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The first European contact came with a Spanish expedition under [[Hernando de Soto]] in 1540, which encountered the Capahas and (aided by another tribe) fought a fierce battle with them, in which many of the Indians died. After de Soto's departure, the next known visit by Europeans came in 1673, when a French expedition under Louis Joliet and Father Marquette sailed down the Mississippi. Further arrivals by French explorers, missionaries, and fur traders followed during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, though mostly only in passing.

The first European contact came with a Spanish expedition under [[Hernando de Soto]] in 1540, which encountered the Capahas and (aided by another tribe) fought a fierce battle with them, in which many of the Indians died. After de Soto's departure, the next known visit by Europeans came in 1673, when a French expedition under Louis Joliet and Father Marquette sailed down the Mississippi. Further arrivals by French explorers, missionaries, and fur traders followed during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, though mostly only in passing.

The first semi-permanent European presence came through Ensign Pierre Girardot, stationed with a company of French soldiers on Kaskaskia Island to the north, who traded with the local Indians. Although the exact particulars of Girardot's career are unknown, he eventually established a trading post on the Mississippi, near the point where the Ozark foothills drop off into the swamps to the south. A rocky promontory or "cape" jutting into the river led to the post being dubbed "Cape Girardot," and later "Cape Girardeau." When this occurred is uncertain, but it had evidently acquired its name by the [[Revolutionary War]], if not before.

The first semi-permanent European presence came through Ensign Sieur Jean Baptiste de Girardot, stationed with a company of French soldiers on Kaskaskia Island to the north, who traded with the local Indians. Although the exact particulars of Girardot's career are unknown, he eventually established a trading post on the Mississippi, near the point where the Ozark foothills drop off into the swamps to the south. A rocky promontory or "cape" jutting into the river led to the post being dubbed "Cape Girardot," and later "Cape Girardeau." When this occurred is uncertain, but it had evidently acquired its name by the [[Revolutionary War]], if not before.

The Cape Girardeau district was organized by the Spanish colonial government in 1793, with Louis Lorimier, a French-Canadian fur trader, as commandant. Lorimier was friendly with the Delaware and Shawnee tribes east of the Mississippi, and encouraged many of them to settle in the area. At the same time, American settlers began arriving, mostly from states of the Upper South such as [[Virginia]], [[Kentucky]], and [[North Carolina]]; they resided principally around the town of Cape Girardeau itself, which was incorporated in 1808, but also along the creeks to the north and west.

The Cape Girardeau district was organized by the Spanish colonial government in 1793, with Louis Lorimier, a French-Canadian fur trader, as commandant. Lorimier was friendly with the Delaware and Shawnee tribes east of the Mississippi, and encouraged many of them to settle in the area. At the same time, American settlers began arriving, mostly from states of the Upper South such as [[Virginia]], [[Kentucky]], and [[North Carolina]]; they resided principally around the town of Cape Girardeau itself, which was incorporated in 1808, but also along the creeks to the north and west.

On October 1, 1812, following the organization of the Missouri Territory, its five administrative districts ([[St. Louis]], St. Charles, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, and [[New Madrid, Missouri|New Madrid]]) were reorganized as counties. (At that time, Cape Girardeau County also included portions of future Bollinger, Scott, Stoddard, and Wayne Counties, which would be established later). Despite Cape Girardeau's prominence, it was decided to establish the county seat closer to the geographic center of the county, and in 1815 the honor was given to the new town of Jackson, named for future President [[Andrew Jackson]] in recognition of his exploits during the [[War of 1812]] (and the first county seat west of the Mississippi to be named for him).<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=G-AlAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA162#v=onepage&q&f=false</ref>

On October 1, 1812, following the organization of the Missouri Territory, its five administrative districts ([[St. Louis]], St. Charles, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, and [[New Madrid, Missouri|New Madrid]]) were reorganized as counties. (At that time, Cape Girardeau County also included portions of future Bollinger, Scott, Stoddard, and Wayne Counties, which would be established later). Despite Cape Girardeau's prominence, it was decided to move the county seat closer to the geographic center of the county, and in 1815 the honor was given to the new town of Jackson, named for future President [[Andrew Jackson]] in recognition of his exploits during the [[War of 1812]] (and the first city in the United States to be named for him).<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=G-AlAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA162#v=onepage&q&f=false</ref>

 

 

 

The county has a total area of 586.33 square miles, including 578.54 of land and 7.79 of water.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt</ref>

==Demographics==

==Demographics==