Discover the Oldest Town in Missouri

Missouri is a beautiful state in the Midwest, with prairie land in the north and the Ozark Plateau in the south. Missouri gets its name from the Missouri River, which runs east to west through the middle of the state. The Missouri River is the longest river in the United States, beginning in the Rocky Mountains and ending where it meets the Mississippi River in Eastern Missouri. The name Missouri comes from the word ouemessourita, which means “people with wooden canoes” in the Miami-Illinois language.

Missouri has a long and rich history. The oldest town in Missouri is Ste. Genevieve, settled long before Missouri was a U.S. state. According to the City of Ste. Genevieve’s website, the city was settled in the late 1740s. Additionally, the National Park Service states that it was established in the year 1750. This article explores the old town of Ste. Genevieve, including its location, history, and nearby wildlife.

Where is Ste. Genevieve Located on a Map?

Ste. Genevieve, the oldest town in Missouri, is located in Eastern Missouri on the Mississippi River. It is about 46 miles south of St. Louis, Missouri’s second-largest city. The Mississippi River forms the state line between Missouri and Illinois. Since Ste. Genevieve is on the Mississippi River, it is right by the Illinois state line. Ste. Genevieve has a total area of 4.11 square miles.

The original location of Ste. Genevieve is about three miles southeast of the town’s current location. A massive flood in 1785 caused the town to move from its old location to its present location. The town of Ste. Genevieve now sits on higher ground.

Oldest Town in Missouri History

Ste. Genevieve is the oldest town in Missouri, being founded in the late 1740s. Like many of the oldest cities in Missouri, Ste. Genevieve is older than the state of Missouri itself.

Missouri is the 24th state, being admitted to the union in 1821. The present-day land of Missouri is a part of the Louisiana Territory, which was initially claimed by the French in 1682. The French named Louisiana after King Louis XIV. Then, the United States bought the territory from the French First Republic in 1803. This sale is known as the Louisiana Purchase.

However, despite the First French Republic’s claim of the Louisiana Territory, the vast majority of it was still inhabited by Native Americans at that time. When the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory, it was with the understanding that the state would gain control of the Native American land through treaty or conquest.

Ste. Genevieve was settled by French Canadians, who came from French settlements in present-day Canada. After the Louisiana Purchase, many Anglo-Americans and German-Americans moved to Ste. Genevieve. Since its founding, Ste. Genevieve has been an agricultural community. In 2020, the National Park Service established Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park. The park has many historical buildings from Ste. Genevieve’s early colonial time.

Wildlife You’ll Find in Ste. Genevieve

An abundance of wildlife exists near the oldest town in Missouri. There are many parks and nature preserves near the town. Additionally, the Mississippi River is home to many fish and bird species.

Ste. Genevieve is about eight miles west of the Beaver Island Division of the Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. Additionally, it is ten miles south of the Magnolia Hollow Conservation Area. Ste. Genevieve is also about 20 miles northeast of Hawn State Park.

Let’s explore some of the amazing wildlife living near the oldest town in Missouri!

North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

The North American river otter is a semi-aquatic mammal. They spend much of their time in the water but also spend time on land. River otters live in underground burrows, usually near the water’s edge.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

The bald eagle is a large bird of prey that lives in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Bald eagles nest in old-growth trees. They are capable of hunting incredibly large prey. Additionally, their diet includes over 400 species of animals.

Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)

The flathead catfish lives all along the Mississippi River. It is a popular species for fishing and is widely eaten by humans where it is found.

Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)

Common watersnakes are harmless, but they resemble venomous cottonmouth snakes. Unfortunately, many bites occur while humans are attempting to kill these snakes due to mistaking them for cottonmouths. It is important to know how to tell the two apart, and there are a few ways to do so. Additionally, the safest course of action is to not approach snakes in the wild.