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'''Festus''' is a city in eastern [[Jefferson County, Missouri|Jefferson County]], [[Missouri]], about 30 miles south of [[St. Louis]]. It is the second-largest city in the county, with a population of 11,602 at the 2010 census.
'''Festus''' is a city in eastern [[Jefferson County, Missouri|Jefferson County]], [[Missouri]], about 30 miles south of [[St. Louis]]. It is the second-largest city in the county, with a population of 11,602 at the 2010 census.
==History==
Festus had its origins as an outgrowth from the older (and now smaller) [[Crystal City, Missouri|Crystal City]] just to the east. Following the establishment of a large glass-making factory at Crystal City shortly after the [[Civil War]], a local notable, W.J. Adams, laid out the first lots of a new town, which for unknown reasons was first known as "Derby City." It grew rapidly during the 1880s, partly because Crystal City, being at that time a "company town," did not allow the private sale of lots to residents, leading many to choose to live in the new community to the west instead. Another factor was that the owners in Crystal City did not allow liquor in town; the result was a thriving business in "Derby City," as taverns and saloons appeared to serve the factory workers and other locals. For this reason, the town eventually bore the name "Tanglefoot" instead (it being remarked that the intoxicated customers would get their feet tangled in the brush as they returned home).<ref>https://jeffcomohistory.org/LisasHistoryArticles/JeffCountyHistory.pdf</ref> The inhabitants resented the new name as too vulgar, though, and after several years they sought a new name. It is not clear how the name "Festus" was chosen; the most common story is that James Waggener, brother of the first postmaster, decided to open the Bible and choose the first name he saw. This was Festus, the Roman governor of Caesarea who heard accusations against the apostle [[Paul]] in [[Acts (of the Apostles)|Acts]] 25.<ref>https://collections.shsmo.org/manuscripts/columbia/C2366/jefferson-county</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Missouri Cities and Towns]]
[[Category:Missouri Cities and Towns]]