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Colonization by first the French and then the Spanish began during the 18th century. In 1789, the Spanish government built El Camino Real (King's Highway), a road linking settlements along the west bank of the Mississippi, which ran north to south through what became Scott County a few miles west of the river (roughly along the future U.S. Route 61). The first permanent settlement was at Tywappity, a fur trading post on the river, in 1788, making it one of the oldest such communities west of the Mississippi; it was eventually renamed [[Commerce, Missouri|Commerce]].

Colonization by first the French and then the Spanish began during the 18th century. In 1789, the Spanish government built El Camino Real (King's Highway), a road linking settlements along the west bank of the Mississippi, which ran north to south through what became Scott County a few miles west of the river (roughly along the future U.S. Route 61). The first permanent settlement was at Tywappity, a fur trading post on the river, in 1788, making it one of the oldest such communities west of the Mississippi; it was eventually renamed [[Commerce, Missouri|Commerce]].

When the Missouri Territory was organized into counties in 1812, the region was included within New Madrid County, but its population was soon large enough for a separate jurisdiction to be created. Scott County was officially organized on December 28, 1821 and named for U.S. Congressman John Scott. Commerce served as the county seat for a time, but this status was eventually transferred to Benton, closer to the geographic center of the county.

When the Missouri Territory was organized into counties in 1812, the region was included within [[New Madrid County, Missouri|New Madrid County]], but its population was soon large enough for a separate jurisdiction to be created. Scott County was officially organized on December 28, 1821 and named for U.S. Congressman John Scott. Commerce served as the county seat for a time, but this status was eventually transferred to Benton, closer to the geographic center of the county.

Like much of Missouri, Scott County suffered severely from [[guerrilla warfare]] during the [[Civil War]], though no major battles were fought within the county. M. Jeff Thompson, a Missouri general who served the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]], had a presence within the county during the early days of the war. After the Civil War, Scott County grew rapidly thanks to the clearing of the swampy lowlands and their conversion to agriculture, and to the extension of railroads throughout the area. Sikeston soon became the most prominent community, thanks to the importance of cotton-growing in the south.  

Like much of Missouri, Scott County suffered severely from [[guerrilla warfare]] during the [[Civil War]], though no major battles were fought within the county. M. Jeff Thompson, a Missouri general who served the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]], had a presence within the county during the early days of the war. After the Civil War, Scott County grew rapidly thanks to the clearing of the swampy lowlands and their conversion to agriculture, and to the extension of railroads throughout the area. Sikeston soon became the most prominent community, thanks to the importance of cotton-growing in the south.  

==Geography==

==Geography==

Scott County lies in southeastern Missouri, just north of the region commonly known as the "Bootheel." It is bordered on the east by the Mississippi River and the state of [[Illinois]], on the south by [[Mississippi County, Missouri|Mississippi]] and New Madrid Counties, on the west by [[Stoddard County, Missouri|Stoddard County]], and on the north by Cape Girardeau County.  

Scott County lies in southeastern Missouri, just north of the region commonly known as the "Bootheel." It is bordered on the east by the Mississippi River and the state of [[Illinois]], on the south by [[Mississippi County, Missouri|Mississippi]] and [[New Madrid County, Missouri|New Madrid]] Counties, on the west by [[Stoddard County, Missouri|Stoddard County]], and on the north by Cape Girardeau County.  

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 426 square miles.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt</ref>

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 426 square miles.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt</ref>