Is it "St. Joseph" or "Saint Joseph"?

Although not a "frequently" asked question, periodically someone asks if the city's name is properly "St. Joseph" or "Saint Joseph."  Well, whether you write "St. Joseph," "Saint Joseph," or "St. Joe," we know what you mean.  Mail and packages are delivered, and checks clear the bank; as a practical matter--they all work!

There is a correct answer, though.  If you're looking to pick up points in a trivia contest or just like knowing things...our city's name is "St. Joseph."

How do we know?  It is the name given to the community in the legislative acts incorporating the Village of St. Joseph in 1834 and the City of St. Joseph in 1891.  Think of those as the community's birth certificates.

If only we'd recognized that before putting the sign in front of City Hall in the late 1990s.  (Maybe someday "things you're used to seeing around town that we wish had been a little different" will be its own FAQ.)

We're in good company, though; the US Postal Service recommends "Saint Joseph" and indicates "St Joseph" is a name to avoid in mailing addresses, along with "St Joe" and "Saint Joe."  (Don't get anyone started on including punctuation in addresses.)  It says "Shoreham" will work, though!