Festus, Missouri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Festus is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 22,944 at the 2006 census.

Festus and its neighbor, Crystal City, Missouri, are often collectively known as the "Twin Cities"; however, they are incorporated separately.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Demographics
4 External link
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Festus is located at 38°13′10″N, 90°24′3″W (38.219490, -90.400936)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.4 km² (4.8 mi²), all land.

[edit] History

The first settler in the area was Charley Conners, who built a log cabin here in 1803.

The city was organized in 1887.

The town began life as an area where glass factory workers from Crystal City, Missouri could drink in saloons. The factory owners forbade the sale or consumption of liquor within their city limits, and so the town of Limitville was founded just to the west. Later it was called Tanglefoot in honor of the behavior exhibited by patrons of its principal establishments. Wanting a more dignified name, community leaders are said to have opened a Bible and named the town after the first proper name they came across -- the priest Porcius Festus mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 9,660 people, 3,861 households, and 2,606 families residing in the city. The population density was 780.3/km² (2,020.2/mi²). There were 4,040 housing units at an average density of 326.3/km² (844.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.66% White, 3.93% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.

There were 3,861 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,687, and the median income for a family was $46,940. Males had a median income of $36,159 versus $25,108 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,035. About 7.0% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.