St. Mary Municipal Court

Maps drawn toward the end of the 18th century showed the area of the city, at the time known as Sainte Marie’s Landing. After several ownership changes; towards the end of 1839 an enterprising young man bought the tract of land which contained the city and had a landing for boats. The area had previously been called Iron Mountain City, Yankeetown, Camp Rowdy, Saint Marys, Saint Mary’s but the new owner called it St. Mary and laid out lots and streets. The city thrived and grew and by 1876 it had close to 500 residents. Its economy grew as well with daily mail and stage to Perryville, general stores, hotels, boot and shoemakers, physicians, butchers, a barber, a cabinet maker, a wagon maker, a tinner, an agricultural implements dealer, a fouring mill and cigar manufacturer. Although the Mississippi River channel was changed around 1881, the city’s business continued to grow after a short setback