French Settlers Arrive on the Mississippi
French settlers arrived at what is now St. Louis in the early 1700s. At that time, the Mississippi River Valley was a critical corridor for trade, transportation, and expansion. These early settlers established communities along the river, relying heavily on agriculture to sustain their livelihoods.
Initially, the French remained on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The region was still part of what was known as Illinois Country, a vast territory claimed by France in North America.
The Founding of St. Genevieve
Around 1750, a new settlement was constructed across the river. That settlement became St. Genevieve. Though located in present-day Missouri, the settlement at the time was still considered part of Illinois Country under French control.
The decision to establish a community on the west bank of the Mississippi reflected both agricultural ambition and geographic opportunity. The river provided fertile soil and access to transportation routes, but it also posed challenges that would shape the town’s early development.
Slow Growth on a Floodplain
During its early years, St. Genevieve grew slowly. The primary reason was its location. The settlement sat on a muddy, flat floodplain along the Mississippi River. While floodplains often offer rich, productive soil ideal for farming, they also carry the constant threat of flooding and unstable ground.
These environmental realities limited rapid expansion. In fact, by 1752, the town had only 23 full-time residents. Most of them were farmers.
Agriculture was not simply an occupation; it was the foundation of the settlement’s survival. These early farmers worked the fertile but unpredictable land, establishing one of the earliest agricultural communities west of the Mississippi River.
A Small but Significant Agricultural Community
Though small in population, St. Genevieve represented an important step in the westward agricultural movement of early America. Its French settlers laid the groundwork for farming traditions that would eventually expand throughout Missouri and beyond.
What began as a modest settlement of just a few dozen residents became a lasting part of American agricultural history—proof that even the smallest frontier communities played a role in shaping the nation’s farming heritage.
Today’s American Agriculture History Minute. I’m Mark Oppold.