The Mound Builders are the earliest Native American groups known to have inhabited the area.
 The Mound Builders cultivated corn and constructed large earthen mounds, particularly in the flood plains along the Mississippi River.
 The Mississippian Culture was in decline by the 12th and 13th centuries, and had largely disappeared by the time of European contact.
 At the time of European contact the most prominent Native American nation in the area were the Illiniwek who inhabited much of present-day Illinois and eastern Missouri.
 One particular Illiniwek tribe, the Kaskaskia Indians, originated from the area of present-day Peoria, Illinois, but had migrated south to the area of Kaskaskia, Illinois.
 In the late 1770s and 1780s, remnants of another Illiniwek tribe, the Peoria tribe, left the east bank of the Mississippi River to escape British and American oppression, with most settling in New Ste.
Genevieve and around the Grand Champ Bottom.
 They were later followed by another Algonquian speaking tribe, the Kickapoos.
The Mound Builders are the earliest Native American groups known to have inhabited the area.  The Mound Builders cultivated corn and constructed large earthen mounds, particularly in the flood plains along the Mississippi River.  The Mississippian Culture was in decline by the 12th and 13th centuries, and had largely disappeared by the time of European contact.  At the time of European contact the most prominent Native American nation in the area were the Illiniwek who inhabited much of present-day Illinois and eastern Missouri.  One particular Illiniwek tribe, the Kaskaskia Indians, originated from the area of present-day Peoria, Illinois, but had migrated south to the area of Kaskaskia, Illinois.  In the late 1770s and 1780s, remnants of another Illiniwek tribe, the Peoria tribe, left the east bank of the Mississippi River to escape British and American oppression, with most settling in New Ste. Genevieve and around the Grand Champ Bottom.  They were later followed by another Algonquian speaking tribe, the Kickapoos.
Le Grand Champ Bottom