Black Jack, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Black Jack is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in northern St. Louis County
, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 6,929 at the 2010 census. Its name comes from a grove of Blackjack oak
trees that grew by the riverbank in its current location.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7 km²), of which 0.37% is water.
of 2000, there were 6,792 people, 2,422 households, and 1,789 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,553.3 people per square mile (985.9/km²). There were 2,587 housing units at an average density of 972.5 per square mile (375.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 26.31% White, 71.32% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races
, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 2,422 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples
living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,806, and the median income for a family was $63,324. Males had a median income of $41,969 versus $30,930 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,705. About 2.8% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Therefore, an unmarried couple with one child would qualify as a family, whereas an unmarried couple with multiple children would not.
On August 10, 2006, the ACLU of Eastern Missouri
filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming violation of due process
and equal protection, and violation of housing laws. On August 15 the Black Jack city council unanimously passed a resolution changing the definition of family to include an unmarried couple and their children.
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,929 at the 2010 census. Its name comes from a grove of Blackjack oak
Blackjack oak
Quercus marilandica is a small oak, one of the red oak group Quercus sect. Lobatae, but fairly isolated from the others...
trees that grew by the riverbank in its current location.
Geography
Black Jack is located at 38°47′27"N 90°15′43"W (38.790799, -90.261885).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7 km²), of which 0.37% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,792 people, 2,422 households, and 1,789 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,553.3 people per square mile (985.9/km²). There were 2,587 housing units at an average density of 972.5 per square mile (375.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 26.31% White, 71.32% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 2,422 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,806, and the median income for a family was $63,324. Males had a median income of $41,969 versus $30,930 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $22,705. About 2.8% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Family controversy
In May 2006, the Black Jack city government made a controversial decision to remove an unmarried couple and their children from their own home on the grounds that the couple was not related enough to each other to satisfy a municipal ordinance. For the purpose of obtaining an occupancy permit, Black Jack defined a family as:- An individual; or
- Two (2) or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption; or
- A group of not more than three (3) persons who need not be related by blood, marriage or adoption.
Therefore, an unmarried couple with one child would qualify as a family, whereas an unmarried couple with multiple children would not.
On August 10, 2006, the ACLU of Eastern Missouri
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming violation of due process
Due process
Due process is the legal code that the state must venerate all of the legal rights that are owed to a person under the principle. Due process balances the power of the state law of the land and thus protects individual persons from it...
and equal protection, and violation of housing laws. On August 15 the Black Jack city council unanimously passed a resolution changing the definition of family to include an unmarried couple and their children.