Festus, Missouri

Festus is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. It had a population of 11,602 individuals as of the 2010 census.[7] Festus and its particular neighbor Crystal City are often collectively known as the "Twin Cities".

Festus, Missouri
City
Festus, Missouri
Location of Festus, Missouri
Coordinates: 38°13′10″N 90°24′3″W
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Jefferson
Incorporated	1887
Government [1]
• Type	Mayor–council government
• Mayor	Sam Richards
Area [2]
• Total	5.79 sq mi (14.99 km^2)
• Land	5.79 sq mi (14.99 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	425 ft (130 m)
Population  (2010)[3]
• Total	11,602
• Estimate  (2019)[4]	12,036
• Density	2,079.47/sq mi (802.86/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	63028
Area code(s)	636 Exchanges: 524,933,937
FIPS code	29-24094[5]
GNIS feature ID	0736296[6]
Website	City website

Geography

Festus Balloon Festival

Festus is located at 38°13′10″N 90°24′3″W (38.219490, -90.400936).[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.71 square miles (14.79 km²), all land.[9]

History

Festus was first called Tanglefoot, and under the latter name was platted in 1878.[10] A post office called Festus has been in operation since 1883.[11]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	1,335		—
1900	1,250		−6.4%
1910	2,556		104.5%
1920	3,348		31.0%
1930	4,085		22.0%
1940	4,620		13.1%
1950	5,199		12.5%
1960	7,021		35.0%
1970	7,530		7.2%
1980	7,574		0.6%
1990	8,105		7.0%
2000	9,660		19.2%
2010	11,602		20.1%
Est. 2019	12,036	[4]	3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 11,602 people, 4,636 households, and 3,036 families living in the city. The population density was 2,031.9 inhabitants per square mile (784.5/km²). There were 4,972 housing units at an average density of 870.8 per square mile (336.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White, 3.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2%.[3]

Of the 4,636 households 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.5% were non-families. 28.7% of households were one person and 12.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age was 34.9 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.5% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 9,660 people, 1,000 households, and 2,606 families living in the city. The population density was 2,020.2 people per square mile (780.3/km²). There were 4,040 housing units at an average density of 844.9 per square mile (326.3/km²). 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%.[5]

Of the 3,861 households 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 households were one person and 12.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 5.8% 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% 65 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.

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.

In popular culture

Festus is the home of the alt-country band The Bottle Rockets.[13]

The town is mentioned in the 1974 country song "(We're Not) The Jet Set," in which George Jones and Tammy Wynette sing about road tripping around the Midwestern and Southern part of the United States in a Chevrolet while falling in love.[14]

The Drunken Peasants podcast had a running gag in the form of a feud with Brett Keane, a YouTuber and resident of Festus.[15] The feud involved satirizing aspects of Festus.[15]

Education

Festus R-IV School District operates Festus High School.

St. Pius X High School, Our Lady Catholic School (K-8) and Twin City Christian Academy (K-12) are private institutions.

Festus has a lending library, the Festus Public Library.[16]

News and media

• Jefferson County Leader
• KJFF (1400 AM)

Transportation

• Interstate 55
• U.S. Route 61
• U.S. Route 67
• Festus Memorial Airport

See also

• Music of Missouri

References

1. "Mayor". City of Festus. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
6. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
7. "Festus, Missouri". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
10. "Jefferson County Place Names, 1928–1945 (archived)". The State Historical Society of Missouri. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
11. "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
13. "The Bottle Rockets | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
14. "(We're Not) The Jet Set". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
15. "Drunken Peasants". YouTube. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
16. "Missouri Public Libraries". PublicLibraries.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2019.

External links

• City of Festus
• City-data.com - Festus
• Historic maps of Festus in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri