1541History
In 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto may have stood upon the Sikeston Ridge, although some historical references dispute this, believing that he traveled further south tha...
1763Military
The area was claimed by the French as part of La Louisiane, and they ceded it in 1763 to the Spanish after being defeated by Britain in the Seven Years' War.
1789History
In 1789, by order of the King of Spain, an overland route was laid out to connect the cities of St.
1803History
In 1803 the United States acquired this area under the Louisiana Purchase.
1811Disaster
From December 16, 1811, to February 4, 1812, the area was struck by the 1811–12 New Madrid earthquakes (a series of more than 2,000 events).
1814History
In 1814, the village of Winchester was laid out about one-half a mile south of the future site of Sikeston.
1817Architecture
The Winchester jail was completed in 1817 and was used until December 1821, when Scott County was organized.
1822History
It was the seat of justice for New Madrid County, but after the county seat was moved in 1822 to New Madrid, Winchester became defunct and abandoned.
1829History
In 1829, the city site was acquired by the Stallcup family.
1855Government
The "Baker House" was probably built in 1855, about five years before the town was founded.
1859History
In 1859, city founder John Sikes, who had married into the Stallcup family, gained control of the land.
1860Government
The city is named after John Sikes, who founded it in 1860.
1861Military
Around July 1861, Confederate forces of Brigadier General Gideon Johnson Pillow planned to link up with units commanded by Sterling Price and Benjamin McCulloch for an advance o...
1862Civil Rights
On February 28, 1862, Pope left Commerce with his army of 12,000, arriving in Sikeston on March 2.
1872Military
=== Post Civil War era ===
One of the first rail lines west of the Mississippi River ran to Sikeston, and it was the terminus of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad until 1872.
1873History
Charles Augustus Crow, Republican one-term congressman born on a farm near Sikeston in 1873.
1879Disaster
These six pillars are all that remain of the 1879 church which was destroyed in 1968 by fire.
1888History
The Baker family moved into the house in 1888 and purchased it from the Hunter family in the early 1950s.
1892Education
Francis Xavier Catholic School
Solid Rock Christian Academy
Southeast Missouri Christian Academy
The Christian Academy
In 1892, a local high school known as the "Methodist Colle...
1895Architecture
One of the hotels built between 1895 and 1898 was a three-story brick hotel later known as the Marshall Hotel or Marshall-Dunn Hotel.
1900Architecture
By 1900, Sikeston had a population of 1,100, and two drainage ditches had been completed.
1903History
The bank began in 1903 as the T.
1904History
In 1904, the Little River Drainage District was formed.
1909History
Phil Leslie, head writer for the Fibber McGee and Molly show, was born in Sikeston in 1909
Sunset Thomas, porn film actress
=== Musicians ===
Neal E.
1911Government
It derives its name from two of the city's previous newspapers -- The Democrat Advertiser and The Daily Standard which was founded in 1911 and became a daily newspaper in 1950.
1915Architecture
In 1915, the Missouri Daughters of the American Revolution erected a monument near Woodlawn Street in Sikeston to mark this event.
1917Military
=== World Wars era ===
During World War I, an infantry company was organized in Sikeston on August 25, 1917, until the spring of 1919.
1920Military
In 1920, American Legion Post 114 was chartered for the community of Sikeston and named after Henry Meldrun, a Sikeston native who was killed in Europe during World War I.
1922Disaster
The company helped secure rail centers during the railroad workers' strike of 1922, helped out with the aftermath of the Poplar Bluff tornado of May 1927, and worked on the Miss...
1927Disaster
Prior to 1927, the New Madrid-Sikeston Ridge Levee was constructed to protect the area from flooding from the Mississippi River.
1929Infrastructure
In 1929, the Sikeston portion of the street was paved.
1931Disaster
By 1931, the levee construction had created the New Madrid floodway.
1934Government
The Sikeston Memorial Municipal Airport was built in the 1930s, opening in July 1934.
1939Civil Rights
In 1939, The Daily Standard editor Charles "Pole Cat" Blanton was featured in Time Magazine; he had purchased the newspaper in 1913, publishing the first issue on March 1, 1913.
1940Infrastructure
From 1940 until 1944, it was known as Harvey Parks Airport.
1941Economy
In 1941, Company K was sent to Camp Joseph T.
1942Crime
In the early hours of Sunday, January 25, 1942, a Black man named Cleo Wright was arrested on charges of allegedly assaulting a white woman.
1944Architecture
Sikeston is also the home of VFW Stadium, the city's largest local baseball field; the Sikeston Depot, the city museum; and Sikeston's American Legion-sponsored Cotton Carnival ...
1948Government
=== Healthcare ===
Missouri Delta Medical Center was founded in Sikeston in 1948.
1951Military
In 1951, the city became incorporated due to modern-day pioneer William Howard McGill.
1954History
Louis and assistant minority leader in the Missouri Senate, was born in Sikeston in 1954.
1955Government
In 1955, Tom Baker of Sikeston purchased the charter and established Planters Bank.
1957History
In 1957, Joel Montgomery acquired controlling interest in the bank and renamed it First National Bank.
1958Architecture
Coleman plant, was built in 1958.
1968Sports
and single-season records
George Woods, Olympic silver medalist in shot put in 1968 and 1972.
1977History
Some performers at the local Jaycee rodeo have included Kenny Rogers in 1977 and Loretta Lynn in 1983 with Charlie Daniels and Lee Greenwood performing multiple times.
1981Economy
This power plant began serving the city in 1981 after seven years of initial planning.
1986Disaster
=== Weather events ===
==== 1986 tornado ====
On May 15, 1986, an EF2 tornado hit the city of Sikeston and destroyed about 100 homes, prompting Governor John Ashcroft to visit...
1991Education
Russell, president of the University of Missouri System from 1991 to 1996.
1993Architecture
In 1993, the Sikeston location moved into a new five-story building.
2000Military
In 2000, the remains of Mason Yarbrough, a Sikeston native and World War II marine, were found in the Pacific area on Makin Island and returned to his hometown for a military fu...
2004Culture
Sikeston is home to the Missouri National Guard unit Company C 1140th Engineer Battalion, which took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom from February 2004 until February 2005.
2008History
== Economy ==
As measured in 2008, the cost of living index in Sikeston is low (80.4) compared to the U.S.
2009Disaster
[1]
==== 2009 storm ====
Sikeston and the surrounding area were hit by the January 2009 Central Plains and Midwest ice storm.
2010History
Before the 2010 census, it had been the second-most populous city in the congressional district.
2011Infrastructure
The city is served by the BNSF Railway and was historically served by the Union Pacific Railroad until the tracks were removed in 2011.
2016History
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $42,702 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,514) and the median family income wa...
2020History
=== Climate ===
== Demographics ==
=== 2020 census ===
The 2020 United States census counted 16,291 people, 7,273 households, and 4,383 families in Sikeston.
2024Disaster
==== 2024 tornado ====
Another tornado would move through Sikeston during the morning hours of May 26, 2024.
2025Disaster
==== 2025 tornado ====
A significant tornado would strike areas of Scott County, particularly northern Sikeston.