The City of Kimmswick Missouri is located in Jefferson County, just about 35 minutes south of Downtown St. Louis along Interstate 55. It is located just south of the confluence of the Meramec and Mississippi Rivers. Important roads for Kimmswick are Interstate 55, Highway 61/67, State Highway K, Market Street, Third Street and others.
The small city of Kimmswick is served by the Windsor School District.
The history of the City of Kimmswick starts with Theodore Kimm, a successful St. Louis dry goods merchant who moved to Jefferson County in 1850 and purchased a large tract of land. With the completion of the railroad between St. Louis and Pilot Knob, a large amount of settlers, tradesmen and farmers began to pour into the area. Jumping on this economic opportunity, Mr. Kimm founded Kimmswick Missouri in 1859. He laid out the city in a grid pattern and then began selling plots. By 1867, the town could boast that it had a brewery, copper shop, blacksmith, steam flour mill, wagon maker, and other stores.
In the 1700's when the Spanish had control of the Louisiana Territory, the Mississippi River was the main method of travel. There was a trail inland that probably started as an Indian trail that the Spanish used to go between St Louis and Ste. Genevieve and then on to New Madrid. That trail was called the El Camino Real and can be considered the oldest "road" in Missouri. It went right past what would become Kimmswick. In 1917, the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a large granite monument in Kimmswick to mark the location of the trail. Other El Camino Real markers can be found in Ste. Genevieve, Perryville, Cape Girardeau, and New Madrid.
Today, after a very vigorous renovation project, the quaint town of Historic Kimmswick is alive and bustling with activity. It also has the distinction of being on the National Register of Historic Places and has over 35 historical buildings in the district. Shops, restaurants and a visitors center welcomes tourists to town. Several festivals are held annually throughout the year, such as the Strawberry Festival in June, the Apple Butter Festival in October and the Christmas Festival in December. Many original structures have been renovated and the historical society operates the Kimmswick Historical Society Museum which is open to the public and tours are given by reservation.
Kimmswick Missouri City Hall
6041 Third Street
Kimmswick, MO 63053
636-464-7407
Kimmswick Missouri Visitor's Website, Kimmswick Missouri Website