Festus, Missouri

Festus, Missouri
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Settled	1878
Population	11,602 (2010 census)
Area (sq mi)	5.71 mi²
Current mayor	Sam Richards

Festus is a city in eastern Jefferson County, Missouri, about 30 miles south of St. Louis. It is the second-largest city in the county, with a population of 11,602 at the 2010 census.

History[edit]

Festus had its origins as an outgrowth from the older (and now smaller) Crystal City just to the east. Following the establishment of a large glass-making factory at Crystal City shortly after the Civil War, a local notable, W.J. Adams, laid out the first lots of a new town, which for unknown reasons was first known as "Derby City." It grew rapidly during the 1880s, partly because Crystal City, being at that time a "company town," did not allow the private sale of lots to residents, leading many to choose to live in the new community to the west instead. Another factor was that the owners in Crystal City did not allow liquor in town; the result was a thriving business in "Derby City," as taverns and saloons appeared to serve the factory workers and other locals.^[1] For this reason, the town eventually bore the name "Tanglefoot" instead (it being remarked that the intoxicated customers would get their feet tangled in the brush as they returned home).^[2] The inhabitants resented the new name as too vulgar, though, and after several years they sought a new name. It is not clear how the name "Festus" was chosen; the most common story is that James Waggener, brother of the first postmaster, decided to open the Bible and choose the first name he saw. This was Festus, the Roman governor of Caesarea who heard accusations against the apostle Paul in Acts 25.^[3]

Incorporated in 1887, Festus grew rapidly due to the activity in neighboring Crystal City; it also possessed better railroad connections and soon included commercial operations of its own, including a flouring mill and several banks. By 1910, its population already stood at just over 2,500, and this steadily increased over the ensuing decades.^[4] Being situated in the southern part of Jefferson County, the city was initially less affected by the wave of suburbanization from St. Louis in the mid-20th century, and the eventual closure of the glass factory at Crystal City caused its growth to stall for a time. Beginning in the 1990s, however, the continuing suburban spread led to a renewed increase in its population, and it now has close to 12,000 inhabitants.

Geography[edit]

Festus is located in the eastern part of Jefferson County, along Interstate 55 and U.S. Routes 61-67 (the latter of which forms part of its eastern boundary). It is directly adjacent to Herculaneum to the north and Crystal City to the east; the two cities have been so closely intermingled throughout their existence that they are often referred to as the "Twin Cities." Being the first partially-urbanized area encountered by northbound travelers in Jefferson County, the Festus-Crystal City area in a sense marks the southern limit of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Festus' exact coordinates are 38°13’10”N 90°24’03”W.

The city lies in gently rolling terrain, between Joachim Creek to the northwest and Plattin Creek to the southeast. The original core of the community is situated slightly to the northeast, immediately west of Crystal City, with most of the newest development occurring west of I-55. Festus has a total area of 5.71 square miles, and an average elevation of 433 feet.^[5]

Weather and Climate[edit]

Like most of the southern half of Missouri, Festus has a humid subtropical climate, mixed with some aspects of a humid continental climate. Summers are hot and winters cool to cold, with a moderately high amount of precipitation throughout the year. January temperatures average 32°F, while July temperatures average 78°F. Summer highs above 100°F and winter lows below 0°F are fairly rare, but not unknown. The highest recorded temperature was 110°F on July 15 and 16, 1980, while the record low was -27°F on January 17, 1977. Average annual precipitation is 43.57 inches, including some 9 inches of snow; the record for one-day precipitation was 6.20 inches, on September 8, 2018.^[6]

Month	Average High (°F)	Average Low (°F)	Average Precipitation (in)
January	41.0	22.3	2.68
February	46.3	25.3	2.51
March	56.3	33.6	4.00
April	67.8	43.8	4.91
May	76.2	53.8	4.76
June	84.6	62.6	4.74
July	88.4	67.2	3.83
August	87.2	65.4	3.59
September	80.6	57.1	3.38
October	69.6	45.5	2.83
November	56.0	35.1	3.54
December	45.1	26.5	2.80
Annual	66.6	44.9	43.57

Demographics[edit]

At the 2010 census, Festus had a total of 11,602 inhabitants, grouped into 4,636 households, with a population density of 2,031.9 people per square mile. This figure represented a significant increase from the 2000 census, when Festus had a population of 9,660. 93.46% of the inhabitants were White, 3.35% were African-American, 0.22% were Native American, 0.80% were Asian, 0.04% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.19% were from some other race, and 1.94% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 1.22% of the population.

The median age in Festus was 34.9 years, with 26.8% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 8.1% between 18 and 24 years old, 27.7% between 25 and 44, 23.5% between 45 and 64, and 13.9% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 48.3% male, 51.7% female.^[7]

According to the 2018 American Community Survey, Festus had a median household income of $52,081, and a median family income of $59,847. The unemployment rate was 8.8%. The per capita income was $26,055. About 9.4% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 14.7% of people under the age of 18 and 4.4% of people 65 years old or older.^[8]

Government[edit]

Festus has a mayor-council form of government, consisting of a mayor elected for a four-year term, city council members elected for two-year terms (two from each of the four wards), and a city treasurer elected for a two-year term. There is also a city administrator, appointed by the mayor and the city council. The current mayor of Festus is Sam Richards, elected in April 2019.^[9]

Economy[edit]

The Festus area historically has a fairly diverse economy; until recent decades, much of its workforce was employed in the industrial sector, whereas today the service economy is more dominant, especially with the proliferation of businesses along Interstate 55. Education, health care, manufacturing, and retail trade between them employ a majority of the local population.^[10] Truman Boulevard (U.S. Routes 61-67) and I-55 are the two main focal points for local businesses, with major chain enterprises including Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Home Depot, and Holiday Inn. Downtown Main Street also boasts a variety of local restaurants and specialty shops.

Education[edit]

Public Schools[edit]

The entire city is served by the Festus R-VI School District, which also encompasses some unincorporated territory to the west. Organized in 1949, it is a K-12 school with a total enrollment of about 3,000 students, grouped into four divisions: Festus Elementary (K-03), Festus Intermediate (04-06), Festus Middle (07-08), and Festus Senior High (09-12).^[11] Its mascot is the Tigers, and the school colors are black and gold.^[12] The high school has received high marks in recent years for its students' proficiency in math and reading skills, and in 2017, its rocketry club won first place in an international competition.^[13]

Private Schools[edit]

The Roman Catholic Church operates three schools in the city: Our Lady and Sacred Heart Catholic Schools, both serving grades K-08, and St. Pius X High School, serving grades 9-12. The only Catholic high school in Jefferson County, St. Pius X, founded in 1959, has an enrollment of about 300 students and has a rigorous academic program, including dual enrollment courses with Saint Louis University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Its mascot is the Lancers, and the school colors are blue and gold. The school's website includes an emphasis on "Christian ethical principles of living" and "the development of the total Christian person."^[14]

Twin City Christian Academy, located along the west side of I-55, was founded by the Baptist Church in 1974 and currently has a total enrollment of around 110 students in grades K-12. Adhering to an educational program in harmony with the Bible, the school has gained attention in recent years for its shipment of boxed meals to those in impoverished areas.^[15]

Community Life[edit]

The city maintains six different parks, covering a total of 218 acres. The largest, Larry G. Crites Memorial Park, is located along Joachim Creek in the northwest, and includes an event stage, a sports complex, and a bicycle trail, as well as a small lake.^[16]

A number of local festivals and celebrations are held throughout the year, the most famous of which is the Jefferson County Balloon Festival, an air show typically held each October with airplane and helicopter rides, in addition to music and arts and crafts.^[17] Festus also hosts a series of kickball games at Crites Park every autumn.

Media[edit]

Festus has no television stations; being part of the St. Louis media market, it receives all broadcast networks from there. There is one radio station, KJFF (1400 AM), a local Class C station with a news-talk format.

The city is also home to the Jefferson County Leader, an online newspaper providing regional coverage, which launched in 1994.

References[edit]