County Park and west of I-55. Also, the airport property was annexed in 1989.

More recent annexations include the site of the Wal-Mart Supercenter, west of I-55 (1991), and the future site of a Lowes Home Center, south of Wal-Mart (1993).

Also this year, the city annexed a small tract of land west of I-55 along Bloomfield Road.