The city of Jackson is the seat of Cape Girardeau County. This lovely city of almost 12,000 residents lies approximately 100 miles south of dynamic St. Louis, Missouri’s premier metropolis. Jackson claims the oldest protestant church west of the Mississippi, a National Methodist shrine known as the Old McKendree Chapel . Also found here is the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railway, with a steam-powered tourist train that provides dinner trips through the amazing Missouri countryside.

Another special tourist treat is the Bollinger Mill and Covered Bridge, whose construction began before the Civil War. Outside of Jackson lies the Trail of Tears State Park. This land commemorates the many Cherokee Indians who passed through Missouri when forced to relocate from their Native homelands, and the many that perished along the way.

The city of Cape Girardeau excels as the county’s premier urban location. It serves as the medical, educational, commercial and retail hub for ten counties in the surrounding area. Cape Girardeau is the largest city between St. Louis, MO and Memphis, TN. Proud home of the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and other distribution modalities, the city provides transportation services to more than 500,000 people. The airport is the only all-weather airfield along the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Memphis, with direct access to I-55.

The Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority lies four miles from the Cape Girardeau Airport, opening directly onto the Mississippi River shipping lines. This remains the most northerly situated, ice-free, year-round port along the river, making Cape Girardeau a vital distribution center. Three rail systems complete the easy transport opportunities located here.

Census 2000 reported Cape Girardeau County’s population as 68,693. The city itself contains more than half of the population, with over 35,000 residents. As a premier business location, Cape Girardeau holds more than 160 industrial firms. Some major employers include Proctor & Gamble, Biokyowa, Nordenia, USA and Thorngate, Ltd. Within Cape Girardeau County, numerous industrial parks await incoming businesses. The generous tax incentives and enterprise zone benefits offered by the Cape Girardeau Economic Development Association create a dynamic business atmosphere.

Citizens of Cape Girardeau County, MO reap the benefits of a cost of living well below the national norm. Low personal income taxes and low housing costs allow their earnings to stretch farther. The median family income was over $47,000, (Census 2000 info). Housing options range from historic and elegant riverfront homes to brand new modern construction. Cape Girardeau County boasts two state-of-the-art hospitals, the Saint Francis Medical Center and the Southeast Missouri Hospital. Education remains a top priority here, and Cape Girardeau County schools, from elementary levels through high school, consistently rank as some of the best in Missouri. The Southeast Missouri State University and the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center provide top-notch higher education.