Jefferson County, also known as Jeffco, is a county in Missouri that is just under South St. Louis. It is known for the amount of hunters, rednecks and guns that are in this town. Even though there are plenty of "normal" people, when you leave Jeffco, you never realize how country you really are. When you say you're from Jeffco, people automatically assume you're some hillbilly that does meth. In reality, it is just like many other counties in Missouri. There are some things that make Jefferson County natives different from everyone else, however, and here they are.
1. We hear “Are you from the school where people drove tractors to school?” a lot.
Nope, actually, no one has ever driven a tractor to school, but I’m glad people think that we are that redneck, because it is completely true. Even though no one has driven a tractor to school (simply due to the fact that there isn’t a place for a parking sticker on a tractor), we did tailgate before school, and after school. We tailgate for everything.
2. You can't see Windsor's basketball team.
Great at shooting deer and basketballs.
3. You had a solid mix of people who wore cowboy boots and people who wore high-top Jordans.
We had it all: people who listened to rap and wore their pants down to their ankles. They wore flat bills, and high-top Jordans and walked around the school with beats over their ears. Also, right across the hallway, you had kids in camo and cowboys boots, not caring about using headphones, but playing their country music out loud.
4. You’re still upset about the Arnold Tower.
The Arnold Tower may have been one of the most devastating things to ever happen to Jefferson County. Our beautiful mint green water tower was suddenly painted baby blue with no warning. Even though the #KeepItGreen movement on Twitter did not work, the Arnold tower will always be green in our hearts (and on our Snapchat filters).
5. Your heart broke when Highway 55 flooded.
When 141, 44, 30 and 21 closed, you thought that it was OK. As long as Highway 55 stayed opened, you had a way to get in and out of Jefferson County. Then you saw it on the news and you heard the words, “By midnight tonight, you need to decide which side of the river you want to be on,” and you most likely went to the southern half of the river.
6. You will never find another sno-cone shop as good as SnJ’s.
Every time you get a sno-cone anywhere else, you automatically get mad. It is either not crushed up enough, there isn’t enough flavoring in it, or the flavors are too basic. You can’t go up to any other sno-cone shop and ask for a “My Little Pony” or a “Cardiac Arrest.”
7. You drive backroads going at least 30 over.
Old Lemay Ferry, Prairie Hollow, East Rock Creek and many more. They are all “scary” and they all have “steep drop-offs.” You don’t care. You are used to it and sharp turns and crazy hills don’t even phase you anymore. You have most likely scared many people who have driven with you on those roads by how fast you fly down them. In your college town, roads there do not even compare to the dangerous roads of Jefferson County.
8. You’re used to school getting called off.
You know how to drive back roads, but you do not know how to drive in the snow. Why? Because you never had to before. If even a little snow hit the ground school got called off because the buses couldn’t make it due to the back roads. #CallItOffDianne
8. You still are clueless how why the speed limit on Lion's Den is 35 mph.
This might be the safest back road in the whole county, and it also has the worst speed limit. Why is it 35 mph? It is basically a highway.
9. Tower 21 is the most relaxing place in the world.
It is one of the only places in Jeffco where you can escape the world. You can climb to the top of the tower and look out at the beautiful space around you. It is where people who are afraid of heights can get rid of their fear and go on an adventure. But you have always wondered what happens in there, and you don’t touch the floor with your bare hands.
10. "Silent 10" games were the best games.
In case you are not familiar with what a "silent 10" game is, it is also known as cancer-awareness night or a pink out. Everyone in the crowd stays silent until the home team scores 10 points in honor of the people who have lost their battle to cancer. As soon as the 10th point has been scored, the crowd erupts, cheering for all of those people who have beat cancer.
11. Even if you didn't know him, Cole Buehner touched your life in an amazing way.
We all heard the horrible story about how Cole Buehner passed away in a street bike accident one day after school. To see how hurt and heartbroken his classmates were touched the lives of many. He will always be remembered by everyone in Jefferson County, and he will never be forgotten.
12. Even though you love your college town, Jeffco will always have a place in your heart.
College is great, maybe even better than high school, but you always get a little excited as soon as you see that “Welcome to Jefferson County” sign.
