Editing Potosi, Missouri

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Potosi, Missouri
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = A City for All Seasons

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Washington_County_Courthouse_in_Potosi,_Missouri.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption        = Washington County Courthouse
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Washington_County_Missouri_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Potosi_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Potosi, Missouri
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Missouri]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Missouri|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Washington County, Missouri|Washington]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1826

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 28, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 6.03
|area_land_km2            = 6.03
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.33
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.33
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2538
|population_density_km2   = 420.86
|population_density_sq_mi = 1090.21

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = −6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 991
|coordinates              = {{Coord|37|56|01|N|90|46|30|W|region:US-MS_type:city|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/>
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 63664
|area_code                = [[Area code 573|573]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 29-59330<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID 
|blank1_info              = 2396262<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396262}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}

'''Potosi''' is a city and the [[county seat]] of [[Washington County, Missouri]], United States. Potosi is seventy-two miles southwest of [[St. Louis]]. The population was 2,538 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

Located in the Lead Belt, the city was founded in 1763 by French colonists as ''Mine à Breton'' or ''Mine au Breton''. After the United States acquired this area, American [[Moses Austin]] renamed the community for the [[Bolivia]]n silver-mining city of [[Potosí]]. He was involved in lead mining.
<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.carrollscorner.net/Potosi,Missouri.htm |title=Moses Austin |access-date=2010-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220082922/http://carrollscorner.net/Potosi,Missouri.htm |archive-date=2015-12-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.33|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{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/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}</ref>

Potosi is located in the [[Southeast Missouri Lead District|Lead Belt]] region of Missouri; as such, it has mining operations in the area. It is also geographically considered part of the [[St. Francois Mountains|St. Francois Mountain Range]], meaning it has hilly terrain typical of the region.

The city is within  proximity to many nature areas, including [[Mark Twain National Forest]] and [[Washington State Park]].

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Potosi 4 SW, Missouri (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
|single line = Y
|width = auto
| Jan record high F = 74
| Feb record high F = 80
| Mar record high F = 88
| Apr record high F = 93
| May record high F = 94
| Jun record high F = 106
| Jul record high F = 112
| Aug record high F = 104
| Sep record high F = 101
| Oct record high F = 92
| Nov record high F = 84
| Dec record high F = 77
| year record high F = 112

|Jan avg record high F = 65.1
|Feb avg record high F = 70.1
|Mar avg record high F = 77.7
|Apr avg record high F = 84.5
|May avg record high F = 87.7
|Jun avg record high F = 90.9
|Jul avg record high F = 94.5
|Aug avg record high F = 94.5
|Sep avg record high F = 90.4
|Oct avg record high F = 83.8
|Nov avg record high F = 74.3
|Dec avg record high F = 64.7
|year avg record high F = 96.4

| Jan high F = 39.6
| Feb high F = 45.3
| Mar high F = 55.1
| Apr high F = 66.3
| May high F = 74.0
| Jun high F = 81.9
| Jul high F = 86.0
| Aug high F = 85.2
| Sep high F = 77.8
| Oct high F = 67.5
| Nov high F = 54.1
| Dec high F = 43.4
| year high F = 64.7
| Jan mean F = 30.5
| Feb mean F = 35.2
| Mar mean F = 44.3
| Apr mean F = 55.3
| May mean F = 64.1
| Jun mean F = 72.3
| Jul mean F = 76.3
| Aug mean F = 75.1
| Sep mean F = 67.4
| Oct mean F = 56.9
| Nov mean F = 44.7
| Dec mean F = 34.9
| year mean F = 54.8
| Jan low F = 21.4
| Feb low F = 25.2
| Mar low F = 33.5
| Apr low F = 44.3
| May low F = 54.1
| Jun low F = 62.8
| Jul low F = 66.7
| Aug low F = 65.0
| Sep low F = 56.9
| Oct low F = 46.2
| Nov low F = 35.3
| Dec low F = 26.4
| year low F = 44.8

|Jan avg record low F = 0.6
|Feb avg record low F = 6.3
|Mar avg record low F = 14.8
|Apr avg record low F = 28.5
|May avg record low F = 38.5
|Jun avg record low F = 50.5
|Jul avg record low F = 56.0
|Aug avg record low F = 54.8
|Sep avg record low F = 42.4
|Oct avg record low F = 29.4
|Nov avg record low F = 17.4
|Dec avg record low F = 7.1
|year avg record low F = -3.0

| Jan record low F = −18
| Feb record low F = −28
| Mar record low F = −3
| Apr record low F = 12
| May record low F = 26
| Jun record low F = 36
| Jul record low F = 42
| Aug record low F = 41
| Sep record low F = 16
| Oct record low F = 11
| Nov record low F = 0
| Dec record low F = −26
| year record low F = -28
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.84
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.69
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.09
| Apr precipitation inch = 5.11
| May precipitation inch = 5.29
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.15
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.64
| Aug precipitation inch = 4.00
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.89
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.07
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.72
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.97
| year precipitation inch = 45.46
| Jan snow inch = 3.6
| Feb snow inch = 2.9
| Mar snow inch = 1.9
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| 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 = 0.7
| Dec snow inch = 2.4
| year snow inch = 11.5
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 7.2
| Feb precipitation days = 7.9
| Mar precipitation days = 10.7
| Apr precipitation days = 10.7
| May precipitation days = 12.6
| Jun precipitation days = 10.0
| Jul precipitation days = 8.5
| Aug precipitation days = 8.5
| Sep precipitation days = 7.4
| Oct precipitation days = 8.4
| Nov precipitation days = 7.9
| Dec precipitation days = 8.8
| year precipitation days = 108.6
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 2.4
| Feb snow days = 2.7
| Mar snow days = 1.0
| Apr snow days = 0.1
| 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 = 0.5
| Dec snow days = 2.0
| year snow days = 8.7
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = 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}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{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=USC00236826&format=pdf
| title = Station: Potosi 4 SW, 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}}</ref>
}}

== History ==
[[File:Tomb of Moses Austin p3.jpg|thumb|left|Tomb of [[Moses Austin]] and Maria Brown Austin in Potosi behind the [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] church built in 1832]]
[[File:Potosi Mine a Burton-Schoolcraft.jpg|thumb|A view of Potosi published in 1819 by [[Henry Rowe Schoolcraft|H.R. Schoolcraft]], captioned ''Potosi, alias Mine á Burton'']]

A [[lead]] mining settlement at this spot, "Mine à Breton" or ''Mine au Breton'', was founded between 1760 and 1780 by Francis Azor, of [[Brittany|Brittany, France]]. [[Moses Austin]] came here in 1798 with his family, including his son [[Stephen F. Austin]].  Moses obtained a grant of 7,153 [[arpent]]s of land from the [[Spanish Empire]] and started large-scale mining operations, building his town to support it.  Moses named the town after [[Potosí]] in [[Bolivia]], which was famous for its vast [[silver]] mines.  Austin's tomb and the foundation of his home [[Durham Hall (Missouri)|Durham Hall]] can still be seen.  Another mining entrepreneur in Potosi at the time of Moses Austin was [[James Bryan (mining executive)|James Bryan]]. [[Firmin Rene Desloge]], who emigrated from Nantes, France in 1822 as the progenitor of the [[Desloge Family in America]], settled in Potosi and established a mercantile, distillery, fur trading and lead smelting business. The Desloge lead mining business, Desloge Lead Company (later [[Desloge Consolidated Lead Company]]) was eventually relocated to [[Bonne Terre, Missouri|Bonne Terre]], and eventually [[Desloge, Missouri|Desloge]], by [[Firmin V. Desloge]].<ref>Christopher D Desloge, second great-grandson of Firmin Rene Desloge</ref><ref>The Desloge Chronicles, 2011, by Christopher D Desloge</ref>

Potosi was designated county seat in 1814.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RfAuAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA370 | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1918 | pages=370}}</ref>

Potosi is also home to the oldest standing Presbyterian church west of the [[Mississippi River]]. It is located on West Breton Street, also home to the graveyard that contains the tomb of [[Moses Austin]] and his wife Maria Brown Austin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wm11WYV_The_Presbyterian_Church_1832_Potosi_MO|title=The Presbyterian Church - 1832 - Potosi, MO - Dated Architectural Structures Multifarious on Waymarking.com|website=www.waymarking.com}}</ref>

The [[Potosi Correctional Center]], which opened in 1989, housed Missouri's [[death row]] until 2005.  The Potosi Center conducted all but one of the sixty-two Missouri executions between 1989 and 2005, when executions were moved to the [[Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center]] in Bonne Terre.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.prisontalk.com/?t=115532 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206032141/https://www.prisontalk.com/?t=115532 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |title=Steroids for Sale Online - Buy Anabolic Steroids |website=www.prisontalk.com}}</ref>

The [[George Cresswell Furnace]], [[Palmer Historic Mining District]], [[Washington County Courthouse (Missouri)|Washington County Courthouse]], and [[Washington State Park|Washington State Park CCC Historic District]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref><ref name="nps">{{cite web|url=http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20111104.htm|title=National Register of Historic Places Listings|date=2011-11-04|work=Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 10/24/11 through 10/28/11|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=2017-03-04|archive-date=2014-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085625/http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20111104.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 548
|1870= 897
|1880= 715
|1890= 599
|1900= 638
|1910= 772
|1920= 984
|1930= 1279
|1940= 2017
|1950= 2359
|1960= 2805
|1970= 2761
|1980= 2528
|1990= 2683
|2000= 2662
|2010= 2660
|2020= 2538
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{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}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-07-08}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,660 people, 1,114 households, and 657 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1141.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,230 housing units at an average density of {{convert|527.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 1,114 households, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.0% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 39.1 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.1% male and 55.9% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,662 people, 1,103 households, and 677 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,218.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,211 housing units at an average density of {{convert|554.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.60% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.14% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.45% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.23% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.43% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 1,103 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $17,702, and the median income for a family was $23,958. Males had a median income of $31,548 versus $16,976 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $12,417. About 28.1% of families and 31.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 42.7% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and infrastructure==
Potosi is the county seat of [[Washington County, Missouri|Washington County]], and therefore contains both city and county government offices in City Hall and the [[Washington County Courthouse (Missouri)|Washington County Courthouse]], respectively.

The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Potosi Post Office.<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/potosi-103-laurel-st-potosi-mo-1378235 Post Office Location - POTOSI] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108150942/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/potosi-103-laurel-st-potosi-mo-1378235 |date=2010-11-08 }}." [[United States Postal Service]]. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.</ref>

The [[Potosi Correctional Center]] of the [[Missouri Department of Corrections]] is located in an [[unincorporated area]] in [[Washington County, Missouri|Washington County]], near Potosi.<ref>"[http://doc.mo.gov/division/dai/facilities_inst.php Institutional Facilities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527092101/http://doc.mo.gov/division/dai/facilities_inst.php |date=2010-05-27 }}." [[Missouri Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on September 18, 2010. "Potosi Correctional Center (C-5)" "11593 State Highway O Mineral Point, MO 63660"</ref> The prison houses male [[death row]] inmates.<ref>Lombardi, George, Richard D. Sluder, and Donald Wallace. "[http://doc.mo.gov/documents/DeathSentencedInmates.pdf The Management of Death-Sentenced Inmates: Issues, Realities, and Innovative Strategies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527085038/http://doc.mo.gov/documents/DeathSentencedInmates.pdf |date=2010-05-27 }}." [[Missouri Department of Corrections]]. 8-9. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.</ref>

==Education==
Public education in Potosi is administered by the Potosi R-III School District.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.potosir3.org | title=Homepage | publisher=Potosi R-Iii School District | access-date=4 June 2019}}</ref> Potosi has a [[public library]], the Washington County Library.<ref>{{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=2 June 2019}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Moses Austin]], American settlement colonizer in St. Genevieve, Missouri and father of [[Stephen Austin]] of the Republic of Texas
*[[Jeremy Boyer]], NHL & MLB organist
*[[Dylan Coleman]], MLB pitcher
*[[Firmin Rene Desloge]], progenitor of the [[Desloge Family in America]]
*[[Firmin V. Desloge]], founder [[Desloge Consolidated Lead Company]] and [[Desloge, Missouri]] and [[Bonne Terre, Missouri]]
*[[Tom Huck]], artist/printmaker
*[[John A. Lankford]], architect
*Rodney Wilson, founder of LGBTQ History Month, in October 1994, and first openly gay Missouri public school teacher to be granted tenure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southeastarrow.com/news/rodney-wilson-history-in-the-making-2278295|title=Rodney Wilson: History In The Making\|website=www.southeastarrow.com|access-date=2025-01-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/rodney-wilson-founded-lgbtq-history-month-30-years-ago-heres-what-he-wants-you-to-know|title=Meet the Teacher Who Created LGBTQ History Month\|website=www.pbs.org|access-date=2025-01-05}}</ref>
*[[Donne Wall]], baseball player

== See also ==
* {{Portal inline|United States}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* Historic maps of Potosi in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138940 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the [[University of Missouri]]

{{Washington County, Missouri}}
{{Missouri county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Washington County, Missouri]]
[[Category:County seats in Missouri]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1799]]
[[Category:French colonial settlements of Illinois Country]]
[[Category:1799 establishments in the Spanish Empire]]
[[Category:1799 establishments in North America]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]