Along the Mississippi River about 115 miles south of St. Louis, the city of Cape Girardeau is home to around 40,000 people but with a culture all its own. There's plenty of outdoor recreation, lively entertainment and a historic downtown, setting apart the town from its eastern Missouri neighbors. “We are a small town, but we have all the amenities of a large city—music and theater—without the traffic or the people,” says Brenda Newbern, the executive director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Blue Diamond Sports Bar is a place to socialize with friends and play a game of pool or darts in Cape Girardeau.
Established in 1733, Cape Girardeau sits along the Mississippi River beginning as a trading post.
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Historic homes and modern subdivisions
The median sale price for a home in Cape Girardeau is $208,250, about half the national median. Homes downtown tend to be older than in other parts of the city, with Craftsman styles, bungalows and cottages lining the streets. “In the historic districts, you have traditional homes, but we also have apartments and new subdivisions with modern styles,” says Newburn. The city's five historic districts often require a level of preservation, and permissions must be granted before significant changes or renovations can be made. Major employers include St. Francis Medical Center, Mercy Hospital Southeast and Procter & Gamble, which operates a paper-products factory on a 1,300-acre site north of town.
The quaint craftsman style homes are common in downtown Cape Girardeau.
Bungalows and small cottages line many streets in Cape Girardeau.
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Threaded with trails and peppered with parks
“Our parks are beautiful, and the trail system is unbelievable,'' Newburn says. "The Shawnee Trail runs the length of the city.” Cape Girardeau is home to 25 parks, spanning over 600 acres and seven scenic trails, including a riverfront walk. “You can bike on it, you can skateboard on it, and there are terraces where you can just sit and watch the barges go by.” Other popular spots include Cape Girardeau County Park South and Trail of Tears State Park, the latter of which is just outside the city in neighboring Jackson. Golfers can book a tee time at Dalhousie Golf Club. Locals can also catch a show at the Show Me Center, Southeast Missouri State University's destination for sporting events and live entertainment. Downtown, the historic Rose Theater puts on plays and musicals.
Families and kids enjoy the playground at Cape Girardeau County Park South.
Trail of Tears State Park stands as a memorial to those Cherokee Native Americans who died on the Cherokee Trail of Tears.
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Dinners in the historic downtown and shopping at The West Park Mall
Though restaurants and shops can be found throughout the city, most are concentrated downtown and along Blues Highway. Downtown, in particular, is known for its restaurants and antique stores, which are clustered together in historic buildings. “The food— oh, my goodness,” says Newburn. “We have every restaurant you can think of in this small town. I think we have something like 77 restaurants— everything from chains to independent, and all types of food.” The West Park Mall, located on the west side of the city, is being renovated and expanded to include new shops.
The West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau offers name brand shopping and a cozy place out of the elements to socialize.
Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant is a popular place for dinner downtown.
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The Cape Girardeau School District
The Cape Girardeau School District serves the city. Scoring a B on Niche, the district maintains five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. Blanchard Elementary School ranks particularly high, earning an A-minus from Niche. At Franklin Elementary, class sizes are relatively small, with an average student-teacher ratio of 8-to-1.
Southeast Missouri State University, a four-year public institution, serves about 7,000 undergraduate students.
Franklin Elementary School is located at 1550 Themis Street.
Cape Girardeau is a college town, home of SEMO, Southeast Missouri University.
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Travel in Cape Girardeau and beyond
Interstate 55, State Route 74 and State Route 177 run through the city, providing a direct route to St. Louis. Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority operates fixed-route bus service and paratransit transportation. Cape Girardeau Regional Airport provides daily flights to Chicago under the federal Essential Air Service program. The St. Louis Lambert International Airport is 130 miles north and offers a broader selection of airlines and destinations.
Climate and Environment
Cape Girardeau experiences a humid subtropical climate, with humid summers and mild winters. Stormwater pollution is a concern, as most of the city’s stormwater ends up in the Mississippi River, which is a major drinking source for the community and surrounding areas. Prevention efforts include Cape Girardeau’s Storm Drain Stenciling Program, which remind residents and business operators that storm drains lead to the river.
Barge traffic can be seen traveling the Mississippi River that serves as the water source for many towns in this areas including Cape Girardeau.
Mild winters in Cape Girardeau allow students a comfortable commute to classes.
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Crime
According to FBI data, the rates of reported violent crime and property crime in Cape Girardeau over the last five years trend higher than the Missouri and national averages.
Written By
Stephanie Davison
Photography Contributed By
Dana Dieckmann
Video By
Victoria York
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GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Cape Girardeau, MO sell after 39 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Cape Girardeau, MO over the last 12 months is $441,500, down 13% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This downtown Cape Girardeau historic gem, built in 1899, and is full of unique character and charm! The home offers a spacious layout with over 4000 square feet of living area featuring 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, two living areas, formal dining, sun room, original hardwood, and so much more! Recent updates include remodeled second floor bathrooms - one including laundry, additional finished
Welcome to this charming ranch-style home offering space, character, and functionality. The large kitchen features an abundance of cabinets and a center island, with a kitchen and dining combo that flows seamlessly onto the wood deck, perfect for entertaining and everyday living. The home showcases original wood floors, adding warmth and timeless appeal. Downstairs, you’ll find an additional
Discover the perfect blend of character and modern comfort in this beautifully remodeled bungalow, ideally situated in Cape’s Historical District, just steps from SEMO and directly across from Capaha Park. Built in 1945, this home showcases charming architectural details while offering thoughtful updates throughout. With 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, plus the unique advantage of 2 living rooms and
Welcome to this incredible opportunity at 1330 N Sprigg St Apt. 8 in Cape Girardeau. Situated on a spacious ±1-acre lot, this property offers exceptional flexibility for both investors and homebuyers. The expansive lot provides ample potential for future development—whether adding another rental unit, creating a small complex, or simply enjoying the extra outdoor space as a private
Welcome to Elmwood Hills, a premier new development offering the perfect balance of peaceful country living with the convenience of being minutes from Cape Girardeau.This thoughtfully designed community features 7 divided lots. Whether youre looking to build your dream home with space to spread out, or invest in a growing area, Elmwood Hills provides the opportunity. Purchase as a whole
The District at Cape near SEMO University is a unique, inclusive community offering the best of the best living in Cape Girardeau. Whether you're a college student, retiree, single professional, or family of four, you'll find the perfect fit with one of our one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans. At The District at Cape, you'll enjoy carefree living at its finest in your new
Check out our fully-furnished apartments in Cape Girardeau. Cape Trails offers spacious two- and four-bedroom apartments complete with high-speed internet and in-unit laundry. Our pet-friendly community has the amenities that make student life easy like a study lounge, a computer center with printing, planned social events, and a resident shuttle. Not to mention, our prime location is situated
Welcome home to Hawks Landing Apartments in Cape Girardeau, MO! Our vibrant community offers multiple floor plan styles, with options for both furnished and unfurnished homes. We can’t wait to show you all of the exciting amenities and features we offer! Indulge in late-night study cookies in our study room after a workout in our fitness center. You can also relax and find some time to unwind in
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
