Cape Girardeau County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri; its eastern border is formed by the Mississippi River. At the 2020 census, the population was 81,710. The county seat is Jackson, the first city in the US to be named in honor of President Andrew Jackson. Officially organized on October 1, 1812, the county is named after Ensign Sieur Jean Baptiste de Girardot, an official of the French colonial years. The "cape" in the county's name is named after a former promontory rock overlooking the Mississippi River; this feature was demolished during railroad construction. Cape Girardeau County is the hub of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson metropolitan area. Its largest city is Cape Girardeau.

History Cape Girardeau County was organized on October 1, 1812, as one of five original counties in the Missouri Territory after the US made the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. It is named after Ensign Sieur Jean Baptiste de Girardot (also spelled Girardeau or Girardat), a French officer stationed 1704–1720 at Kaskaskia in the Illinois Country of New France. In 1733 he founded a trading post on the Mississippi River, which developed as the present-day city of Cape Girardeau. The "cape" in the county name was a rock promontory overlooking the Mississippi River; the original cape rock was destroyed by railroad construction.

Jackson, Missouri is the county seat. The first Cape Girardeau County Courthouse was constructed in 1818 by John Davis. This courthouse burned in 1870. The present courthouse in Jackson was completed in 1908 and was designed by P.H. Weathers.

The county is the site of one of the oldest cold cases in the state of Missouri. Bonnie Huffman, a 20-year-old schoolteacher, was found murdered in a ditch just outside Delta on July 2, 1954. Her case was never solved.

Cape Girardeau is referenced in Dave Van Ronk's song "Hang Me, Oh Hang Me," which has found a place in the folk canon since its release in 1962. The song was featured prominently in the 2013 film Inside Llewyn Davis. In the second verse, the singer refers to having "been all around Cape Girardeau and parts of Arkansas...poor boy, I've been all around this world."

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.3%) is water.

The geography of Cape Girardeau County varies greatly. The areas around the towns of Delta and Dutchtown are flood plains, which were cultivated as cotton plantations. Western and northern areas are hilly and forested.

Adjacent counties Perry County (northwest) Union County, Illinois (northeast across the river) Alexander County, Illinois (east across the Mississippi River) Scott County (southeast) Stoddard County (south) Bollinger County (west)

Major highways Interstate 55 U.S. Route 61 Route 25 Route 34 Route 72 Route 74

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 81,710. The median age was 37.4 years. 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.2 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 83.1% White, 8.0% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 5.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.7% of the population.

+Cape Girardeau County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)56,01457,76162,92666,53267,39395.20%93.72%91.60%87.92%82.48%Black or African American alone (NH)2,2232,9793,6075,2906,4593.78%4.83%5.25%6.99%7.90%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)78922341711700.13%0.15%0.34%0.23%0.21%Asian alone (NH)1854675118871,3000.31%0.76%0.74%1.17%1.59%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census181914xx0.03%0.03%0.02%Other race alone (NH)392160612020.07%0.03%0.09%0.08%0.25%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census7131,2383,938xx1.04%1.64%4.82%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2983136241,4762,2340.51%0.51%0.91%1.95%2.73%Total58,83761,63368,69375,67481,710 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

67.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 32.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 32,544 households in the county, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 35,696 housing units, of which 8.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.8% were owner-occupied and 36.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 68,693 people, 26,980 households, and 17,941 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 29,434 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 92.13% White, 5.28% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Approximately 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 26,980 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 13.40% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,862, and the median income for a family was $58,037. Males had a median income of $32,371 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,303. About 6.70% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

Religion According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2010), Cape Girardeau County is part of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the most predominant religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Cape Girardeau County who adhere to a religion are Roman Catholics (19.19%), Assemblies of God (19.13%), and Lutherans (LCMS) (16.58%). Education Of adults 25 years of age and older in Cape Girardeau County, 81.1% possess a high school diploma or higher while 24.2% hold a bachelor's degree as their highest educational attainment.

School districts including sections of the county, no matter how slight, even if the relevant schools and/or administration buildings in another county: - Text list

Advance R-IV School District Cape Girardeau 63 School District Delta R-V School District Jackson R-II School District Meadow Heights R-II School District Oak Ridge R-VI School District Nell Holcomb R-IV School District (elementary only)

Public schools Delta R-V School District—Delta Delta Elementary School (K–6) Delta High School (7–12) Oak Ridge R-VI School District—Oak Ridge Oak Ridge Elementary School (K–6) Oak Ridge High School (7–12) Nell Holcomb R-IV School District—Egypt Mills Nell Holcomb Elementary School (K–8) Jackson R-II School District—Jackson Gordonville Attendance Center (K–3)—Gordonville Millersville Attendance Center (K–3)—Millersville North Elementary School (K–4) Orchard Drive Elementary School (K–4) South Elementary School (PK–5) West Lane Elementary School (K–4) East Elementary School (PK-4) Jackson Middle School (5-6) Russell Hawkins Jr. High School (7-9) Jackson High School (9–12) Cape Girardeau Public Schools No. 63—Cape Girardeau Alma Schrader Elementary School (K–4) Blanchard Elementary School (K–4) Clippard Elementary School (K–4) Franklin Elementary School (K–4) Jefferson Elementary School (K–4) Cape Central Middle School (5–6) Cape Central Jr. High School (7–8) Cape Central High School (9–12) Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center (10–12)

Private schools Cape Christian School (K–8)—Cape Girardeau; Assembly of God/Pentecostal St. Mary Cathedral School (K–8)—Cape Girardeau; Roman Catholic St. Vincent De Paul Elementary School (K–8)—Cape Girardeau; Roman Catholic Trinity Lutheran School (PK–8)—Cape Girardeau; Lutheran Immaculate Conception School (PK–8)—Jackson; Roman Catholic St. Paul Lutheran School (PK–8)—Jackson; Lutheran Eagle Ridge Christian School (PK–12)—Cape Girardeau; Non-denominational Christian Notre Dame Regional High School (9–12)—Cape Girardeau; Roman Catholic Saxony Lutheran High School (9–12)—Jackson/Fruitland; Lutheran

Post-secondary education Metro Business College—Cape Girardeau (Permanently Closed) Southeast Missouri State University—Cape Girardeau

Since 2022, Mineral Area College's service area includes Cape Girardeau County.

Public libraries Cape Girardeau Public Library Riverside Regional Library

Communities

Cities Cape Girardeau (small part in Scott County) Delta Jackson (county seat) Scott City (mostly in Scott County)

Villages

Allenville Dutchtown Gordonville Oak Ridge Old Appleton Pocahontas Whitewater

Census-designated place

Burfordville Millersville New Wells Shawneetown

Unincorporated communities

Arbor Arnsberg Bainbridge Blomeyer Crump Daisy Dissen Egypt Mills Friedheim Fruitland Gravel Hill Hickory Ridge Hilderbrand Hines Landing Houck Kurreville Leemon Moccasin Springs Neely's Landing Oriole Randles Rum Branch Tilsit

Notable people Jacob M. Appel, novelist William F. Barnes, former head football coach for UCLA Leon Brinkopf, former professional baseball player Joseph Cable, a Medal of Honor recipient during the American Indian Wars Shirley Crites, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Dale Dye, Actor and retired U.S. Marine A.J. Ellis, former Major League Baseball catcher John Thomson Faris, clergyman Gary Friedrich, writer of the comic book Ghost Rider Linda M. Godwin, NASA astronaut and scientist Chic Hecht, U.S. Senator from Nevada (1983-1989) and Ambassador to the Bahamas (1989-1993) Edwin C. Horrell, American football player and coach Andrew Conway Ivy, President of the American Physiological Society (1939–1941) Terry Jones, fundamentalist pastor of Dove World Outreach Center Peter Kinder, 46th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri (2005–2017) Richard Kinder, businessman and co-founder and executive chairman of Kinder Morgan, Inc. The Limbaugh family, including political commentators, brothers David and Rush Limbaugh Mark Littell, Former professional baseball pitcher Fred Henry McGuire, Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the Philippine–American War Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver, "the Betsy Ross of Missouri," designer and creator of the Missouri State Flag Stephanie O'Sullivan, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Susan Beth Scott, 2008 and 2012 U.S. Paralympic Medalist Swimmer John Locke Scripps, journalist and biographer Tony Spinner, guitarist and singer Jess Stacy, jazz pianist William S. Stone, former Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy Billy Swan, singer of #1 hit song "I Can Help" in 1974