Festus, Missouri
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 38° 13.147 W 090° 23.964
15S E 727663 N 4233324
Community located 35 miles south of St. Louis in Jefferson County, Missouri.
Waymark Code: WM3WWF
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 05/27/2008
Views: 2
FESTUS (395 alt., 4,620 pop.), is the commercial and residential neighbor
of industrial Crystal City. The story goes that when Festus was platted in
1878 it was called Tanglefoot--either for the gait of homeward-bound roisterers,
or for the town's principal product, which caused it--but that as the village
grew in size and dignity, a more respectable name was demanded. The
village fathers consequently opened a Bible at random, intending to adopt the
first proper name they saw. "Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also
hear the man myself," is the passage upon which the searching finger came to
rest. Why "Festus" was favored over "Agrippa" not even the oldest citizen
can now recall. - Missouri: A Guide to the "Show Me" State, Tour 13, page
533.
Festus now has a population of about 11,000. The city is now considered
more of a suburb of St. Louis than it was when the Guide was written. The
Festus, located 35 miles south of St. Louis along I-55 is one communities now
gaining in population.