Joseph Robidoux

City Founder

Near this site the French fur trader Joseph Robidoux established a trading post in 1826 while it was still Indian territory. Robidoux and his family oversaw a far-ranging fur trading empire.

The Platte Purchase of 1837 added the six county northwest corner to the state of Missouri. With the opening of the area to settlers, Robidoux incorporated the town of St. Joseph in 1843, naming it for his patron saint.