Festus, Missouri

File:Balloon Glow Festus Missouri 10-01-2011.jpg

Festus is situated just west of the Mississippi River. The city is served by I-55 and US routes 61 and 67.Missouri Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, 1st ed. 1998, p.49 {{isbn|0899332242}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|5.71|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2012-07-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-07-02 }}

{{Weather box

|collapsed=yes

|location = Festus, Missouri (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1934–present)

|single line = Y

| Jan record high F = 80

| Feb record high F = 89

| Mar record high F = 91

| Apr record high F = 93

| May record high F = 96

| Jun record high F = 108

| Jul record high F = 116

| Aug record high F = 110

| Sep record high F = 105

| Oct record high F = 97

| Nov record high F = 87

| Dec record high F = 78

| year record high F = 116

|Jan avg record high F = 66.0

|Feb avg record high F = 72.0

|Mar avg record high F = 79.4

|Apr avg record high F = 85.6

|May avg record high F = 89.3

|Jun avg record high F = 93.7

|Jul avg record high F = 97.3

|Aug avg record high F = 97.1

|Sep avg record high F = 92.6

|Oct avg record high F = 86.1

|Nov avg record high F = 76.0

|Dec avg record high F = 67.3

|year avg record high F = 99.1

| Jan high F = 41.0

| Feb high F = 46.3

| Mar high F = 56.3

| Apr high F = 67.8

| May high F = 76.2

| Jun high F = 84.6

| Jul high F = 88.4

| Aug high F = 87.2

| Sep high F = 80.6

| Oct high F = 69.6

| Nov high F = 56.0

| Dec high F = 45.1

| year high F = 66.6

| Jan mean F = 31.7

| Feb mean F = 35.8

| Mar mean F = 44.9

| Apr mean F = 55.8

| May mean F = 65.0

| Jun mean F = 73.6

| Jul mean F = 77.8

| Aug mean F = 76.3

| Sep mean F = 68.9

| Oct mean F = 57.6

| Nov mean F = 45.5

| Dec mean F = 35.8

| year mean F = 55.7

| Jan low F = 22.3

| Feb low F = 25.3

| Mar low F = 33.6

| Apr low F = 43.8

| May low F = 53.8

| Jun low F = 62.6

| Jul low F = 67.2

| Aug low F = 65.4

| Sep low F = 57.1

| Oct low F = 45.5

| Nov low F = 35.1

| Dec low F = 26.5

| year low F = 44.9

|Jan avg record low F = 2.9

|Feb avg record low F = 7.2

|Mar avg record low F = 16.3

|Apr avg record low F = 28.8

|May avg record low F = 39.4

|Jun avg record low F = 51.6

|Jul avg record low F = 57.8

|Aug avg record low F = 55.0

|Sep avg record low F = 43.0

|Oct avg record low F = 29.7

|Nov avg record low F = 19.7

|Dec avg record low F = 9.7

|year avg record low F = -0.6

| Jan record low F = −27

| Feb record low F = −20

| Mar record low F = -13

| Apr record low F = 17

| May record low F = 27

| Jun record low F = 37

| Jul record low F = 43

| Aug record low F = 40

| Sep record low F = 28

| Oct record low F = 16

| Nov record low F = -2

| Dec record low F = −19

| year record low F = -27

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 2.68

| Feb precipitation inch = 2.51

| Mar precipitation inch = 4.00

| Apr precipitation inch = 4.91

| May precipitation inch = 4.76

| Jun precipitation inch = 4.74

| Jul precipitation inch = 3.83

| Aug precipitation inch = 3.59

| Sep precipitation inch = 3.38

| Oct precipitation inch = 2.83

| Nov precipitation inch = 3.54

| Dec precipitation inch = 2.80

| year precipitation inch = 43.57

| Jan snow inch = 2.1

| Feb snow inch = 2.7

| Mar snow inch = 1.1

| Apr snow inch = 0.2

| May snow inch = 0.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 0.0

| Nov snow inch = 0.6

| Dec snow inch = 2.5

| year snow inch = 9.2

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 7.6

| Feb precipitation days = 7.1

| Mar precipitation days = 10.2

| Apr precipitation days = 10.1

| May precipitation days = 11.5

| Jun precipitation days = 9.4

| Jul precipitation days = 8.2

| Aug precipitation days = 7.1

| Sep precipitation days = 6.6

| Oct precipitation days = 7.5

| Nov precipitation days = 8.1

| Dec precipitation days = 8.0

| year precipitation days = 101.4

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 1.7

| Feb snow days = 1.6

| Mar snow days = 0.8

| Apr snow days = 0.0

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.0

| Nov snow days = 0.4

| Dec snow days = 1.4

| year snow days = 5.9

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lsx

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = July 24, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00232850&format=pdf

| title = Station: Festus, MO

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = July 24, 2021}}

{{cite web

|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = xmACIS2

|access-date = November 30, 2023

}}

}}

Festus originated as an outgrowth of older neighbor Crystal City. It was established in 1878 by an individual named W. J. Adams, and was known as "Tanglefoot", supposedly because of situations involving drinkers from the local glass factory, who would drunkenly get their feet tangled in brush on their way home.{{cite report |url=https://jeffcomohistory.org/LisasHistoryArticles/JeffCountyHistory.pdf |title=The History of Jefferson County Missouri |author=Lisa K. Gendron}} The city was later called Limitville, but eventually "Festus" was chosen, purported to be in honor of St. Louis banker, Festus J. Wade. Others claim the town's name was picked at random by a preacher who sat there, opened the Bible, and pointed to the name "Festus" in the Book of Acts.{{Cite web |title=JOIN-N - Jefferson County History - Crystal City and Festus |url=http://www.jeffersoncountyonline.org/history/crystalcity_festus1.shtml#:~:text=The%20town%20was%20incorporated%20in,its%20first%20businesses%20were%20saloons. |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=www.jeffersoncountyonline.org}} The City of Festus was incorporated in 1888 and grew to be one of the largest towns in the county. A post office called Festus has been in operation since 1883.{{cite web|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MO&county=Jefferson |title=Post Offices |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |access-date=19 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019143136/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MO&county=Jefferson |archive-date=19 October 2016 }}

One of the founders of Festus was John Brierton, the great-grand-uncle of John Bruton, the prime minister or Taoiseach of Ireland, who visited the city of Festus and his family's grave in De Soto, Missouri, in 1995.{{cite web|url=https://www.stroseparish.info/calvary-cemetery|title=Families of Calvary Cemetery|access-date=2024-12-16}}{{cite web|url=https://www.festusmo.gov/Archive/ViewFile/Item/329|title=Festus Focus: March 1, 2024|access-date=2024-12-16}}

{{US Census population

|1890= 1335

|1900= 1250

|1910= 2556

|1920= 3348

|1930= 4085

|1940= 4620

|1950= 5199

|1960= 7021

|1970= 7530

|1980= 7574

|1990= 8105

|2000= 9660

|2010= 11602

|2020= 12706

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

The 2020 United States census{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov| access-date=2023-12-17 |website=data.census.gov}} counted 12,706 individuals, 4,765 households, and 3,229 families in Festus. The population density was 2,149.9 per square mile (831.0/km{{sup|2}}). There were 5,104 housing units at an average density of 863.6 per square mile (333.8/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup was 87.99% (11,180) white, 3.18% (404) black or African-American, 0.32% (41) Native American, 0.64% (81) Asian, 0.05% (6) Pacific Islander, 0.67% (85) from other races, and 7.15% (909) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.0% (359) of the population.

Of the 4,765 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18; 45.0% were married couples living together; 35.8% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 28.2% consisted of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.0.

21.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 83.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 90.2 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov|access-date=2023-12-17|website=data.census.gov}} estimates show that the median household income was $59,041 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,486) and the median family income was $66,773 (+/- $11,558). Males had a median income of $37,913 (+/- $3,471) versus $30,682 (+/- $4,826) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $33,353 (+/- $5,734). Approximately, 6.0% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under the age of 18 and 5.4% of those ages 65 or over.

At the 2010 census there were 11,602 individuals, 4,636 households, and 3,036 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|2031.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,972 housing units at an average density of {{convert|870.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White, 3.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2%.{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-07-08}}

Of the 4,636 households 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.5% were non-families. 28.7% of households were one person and 12.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age was 34.9 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.5% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

At the 2000 census there were 9,660 individuals, 1,000 households, and 2,606 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,020.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,040 housing units at an average density of {{convert|844.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.66% White, 3.93% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04%.

Of the 3,861 households 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.0% of households were one person and 12.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 5.8% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

Males had a median income of $36,159 versus $25,108 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,035. About 7.0% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Festus is home to a wide variety of religions, including Christians, Muslims, Pagans and Jews. Atheist and non-believer individuals make up 63% of the population, while God believers make up the remaining 37%, the vast majority being Christian. 12.9% are Baptist, 14.2% are Catholic and 2.8% are Lutheran.{{Cite web |date= |title=Religion in Festus, Missouri |url=https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/city/missouri/festus |access-date=20 April 2023 |website=bestplaces}}

Festus is the home of the alt-country band The Bottle Rockets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-bottle-rockets-mn0000092507/biography|title=The Bottle Rockets {{!}} Biography & History {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-01-22}}

The town is mentioned in the 1974 country song "(We're Not) The Jet Set," in which George Jones and Tammy Wynette sing about road tripping around the Midwestern and Southern part of the United States in a Chevrolet while falling in love.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/we-re-not-the-jet-set-george-jones-and-tammy-wynette|title=(We're Not) The Jet Set|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2018-01-22}}

The Drunken Peasants podcast had a running gag in the form of a feud with Brett Keane, a YouTuber and resident of Festus.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/DrunkenPeasants|title=Drunken Peasants|website=YouTube|language=en|access-date=2018-09-18}} The feud involved satirizing and mocking Brett Keane, usually by referencing his speech patterns (such as his incessant use of the words "Individual", "Situation", and "Particular" and his frequent misquoting of common phrases), as well as creating many false personas under the guise of residents of Festus calling into the show and recounting fictitious, humorous encounters with Brett.

Festus R-VI School District operates Festus High School.

St. Pius X High School, Our Lady Catholic School (K-8) and Twin City Christian Academy (K-12) are private institutions.

Festus has a lending library, the Festus Public Library.{{cite web | url=http://www.publiclibraries.com/missouri.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610012728/http://www.publiclibraries.com/missouri.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 June 2017 | title=Missouri Public Libraries | publisher=PublicLibraries.com | access-date=1 June 2019}}

• Jefferson County Leader
• KJFF (1400 AM)

• 25x20px Interstate 55
• 25x20px U.S. Route 61
• 25x20px U.S. Route 67
• Festus Memorial Airport

Travis (chimpanzee), animal actor famous for mauling a woman.

• Music of Missouri

• [http://www.cityoffestus.org City of Festus]
• [http://www.city-data.com/city/Festus-Missouri.html City-data.com - Festus]
• Historic maps of Festus in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138792 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the University of Missouri

{{Jefferson County, Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Jefferson County, Missouri

Category:Cities in Missouri