Potosi, Missouri
Potosi, Missouri | |
|---|---|
Washington County Courthouse | |
| Motto: A City for All Seasons | |
Location of Potosi, Missouri | |
| Coordinates: 37°56′01″N 90°46′30″W / 37.93361°N 90.77500°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Washington |
| Incorporated | 1826 |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.33 sq mi (6.03 km2) |
| • Land | 2.33 sq mi (6.03 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 991 ft (302 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,538 |
| • Density | 1,090.21/sq mi (420.86/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 63664 |
| Area code | 573 |
| FIPS code | 29-59330 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396262 |
Potosi is a city and the county seat of Washington County, Missouri, United States. Potosi is 72 miles (116 km) southwest of St. Louis. The population was 2,538 as of the 2020 census.
Located in the Lead Belt, the city was founded in 1763 by French colonists as Mine à Breton or Mine au Breton. After the United States acquired this area, American Moses Austin renamed the community for the Bolivian silver-mining city of Potosí. He was involved in lead mining.