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EspañolST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI
'St. Louis County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. According to the 2000 census, the population was 1,016,315, making the county the most populous in the state of Missouri. This county is notable for its 400+ private-street associations. Its county seat is Clayton6. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area and borders the City of St. Louis, which is independent from St. Louis County.
Origin of name
The county was organized in 1812 and was originally a Spanish colonial district, named for Saint Louis, King of France. In 1876, City of St. Louis separated itself from the county, creating an independent city.
Law and government
St. Louis County was the first Missouri County to adopt a home-rule charter under the Missouri constitution, in 1950. The current St. Louis County Charter was adopted by the voters on November 6, 1979.
Executive power of the county is vested in the county executive, which is a full-time salaried position. The current county executive is Charlie Dooley, who was re-elected November 7, 2006. The county executive's term is 4 years; he is elected by the general population of the county.
Ordinances are passed by a county council. The council is made up of 7 members, each from a separate district within the county. Council member terms are 4 years, beginning on January 1 following the election. Elections are held in even-numbered years, with terms for even- and odd-numbered districts staggered.
Crime and Safety
When compared to other large urban counties, St. Louis County’s crime rate per 100,000 residents is among the lowest in the nation. For example, there were just 30 homicides reported in 2003 out of a population of over 1 million people. There has been a 25% decrease in crime since 1991, and St. Louis County is now at its lowest level of crime since 1973.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,356 km² (524 mi²). 1,315 km² (508 mi²) of it is land and 41 km² (16 mi²) of it (3.03%) is water.
St. Louis Metro Area
The St. Louis Metro Area is the biggest in Missouri 7 Counties in Missouri And one Independent City
St. Louis County, Jefferson County, Warren County, St. Charles County, Washington County, Franklin County, Linclon County and St. Louis City. and 7 Counties in Illinois Clinton, Bond, Macoupin, Calhoun,
Madison, St. Clair, Jersey.
Natural boundaries
The Missouri River forms the northern border with Saint Charles County, exclusive of a few areas where the river has changed its course. The Meramec River forms most of its southern border with Jefferson County. To the east is the City of Saint Louis and the Mississippi River. The western boundary with Franklin County is the north-south line where the distance between the Meramec and Missouri Rivers is the shortest, bisecting the City of Pacific roughly 2 blocks east of Hwy OO/F (First street).
Topography
The Ozark Mountains begin in western Saint Louis County, with most of the rest of the county being a fairly level plateau. This western part of the county is the least developed, due to rugged topography. Bluffs along the Mississippi in the south of the county rise about 200-300 feet above the river. A major floodplain area is the Chesterfield Valley, in the western part of the county, along the Missouri River, formerly called "Gumbo Flats" after its rich, dark soil; it was submerged by at least ten feet of water during the Great Flood of 1993, but recent development there is protected by a higher levee. The Columbia Bottom is a floodplain in the northeast of the county at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers; this is a conservation area open to the public. The Missouri Bottom area between the two other floodplains is largely agricultural, but is being increasingly developed. The River des Peres drains the interior of county before flowing underground into the City of St. Louis. Other streams include Coldwater Creek, Bonhomme Creek, and Creve Coeur Creek, flowing into the Missouri River; Keifer Creek and Grand Glaize Creek, flowing into the Meramec River; Gravois Creek, flowing into the River des Peres; and Maline Creek, flowing into the Mississippi River.
Geology
The bedrock is mainly limestone and dolomite, and much of the county near the rivers is Karst terrain, with numerous caves, sinkholes, and springs. No igneous or metamorphic rock is exposed on the surface. A major outcropping of the St. Peter Sandstone formation, a fine white sandstone used for making clear glass, is mined in the southwest corner of the county in Pacific. Brick clay mining was once a major industry in the county. The Charbonier Bluff along the Missouri River is an outcropping of coal, and was used a fueling station for steamboats. The "St. Louis Anticline", an underground formation, has small petroleum deposits in north part of the county.
Flora and fauna
Before European settlement, the area was prairie and open parklike forest, maintained by Native Americans via burning. Trees are mainly oak, maple, and hickory, similar to the forests of the Ozarks; common understory trees include Eastern Redbud, Serviceberry, and Flowering Dogwood. Riparian areas are heavily forested with mainly American sycamore. By the 1920s most of the timber in the county was harvested; since that time, large parks and undeveloped areas in the western and southern parts of the county have grown dense forest cover. Old pastures are usually colonized with Eastern red cedar. Most of the residential area of the county is planted with large native shade trees. In Autumn, the changing color of the trees is notable. Saint Louis County has the most recorded native species of plants in the state, but this is probably due to the intensive botanical research done in the area. Most species here are typical of the Eastern Woodland; but some southern species are found in swampland, and typical northern species survive in sheltered hollows. Invasive species, most notably Japanese Honeysuckle, are common in some homesteads converted to parks; these are actively removed.
Large mammals include growing populations of whitetail deer and coyotes, which are becoming increasingly urbanized. Eastern Gray Squirrel, Cottontail rabbit, and other rodents are abundant, as well as Opossum, Beaver, Muskrat, Raccoon, and Skunk. Large bird species include Wild Turkey, Canada goose, Mallard duck, various raptors like the Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk, as well as shorebirds, including the Great Egret and Great Blue Heron. Winter populations of Bald Eagles are found by the Mississippi River around the Chain of Rocks Bridge. The county is on the Mississippi Flyway, used by migrating birds, and has a large variety of small bird species, common to the eastern U.S. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow, an introduced species, is limited in North American to the counties surrounding Saint Louis.
Frogs are commonly found in the springtime, especially after extensive wet periods. Common species include American toad and species of chorus frogs, commonly called "spring peepers" that are found in nearly every pond. Some years have outbreaks of cicadas or ladybugs. Mosquitos and houseflies are common insect nuisances; because of this, windows are nearly universally fitted with screens, and "screened-in" porches are common in homes of the area. Populations of honeybees have sharply declined in recent years, and numerous species of pollinator insects have filled their ecological niche.
Climate
Saint Louis County has a continental climate, and has neither large mountains nor large bodies of water to moderate its temperature. The area is affected by both cold Canadian arctic air, and also hot, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico. The county has four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature for the years 1971-2000, recorded at Lambert–St. Louis International Airport, is 56.3 °F (13.5 °C), and average precipitation is 38.75 inches (980 mm). The average high temperature in July is 90 °F (32 °C), and the average low temperature in January is 21 °F (−6 °C), although these values are often exceeded. Temperatures of 0 °F or below occur 2 or 3 days per year on average.[1] The highest temperature ever recorded in Saint Louis was 115 °F (46 °C), in 1954, while the lowest temperature on record is −23 °F (−31 °C), in 1873[2]
Winter is the driest season, averaging about 6 inches of total precipitation. Springtime, March through May, is typically the wettest season, with just under 10.5 inches. Dry spells of one or two weeks duration are common during the growing seasons.
Thunderstorms can be expected on 40 to 50 days per year. A few of them will be severe with locally destructive winds and large hail, and occasionally accompanied by tornadoes.[1] A period of unseasonably warm weather late in Autumn known as Indian summer is common – roses will still be in bloom as late as November or early December in some years.
Other geography
The largest natural lake in the state is Creve Coeur Lake, and is a county park.
Manchester Road (Route 100) follows an ancient path westward out of Saint Louis, following the boundary between the Missouri and Meramec watersheds, and is the only way to leave the area without crossing rivers.
'The Sinks' is a karst area near Florissant, with numerous sinkholes.
Adjacent counties
★ St. Charles County (north, northwest)
★ Madison County, Illinois (northeast)
★ City of St. Louis (east)
★ St. Clair County, Illinois & Monroe County, Illinois (southeast)
★ Jefferson County (south)
★ Franklin County (southwest)
Major highways
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 1,016,315 people, 404,312 households, and 270,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 773/km² (2,001/mi²). There were 423,749 housing units at an average density of 322/km² (834/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 70.83% White, 24.02% African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were .83% of the population.
There were 404,312 households out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $50,532, and the median income for a family was $61,680. Males had a median income of $45,714 versus $30,278 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,595. About 5.00% of families and 6.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.30% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over. St. Louis County is the most affluent county in the state of Missouri.
Employment
St. Louis County's rapid job growth in the past two decades has brought the County's share of the State of Missouri's jobs to 23 percent: nearly one-quarter of all of the jobs in the State are located in St. Louis County.
Population and Residents
St. Louis County is the largest county in the state divided into North, West and South Counties, which may be considered secondary counties. Although not hypersegregated like other midwestern cities such as, Milwaukee, and Detroit, St. Louis and its surrounding suburbs tend to be separated by race, but more so by economics in this class conscious MSA.
West County
Much of West County is inhabited by professionals and old wealth creating the largest area of high income residents in the Midwest other than Chicago's affluent North Shore and Oakland County Michigan. These communities include Clayton, Ladue, Creve Coeur, Ellisville, Frontenac, Town and Country, Des Peres, Huntleigh, Chesterfield, Clarkson Valley and Wildwood. West County is also home to many upscale shopping malls including The St. Louis Galleria, West County Mall and Plaza Frontenac. West County suffers from extensive traffic congestion, hindered more by the highway 40/64 reconstruction project.
West County is also highly conservative according to the west county chamber of commerce, George Bush received over 69% of the votes here in 2004. Despite that West County has the highest Asian population in the area. There is also a significant Jewish community in Creve Coeur, and Ladue.
North County
North County is home to The Boeing Company, Lambert St. Louis International Airport and Ameren. Its population is the most diverse of the three areas with about 1/2 of its residents claiming African American heritage. North County has become a haven for middle income blacks leaving north St. Louis City. Public transportation is a big plus in North County and is the first area of Metro St. Louis that is served by the metropolitian rail system, Metrolink. Influential cities and towns include Florissant, Hazelwood, Maryland Heights. North Saint Louis County is not only diverse in racial makeup but also by socioeconomic means. While mostly middle income residents reside here, there are some upper income communities such as Black Jack, Bel-Nor, and Pasadena Hills, the second most affluent majority black community north of the mason-dixon line other than Olympia Fields, Illinois. Yet some of the inner ring suburbs increasingly show signs of instability and white flight, notably, Kinloch and Wellston, where 4 times as many people live in poverty than in St. Louis city.
South County
South County is the least diverse area within the county however retains the classic middle american suburban feel. While largely populated most of the area is considered 'unicorperated'. Major communities include Sunset Hills, Mehlville, Oakville, and Lemay.
Cities and towns
:''For a listing by population, see: St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area.''
St. Louis County has 91 municipalities and 9 unincorporated census-designated places:
:† unincorporated
:‡ Times Beach was disincorporated in 1985, Peerless Park was disincorporated in 1999, Carsonville disincorporated
Maps of the municipalities and CDPs are available here.
Education
Unified school districts
★ Affton ★ Bayless ★ Brentwood ★ Clayton ★ Ferguson-Florissant ★ Hancock Place ★ Hazelwood ★ Kirkwood | ★ Ladue ★ Lindbergh ★ Maplewood-Richmond Heights ★ Mehlville ★ Normandy ★ Parkway ★ Pattonville ★ Ritenour | ★ Riverview ★ Rockwood ★ Special School District ★ University City ★ Valley Park ★ Webster Groves ★ Wellston |
High schools
St. Louis has an abundance of exceptional private schools due to many circumstances. It has the largest number of Catholic affiliated secondary institutions in the continental U.S. Most of the prestigious private schools reside in West St. Louis County, one of the wealthiest areas in the region. This adds to the extensive number of private institutions in the area.
Many schools in St. Louis are religiously affiliated institutions. Owing to its status as an archdiocese and historically Catholic city, many children attend parochial grade schools. For secondary education, many students attend single-sex Catholic high schools, including:
Co-ed Catholic:
★ John F Kennedy Catholic High School, West County
★ Bishop DuBourg High School, West County
★ Trinity Catholic High School, North County
★ Gateway Christian Academy- Chesterfield, West County
★ Rosary High School, North County
★ Duschene High School, St. Charles County
★ Notre Dame, West County
★ Cardinal Ritter College Prep, St. Louis
★ St. Dominic's High School, St. Charles County
★ Barat Academy, St. Charles County
★ St. Pius X High School, Jefferson County
Boys' Catholic:
★ De Smet Jesuit High School, West County
★ Chaminade College Prep, West County
★ Christian Brothers College High School, West County
★ St. Louis University High School, St. Louis
★ St. Mary's High School, West County
★ Saint Louis Priory School, West County
★ St. John Vianney, South County
★ St. Francis Borgia High School, West County
Girls' Catholic:
★ Cor Jesu Academy, West County
★ Nerinx Hall, West County
★ Visitation Academy, West County
★ St. Elizabeth's Academy, St. Louis
★ St. Joseph's Academy, West County
★ Villa Duchesne, West County
★ Ursuline Academy, South County
★ Rosati-Kain High School, St. Louis
★ Incarnate Word Academy, North County
There are also other private schools with other religious affiliations, such as:
★ Christian Academy of Greater St. Louis
★ Gateway Christian Academy- Chesterfield
★ North County Christian School
★ Westminster Christian Academy
★ Lutheran High School North
★ Lutheran High School South
★ The Logos School
★ Wildwood Christian
★ The Oak Hill
★ Christian High School
St. Louis also has many excellent secular private schools, which are mostly co-ed, including:
★ MICDS
★ John Burroughs School
★ Thomas Jefferson School
★ Crossroads School
★ Whitfield School
★ Hiram Neuwoehner School- Town and Country
These do not include the arcdiocesan-run high schools (co-ed) or the public high schools (see above for districts)
For a complete list see List of high schools in St. Louis County
County Parks
Affton White-Rodgers Community Center -- Albrecht -- Bee Tree -- Bella Fontaine -- Bissell House -- Black Forest -- Bohrer -- Bon Oak -- Buder (North and South of Interstate 44) -- Castlepoint -- Champ -- Cliff Cave -- Clydesdale -- Creve Coeur -- Endicott -- Faust -- Fort Bellefontaine -- Fort Bellefontaine West -- George Winter -- Greensfelder -- Jefferson Barracks -- Kennedy -- King -- Kinloch -- Larimore -- Laumeier Sculpture Park -- Lemay -- Lone Elk -- Love -- Lower Meramec River -- Mathilda-Welmering -- McDonnell -- Museum of Transportation -- Ohlendorf -- Ohlendorf West -- Queeny -- Robert Winter -- Simpson -- Sioux Passage -- Spanish Lake -- St. Vincent -- Suson -- Sylvan Springs -- Tilles -- Unger -- Veteran's Memorial -- West Tyson -- Widman
Undeveloped County Parks
Bright-Fowler -- Castlewood -- Fairmont -- Forrest Staley -- Grasso -- Linear Parks South -- Long Log Cabin -- Lower Meramec River -- MSD Union Road -- Packwood -- St. Stanislaus -- Winding Trails
Municipal Fire Departments
Berkeley -- Brentwood -- Clayton -- Crestwood -- Des Peres -- Ferguson -- Frontenac -- Glendale -- Hazelwood -- Jennings -- Kirkwood -- Ladue -- Maplewood -- Olivette -- Pacific -- Richmond Heights -- Rock Hill -- Shrewsbury -- University City -- Webster Groves
Fire Protection Districts
Affton -- Black Jack -- Community -- Creve Coeur -- Eureka -- Fenton -- Florissant Valley -- Kinloch -- Lemay -- Maryland Heights -- Mehlville -- Metro West -- Mid-County -- Moline -- Monarch -- Normandy -- Pattonville -- Riverview -- Robertson -- Spanish Lake -- Valley Park -- West County EMS -- West Overland
External links
★ Saint Louis County Government Website, http://www.stlouisco.com
★ Saint Louis County Municipalities page, http://www.co.st-louis.mo.us/scripts/communities/
★ North County Photos website, http://northcountyphotos.com
★ St. Louis climate, from the National Weather Service
★ WikiLou - The St. Louis Area's Very Own Wiki
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