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Saint Francois County
County
St. Francois County Courthouse in Farmington
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°46′55″N 90°25′20″W / 37.781944444444°N 90.422222222222°W / 37.781944444444; -90.422222222222
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	December 19, 1821
Named for	St. Francis River
Seat	Farmington
Largest city	Farmington
Area
• Total	455 sq mi (1,180 km)
• Land	452 sq mi (1,170 km)
• Water	2.8 sq mi (7 km)  0.6%
Population
• Total	66,922
• Density	150/sq mi (57/km)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	8th
Website	www.sfcgov.org

St. Francois County (/ˈfrænsɪs/ FRAN-siss) is a county in the Lead Belt region in the U.S. state of Missouri. At the 2020 census, the population was 66,922. The largest city and county seat is Farmington. The county was officially organized on December 19, 1821. It was named after the St. Francis River. The origin of the river's name is unclear. It may refer to St. Francis of Assisi. Another possibility is that Jacques Marquette, a Jesuit who explored the region in 1673, named the river for the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier; Marquette had spent some time at the mission of St. François Xavier before his voyage and, as a Jesuit, was unlikely to have given the river a name honoring the Franciscans.

St. Francois County comprises the Farmington Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the St. Louis–St. Charles–Farmington–Illinois Combined Statistical Area.

History

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Seal

A former county seal, used from 2018 to 2022, was posted on the subreddit r/CrappyDesign where it received considerable attention and was covered by local and national news organizations. It was criticized for being "overdone" and "amateurish," though some said they felt it stood out and was "spontaneous."

The 2018 seal was designed during a weekend deadline by county commissioner Harold Gallaher and incorporated components from an older 1982 seal designed by a high school student in needlework. The seal was unanimously approved by the county commission and was used on government signage and vehicles.

The seal featured clip art-style images of a bald eagle atop the American flag, a pickaxe and shovel, a Bible and Christian cross, and an outline of the county. It also featured the phrase "In God we trust" and the founding date of the county.

In response to the attention it received, the county held a contest to redesign the seal. Gallaher requested that the redesign make reference to the parks in the county as well as include elements from the old seal. The county received 264 or 282 entries from 33 counties and 35 states, of which three finalists were chosen. Some included the St. Francois County Courthouse and referenced the county's mining history. The winning design was submitted by Bryan Finch, a graphic designer from Farmington, Missouri, a city in St. Francois County.

Adjacent counties

• Jefferson County (north)
• Ste. Genevieve County (east)
• Perry County (southeast)
• Madison County (south)
• Iron County (southwest)
• Washington County (west)

Major highways

• U.S. Route 67
• Route 8
• Route 32
• Route 47
• Route 221

National protected area

• Mark Twain National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 55,641 people, 20,793 households, and 14,659 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 inhabitants per square mile (48/km). There were 24,449 housing units at an average density of 54 units per square mile (21/km). The racial makeup of the county was 96.14% White, 2.02% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 20,793 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,551, and the median income for a family was $47,923. Males had a median income of $29,961 versus $19,412 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,047. Approximately 14.90% of the population and 11.00% of families were below the poverty line, including 19.80% under the age of 18 and 11.50% over the age of 65.

Religion

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), St. Francois County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in St. Francois County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (45.48%), Roman Catholics (14.94%), and Methodists (8.37%). There is also a small Orthodox Christian presence in the county, an example being Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in Desloge.

Catholic Churches in the county are Immaculate Conception in Park Hills, St. Joseph in Farmington, St. Joseph in Bonne Terre, St. John in Bismarck, and St. Anne in French Village.

2020 Census

Politics

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in St. Francois County. Republicans hold all but two of the county's elected positions.

State

St. Francois County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives.

• District 115 — Currently represented by Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway (R-Festus). It consists of the northern parts of the county, including Blackwell, French Village, and part of Park Hills.

• District 116 — Currently represented by Dale Wright (politician) (R-Farmington). It consists of the southeastern section of the county, including part of Farmington.

• District 117 — Currently represented by Mike Henderson (R-Bonne Terre). It consists of the western parts of the county and includes the communities of Bismarck, Bonne Terre, Desloge, Doe Run, Iron Mountain Lake, Leadington, Leadwood, and parts of Farmington and Park Hills.

All of St. Francois County is a part of Missouri's 3rd District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Elaine Gannon (R-De Soto).

Federal

St. Francois County is included in Missouri's 8th Congressional District and is currently represented by Jason T. Smith (R-Salem) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to finish out the remaining term of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau). Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.

Covid-19 controversy

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the head of the St. Francois County Public Health Department described being driven to resign from her position by residents who refused to "accept the reality of the pandemic" and made “cowardly“ anonymous threats against her and her family.

Education

Of adults 25 years of age and older in St. Francois County, 72.4% possess a high school diploma or higher while 10.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest level of educational attainment.

Public schools

• Bismarck R-V School District – Bismarck
  • Bismarck Elementary School (PK–06)
  • Bismarck High School (07–12)
• Farmington R-VII School District – Farmington
  • Jefferson Elementary School (01–04)
  • Lincoln Intermediate School (05–06)
  • Roosevelt Elementary School (01–04)
  • Truman Learning Center (PK-K)
  • Washington-Franklin Elementary School (01–04)
  • Farmington Middle School (07–08)
  • Farmington High School (09–12)
  • W.L. Johns Administrative Office Building
• North St. Francois County R-I School District – Bonne Terre
  • North St. Francois County Primary School (PK–02) – Bonne Terre
  • North St. Francois County Parkside Elementary School (03–04) – Desloge
  • North St. Francois County Intermediate School (05–06) – Desloge
  • North St. Francois County Middle School (07–08) – Desloge
  • North St. Francois County High School (09–12) – Bonne Terre
• St. Francois County Central R-III School District – Park Hills
  • Park Hills Central Elementary School (K–02)
  • West Elementary School (03–05)
  • Park Hills Central Middle School (06–08)
  • Park Hills Central High School (09–12)
• West St. Francois County R-IV School District – Leadwood
  • West St. Francois County Elementary School (PK–05) – Park Hills
  • West St. Francois County Middle School (06–08) – Leadwood
  • West St. Francois County High School (09–12) – Park Hills

Private schools

• St. Paul Lutheran School – Farmington – (PK–12) – Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
• St. Joseph School – Farmington – (K–08) – Roman Catholic
• St. Joseph Elementary School – Bonne Terre – (PK–06) – Roman Catholic

Vocational-technical and other schools

• Juvenile Detention Center – Farmington – (04–12)
• Midwest Learning Center – Farmington – (04–12)
• Unitec Career Center – Bonne Terre – (10–12)

Colleges and universities

• Mineral Area College – Park Hills – A public, two-year community college.

Public libraries

• Bonne Terre Memorial Library

Farmington Public Library

Communities

Cities

• Bismarck
• Bonne Terre
• Desloge
• Farmington (county seat)
• Iron Mountain Lake
• Leadington
• Leadwood
• Park Hills

Census-designated places

• Doe Run
• Frankclay
• Goose Creek Lake
• Knob Lick
• Lake Timberline
• Terre du Lac
• Wortham

Other unincorporated communities

• Blackwell
• Cross Roads
• De Lassus
• French Village
• Gumbo
• Halifax
• Hamilton Town
• Hazel Run
• Hurryville
• Iron Mountain
• Koester
• Libertyville
• Loughboro
• Mineral City
• Middlebrook
• Mitchell
• Ogborn
• Old Mines
• Rock Springs
• Settletown
• Silver Springs
• Syenite

Former community

• Haggai

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Francois County, Missouri

References

 This article incorporates text from Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, by Robert A. Campbell, a publication from 1874, now in the public domain in the United States.

1. "QuickFacts St. Francois County, Missouri; United States". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Eaton, David Wolfe (1918). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 358.
4. St. Francois County, Missouri Place Names Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Western Historical Manuscript Collection
5. Adler, Eric (January 5, 2022). "Missouri seal was the work of a county commissioner. The internet can't stop laughing". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
6. Amelia Bamsey (January 11, 2022). "This might just be the worst logo we've ever seen". Creative Bloq. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
7. Salcedo, Andrea (January 12, 2022). "A Missouri county's 'cluttered' seal was ridiculed online. It prompted a global search for a replacement". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
8. Jenkins, Kevin (March 19, 2018). "Commission unveils new county seal". Daily Journal Online. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
9. Sullivan, Becky (January 6, 2022). "A Missouri county asks for help designing a new seal after old one turns heads online". NPR. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
10. Marberry, Mark (January 4, 2022). "Commission agrees to county seal redesign, contest". Daily Journal Online. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
11. ^ "Finch Wins County Seal Contest". www.kfmo.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
12. "St. Francois County Seal Finalists". www.kfmo.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
13. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
15. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
16. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
17. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
18. "Parishes - Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary Church". oca.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
19. "Archdiocese of St. Louis – The Roman Catholic Church in Saint Louis, MO". archstl.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
20. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – St. Francois County, Missouri".
21. ^ "November 3, 2020 Official Results".
22. ^ "Election Results".
23. ^ St. Francois County Clerk (2018), Statement of Votes Cast (PDF)
24. "Missouri U.S. House - District 8 Election Results | des Moines Register". The Des Moines Register.
25. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
26. Elliott, Amber, as told to Eli Saslow. ‘This is how we treat each other? This is who we are?' Washington Post, November 18, 2020.
27. Breeding, Marshall. "Bonne Terre Memorial Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.

External links

• Official website
• Digitized 1930 Plat Book of St. Francois County Archived August 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books

v t e Places adjacent to St. Francois County, Missouri
Jefferson County Washington County St. Francois County, Missouri Ste. Genevieve County Iron County Madison County Perry County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Saint Francois County, Missouri, United States
County seat: Farmington
Cities	Bismarck Bonne Terre Desloge Farmington Iron Mountain Lake Leadington Leadwood Park Hills
Townships	Big River Iron Liberty Marion Pendleton Perry Randolph St. Francois
CDPs	Doe Run Frankclay Goose Creek Lake‡ Knob Lick Lake Timberline Terre du Lac‡ Wortham
Other communities	Blackwell Cross Roads De Lassus French Village Gumbo Halifax Hamilton Town Hazel Run Hurryville Iron Mountain Koester Libertyville Loughboro Mineral City Middlebrook‡ Mitchell Ogborn Rock Springs Settletown Silver Springs Syenite
Ghost towns	Haggai Valley Forge
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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