Ste. Genevieve was founded in 1735. Major John Jacques McCarty wrote to Governor Vaudreuylin in September, 1752, that since "the lands on the east side of the Mississippi River were exhausted, most of the inhabitants are taking up lands on the side of Ste. Genevieve." It was the first settlement on the west side of the Mississippi, but it could not be settled until the French pushed the Fox Indians off the land. By the mid-eighteenth century the lands on the east side of the Mississippi had become overpopulated. After the Indians were removed it became possible--and even necessary-- for the French settlers to colonize the area.

Ste. Genevieve was much like other settlements of the period. By the 1770's, the town had greatly developed. A 1772 census showed the total population to be 691 people. The town would have probably continued to grow then, had it not been for the founding of St. Louis. A 1779 census, however, showed the population had only increased by seven. The majority of these people were voyageurs. These voyageurs were driven further west in their colonization efforts by increased competition between European powers. For instance, during Ste. Genevieve's colonial days, France, Spain, Great Britain, and the United States all laid claim to the land.

To earn a living, the people of Ste. Genevieve were involved in three principal industries. The rich soil, perfect climate, and vast amount of land supported the wheat fields, an essential part of their livelihood. Grain was, far and away, the staple product of the region. It has been said that New Orleans would have starved had it not been for the grain from the Illinois country (the city was then a part of the Illinois territory). St. Louis also depended heavily on the wheat production in the area of Ste. Genevieve. Also, the settlers exploited salt and lead mines. Then too, the lead mines of Missouri provided the inhabitants of Ste. Genevieve with another source of income. Finally, as the population grew, there was a great demand for artisans. This necessity gave rise to a third component of the city's booming economy. Bakers, blacksmiths, and merchants worked in Ste. Genevieve.

The daily lives of these people had a definite rural flavor. The typical farm in the area included: the main house, cow barn, stable, hen house, corn crib, orchard, vegetable garden, a well, bake oven, and sometimes slave's quarters. Their homes were rectangular with vertical log structures. The spaces between the logs were filled with a special mortar, bouzillage. Large families usually lived in relatively small houses. An average house was occupied by five people and was six hundred square feet in size. The people of Ste. Genevieve did not care much about domestic privacy. Furniture in these homes was crude and sparse. Food was prepared in the general-purpose living room of the home. Townspeople did not record recipes so there are no recipes that we know of today. It is inferred that they ate deer, squirrels, bears, ducks, beef, pork, and geese. Bear oil, a delicacy, was produced in large quantities. They regularly drank beer, wine, and cider.

The community church was Roman Catholic. Its structure was poteaux-sur-solle. Religious customs were predominant in their lives. One example of this was le Réveillon, held after Christmas mass. The ceremony lasted through the night and into the following day.

"I…heard the guitar resound after sunset, with the complaints and amorous fables of the village swains, and heard the same hand, which toiled all day in the wilderness and in the waste, strike the tender notes of love in the evening. The custom seemed to pervade all ranks. Nearly every house had its group, and every group its guitar, fiddler, story-teller, or singer. As the evening advanced and the heat diminished, walking commenced and towards midnight the music of the village united, the little world crowded to the spot and danced with infinite gaiety and mirth till past one in the morning."

Much of the historic town of Ste.Genevieve remains intact today. Some of the most obvious relics of the colonization period are the historic homes. Included among these homes are the Bolduc House, Felix Vallé, Guibord-Vallé, and the Amoureux House. Also, there are customs that have lasted through the ages, such as la Guignolée. In this custom, the men of the town dress up in period costumes and go from house to house, singing nonsense songs. When they come to a house, they ask for food and if there is no food to be given, they ask for the eldest daughter. The French heritage has survived the test of time in Ste. Genevieve. More recently it has survived the flood of 1993.

Learning a second language is a worthwhile endeavor. Often times, when studying a different language, however, one associates that language exclusively with a foreign country or culture. The realization can be made, after studying Ste. Genevieve, that foreign culture has put a hand in the development of our culture. French heritage can be found closer to home. It is important to understand that the melange that is American history has direct elements of its founders' societies.