About Cape Girardeau County
Cape
Girardeau County was organized on October 1, 1812 and was named after
Ensign Jean Girardot, a French Officer, who developed a trading post
on the site of the present city of Cape Girardeau. The County Seat is
in Jackson, Missouri, which was the first city named in honor of
President Andrew Jackson (Old Hickory).
The first County Courthouse was built in 1818 by John Davis. The present courthouse in Jackson (at right), was completed in 1908 and designed by P. H. Weathers.
In
1987, the new County Administration Building (at left)
located at 1 Barton Square in Jackson was opened and houses most
From its vantage point overlooking the
Mississippi River, the Common Pleas Courthouse (at right)
has been a seat of justice since its construction in 1854. During the
Civil War, Confederate soldiers were jailed in its dungeon
Cape Girardeau County is a first class County with an assessed valuation of $713,989,274 in 2001 and ad population of 68,693 (US Census - 2000). There are 576 square miles of territory in Cape County and 510.2 miles of county roads crossing that area.
Eighteen elected officials and six department heads administer the day to day functions of County Government. Cape County is divided into two State Representative Districts and on Senatorial District, and is part of the 8th US Congressional District.
Cape Girardeau County is rich in history and tradition. Please stop by our "Links" page for more information.