The term cape has a different tradition of usage in the American Midwest along the Mississippi River. The middle Mississippi River Valley once formed part of the French Colonies of Quebec and Louisiana, also referred to as Upper Louisiana (Haute-Louisiane) or the Illinois Country (Pays des Illinois). The Illinois Country also included the left bank of the Mississippi River in present-day Missouri.
The French explorers and mapmakers used the word cape (or in French, "cap") to describe the bluffs and promontories along the Mississippi River. A "cap" could sit next to any body of water, not just the ocean.Southeast Missouri Newspaper: Cape Girardeau isn't the only "cape" around here http://www.semissourian.com/blogs/pavementends/entry/24018/ Spanish authorities also used the term cabo (cape) for points on the Mississippi River. Along the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Cairo there are a number of capes of French origin.
Capes on the Mississippi River and tributaries Name Original French Name Translation State LocationCape Cinque Hommes or Cape St. Cosme Cap des Cinque Hommes or Cap St. Cosmecape of five men or cape of St. CosmeMO Cartographic.info USA http://cartographic.info/usa/map.php?id=715379Cape Creche Cap Crèchecape manger MOCape La CroixCap de la Croixcape of the cross MO Cap à la Cruche Cap à la Cruchecape pitcherMOCape FairState Historical Society of Missouri: Place Names in Stone County http://shs.umsystem.edu/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_stone.htmlCape Faire --MO Cartographic.info USA http://cartographic.info/usa/map.php?id=749204Cape Garlick Cap à l'Ail cape garlic MOCape GirardeauCap de Girardot cape of GirardotMO Cartographic.info USA http://cartographic.info/usa/map.php?id=731549Cap au GrisCap au Gris cape of grayMO Cape de la GrotteCap de la Grottecape of the caves MOCap aux PistoletsCap aux Pistoletscape of the pistolsMNCape La RocheCap de la Rochecape of the rockMOCape de Roche Blanche Cartography of the Illinois Country Cap de Roche blanchecape of the white rock MOCape Rock -- --MO Cartographic.info USA http://cartographic.info/usa/map.php?id=715382Cap de St. Antoinecape of Saint Anthony IL Placekeeper.com: St. Antoine, Missouri http://www.placekeeper.com/Missouri/Cape_Antoine-736427.htmlCape SwallowCap l'hirondellecape swallowMOPointed CapeCap de la Pointecape of the pointMO
See also
Cape (geography)
References