Desloge Map
Desloge is a city in St. Francois County, Missouri, United States. The estimated 2008 population was 5,190. It was 4,802 at the 2000 census.
The City of Desloge, Missouri was founded by Firmin V. Desloge, II son of Firmin Rene Desloge who migrated from France and settled in Potosi. Both Desloges were descendants of French nobility. Firmin V. Desloge, II became acquainted with mining through his father and acquired many claims in the area of what is modern day Desloge and Bonne Terre. Desloge developed one of his claims just north of Bonne Terre and built a concentrating plant there.
The plant was destroyed by fire in 1883 and rather than rebuild, Firmin Desloge decided to explore his properties in the present area of Desloge. This new plant and the consolidation of several local mining companies under the Desloge family name became known as the Desloge Consolidated Lead Company. In 1887, the land was cleared and company houses for his staff were constructed in an area referred to as "Desloge Town", just west of the present day railroad tracks. Here, Desloge sank a shaft and built a concentrating plant which commenced operations in 1892. Desloge Missouri and the regional Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District became one of the principal lead mining centers in the US. The Desloge Consolidated Lead Company plant ran under the family operation until 1929 when the company was sold to the St. Joe Lead Company.
Nearby cities include Park Hills, Mineral Point, Potosi, Caledonia, de Soto.