Known as St. Joe to the Locals - St. Joseph Mo

About thirty miles north of the Kansas City metropolitan area is placed the historical city of St. Joseph, Missouri. It really is here that the life span of the Pony Express began and the life span of Jesse James finished.

Also known more familiarly as St. Joe, to the locals, this town got its begin in 1826 when Joseph Robidoux, a local fur trader, founded the Blacksnake Hills Trading Post with the Indians. In a short time, Robidoux developed a trading empire that extended as far west as the Rocky Mountains. The first postoffice in the area was housed in Robidoux's trading post in 1840. Once the Platte Purchase made his land part of the status of Missouri in 1837, the trading post progressed into funds that was incorporated as St. Joseph on November 20,1843.

Remaining relatively small, that all altered with the precious metal finding in California that greatly accelerated westward migration. St. Joseph quickly became the previous source and jumping off point prior to the many pioneers headed towards Wild Western world on the Oregon Trail.

Thousands of settlers arrived by steamboat, while a huge selection of wagon trains lined the roadways waiting around to be ferried across the Missouri River. In 1849 together, some have estimated that as much as 50,000 pioneers transferred through St. Joseph. The city quickly became a bustling outpost and tough frontier town, as protected wagons, oxen, and supplies purchased by the emigrants established the financial basis for the city.

Additional growth of St. Joseph Missouri Businesses arrived to metropolis in 1859 as the railroad pressed west to St. Joseph, further ensuring its role as a syndication point for the western world. St. Joseph continued to be the westernmost point in the U.S. accessible by rail until after the Civil War. Also, St. Joseph's proximity to the Missouri River added to its phenomenal growth.


In 1860, St. Joseph became the head office and starting point for the Pony Exhibit. The first successful Pony Express run, from St. Joseph, to Sacramento, California occurred on April 3, 1860, whenever a lone rider on a bay mare galloped from Pike's Optimum Stables in St. Joseph.

Before the introduction of the Pony Express, the railroads and telegraph lines lengthened no further west than St. Joseph, and mail traveled west by stagecoach and wagons, a trip that may take months, if it attained all. The Pony Exhibit alleviated this problem with riders who could significantly reduce the timeframe it had taken for the mail to be shipped.

The Pony Exhibit is acknowledged with assisting to keep California in the Union by giving rapid communication between the two coasts. Media of the election of Abraham Lincoln to america presidency in 1860 and of the outbreak of the American Civil Conflict in 1861 reached California via the Pony Express.

As the Pony Express drastically increased the communication between the east and western, it was a financial catastrophe for its owners. After the Pacific Telegraph Company completed its brand to SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA in October, 1861, the company declared personal bankruptcy and closed down.

From the 1870s, St. Joseph experienced become the general centre for the building of the Western, which led to an age group of prosperity. Numerous businesses were located in the city and beautiful mansions were built.

In December, 1881, Jesse James made St. Joseph his home, hiding behind the alias Tom Howard. However, life had not been to be a long and happy one for Jesse James in St. Joseph. Just 90 days later on April 3, 1882 Bob Ford taken Jesse James in his home.


In 1886, the Chicago Times reported that "St. Joseph is a modern wonder - a city of 60,000 inhabitants, eleven railroads, 70 passenger trains every day, 170 factories, thirteen mls of the greatest paved pavements, the most significant stockyards western of Chicago, a low cost trade as large as that of Kansas City and Omaha blended..."

In 1887, St. Joseph became the next city in america to acquire electric streetcars. 2 yrs later, metropolis hosted the New Era Exposition, hoping to be chosen as the site for another World's Rational. A disastrous fire destroyed a lot of the fair, induced financial ruin for its major backers and finished any wish of bringing in a World's Rational.

By the convert of the century, the dash to the west was practically over but St. Joseph acquired already set up itself as a major livestock and low cost market.

Today, the location is called home to almost 77,000 residents and numerous historic attractions including several museums and numerous beautiful historic properties and mansions.