Area Information

Welcome to St. Joseph   |  History   |  Location and Transportation
Homes and Neighborhoods   |  Business, Industry and Commerce
Economic Growth and Development |  Education   |  Government
Health Care   |  Recreation, Tourism and Culture  
 

Welcome to St. Joseph

Good business. Better life. St. Joseph has long benefited from the best of both worlds. With a city population of 76,000, and 140,000 residents within a 25-mile radius, the friendly, small-town atmosphere provides a world-class quality of life. The below-average cost of living coincides with exemplary health care facilities, high-quality educational institutions, and low crime rates.

Recreational opportunities abound with historical and art museums, unique architecture and cultural events. St. Joseph’s 26-mile parkway system spans from north to south and features a galaxy of public parks and recreational facilities. The developing riverfront provides a scenic walkway system winding past a reconstructed frontier settlement.

With four distinct seasons and an average temperature of 78 degrees F in summer and 25 degrees F in winter, the fun lasts year-round. From a casino to symphony concerts to award-winning festivals, there’s always something happening in St. Joseph.

Come discover St. Joseph!

History

Settled in 1826 by Joseph Robidoux as a trading post on the Missouri River, St. Joseph enjoys a rich and vivid history

Robidoux’s trading post soon became a fur-trading empire stretching to the southern Rocky Mountains. The Platte Purchase joined his land to the State of Missouri in 1837. The city was incorporated in 1843 by Robidoux, and named St. Joseph after his patron saint.

The city remained relatively small until the discovery of gold in California in 1848, when St. Joseph served as a jumping off spot for the Gold Rush and wagon trains filled with westward pioneers. Hotels and businesses were opened to accommodate the new families and travelers. The community’s merchants, craftsmen, saddle- and harness-makers, gunsmiths, and meat packers supplied thousands of the ‘49ers seeking fortune out west. The supplies purchased by the emigrants established the economic foundation of the city.

Growth accelerated in 1859 when the railroad reached St. Joseph, assuring its role as a supply and distribution point to the entire western half of the country. St. Joseph’s proximity to the Missouri River and accessibility by way of river, rail and land was the impetus for phenomenal growth throughout the 19th-century.

April 3, 1860 marks the beginning of St. Joseph’s most romantic adventure. It was the day the City of St. Joseph became embedded in history books – the day when the Pony Express sent its first daring horseback rider to Sacramento, California, carrying mail to the western frontier. Although the Pony Express operated for only 18 months, preservation of the stables and headquarters has kept the legend alive to this day.

Principal channels of distribution were established in the 1870s with St. Joseph becoming a leading wholesale center for the building of the west. The 1880s and 1890s were the golden age of prosperity, whose mansions and traditions remain a part of the city.

St. Joseph is also the town where outlaw Jesse James met his demise. The small frame home where he was shot by a gang member in 1882 still stands to mark the end of the notorious bank and train robber.

The City of St. Joseph is the county seat of Buchanan County, and today is the sixth-largest city in Missouri. St. Joseph is the central service provider for a six-county area of Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas, with a combined population of more than 150,000.

Location and Transportation

St. Joseph is located right in the heart of America. In fact, the community is more than 200 miles from the population center of the United States. The strategic location and transportation system provides for efficient access to customers and suppliers across the country.

Interstate 29, a major north-south interstate highway, runs through St. Joseph, providing a corridor from Canada to Mexico. Northern Missouri’s primary east-west thoroughfare, U.S. Highway 36, intersects with Interstate 29 in St. Joseph.

Just 35 minutes south of St. Joseph via I-29, Kansas City International (KCI) Airport is a full-service, international airport served by every major U.S. passenger and all-cargo carriers. Over 275 flights arrive and depart daily from KCI, and airfares are among the lowest in the nation.

Rosecrans Memorial Airport serves St. Joseph’s civilian and military needs. Located three miles northwest of St. Joseph, the airport boasts two fully ILS-equipped runways and provides capacity for any size aircraft. Express Flight, Inc. is the fixed-base operator at Rosecrans. It offers aircraft charter, rental, instruction and fuel services.

The Missouri River, part of the nation’s inland waterway system, is St. Joseph’s gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. The city’s location on the river gives area businesses the affordable option of transporting via river barge. The Port of St. Joseph is a newly constructed intermodal port owned by the St. Joseph Regional Port Authority and operated by Kinder-Morgan Terminals. The port is conveniently located at the foot of the U.S. Highway 36 Bridge into Kansas, with easy access to interstates 29 and 35 serving Northwest Missouri. It offers full intermodal capabilities between barge, rail and truck. In addition to cargo transfer, the port can provide direct delivery of materials or outside storage for wire and other products.

The St. Joseph area is served by the Union Pacific Railway and the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railway. These railroads provide direct access to all parts of North America.

Homes and Neighborhoods

You can walk alone at night in a community where neighbors relax on front porches and children play in their yards. St. Joseph features the amenities of a larger community delivered with small-town hospitality. The greenery and safety are a welcome change for new families. The police are a part of the fabric of our neighborhoods. This has contributed to very low rates of violent crime.

When you purchase a home in St. Joseph, you can feel confident that you are making a good investment decision. Housing is attractively priced, providing a broad array of comfortable and affordable alternatives. Modest taxes and some of the nation’s lowest utility rates mean St. Joseph citizens can enjoy the amenities that contribute to a comfortable Midwestern lifestyle.

Downtown living. Uptown style. Currently St. Joseph is in the midst of a downtown revitalization. Many properties are available for lease or purchase, including several new loft apartments and single family residences.

While St. Joseph is traditionally known for older, established neighborhoods and architecturally significant property, an abundance of new development has occurred in the past several years. Apartments, condominiums and retirement complexes are also plentiful and available for any size budget. The median housing price in St. Joseph is $89,900 and the median gross rent is $482. Whether you’re looking for a turn-of the-century Victorian, a home of more modern design, loft apartment or assisted living, St. Joseph is the place for you.