Chesterfield, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Chesterfield is a second-ring western suburb of St. Louis and is the largest city in west St. Louis County, Missouri
, United States
. As of the 2010 census the population is 47,484. Chesterfield also celebrated its 20th birthday in 2008.
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 32.7 square miles (84.7 km²), of which 31.5 square miles (81.6 km²) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) (3.73%) is water.
Portions of Chesterfield are located in the floodplain
of the Missouri River
, now known as Chesterfield Valley, formerly Gumbo Flats. This area was submerged during the Great Flood of 1993
; higher levees built since then have led to extensive commercial development in the valley. Chesterfield Valley is the location of Spirit of St. Louis Airport
, used for corporate aviation, as well as the longest outdoor strip mall in America http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/268479/flood_plain_developers_dare_nature/?source=r_science. The remainder of Chesterfield is located on the bluffs
above the floodplain, and includes residential and retail development.
of 2000, there were 46,802 people, 18,060 households, and 13,111 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,485.4 people per square mile (573.5/km²). There were 18,738 housing units at an average density of 594.7 per square mile (229.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.30% White, 0.86% African American, 0.12% Native American, 5.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races
, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population.
There were 18,060 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples
living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $92,977, and the median income for a family was $117,092. Males had a median income of $74,934 versus $39,217 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $43,288. About 1.8% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.
An organization was formed calling itself the "Chesterfield Incorporation Study Committee." Headed by president John A. Nuetzel, himself former president of the River Bend Association, (a zoning watchdog) the members passed the hat at neighborhood meetings, engaged legal help, drew up metes and bounds and forced several unsuccessful votes for incorporation. After a number of years, in 1989, The City of Chesterfield was finally established by its residents and thrives today as a major residential, business, retail and transportation center on the western edge of St. Louis County.
runs East-West through Chesterfield, there are seven exits serving the city (exit numbers 14-21). Missouri Route 340 (Olive Blvd.) runs on an East-West though much of Chesterfield before turning Southwest near the I-64 Interchange, Rt 340 is known as Clarkson Rd South of junction. Missouri Route 141 (Woodsmill Rd) runs along the Eastern border between Chesterfield and Town and Country, Missouri
. Rt. 141's northern terminus is located in Chesterfield at Olive Blvd. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and St. Louis County Department of Highways and Traffic (DHT) will begin construction of Route 141 in Chesterfield in 2009. MoDOT will expand Route 141 between just south of Ladue Road (Route AB) to Olive Road (Route 340). DHT will extend Route 141 from Olive Road to the Page Avenue Extension (Route 364) at the Maryland Heights Expressway
and connects Chesterfield to many other portions of Greater St. Louis by numerous bus routes.
, is located in the Chesterfield Valley; the airport is owned by St. Louis County.
serves the Western portions of the city, while the Parkway School District
serves the Eastern portions of Chesterfield.
, Dierbergs, Kellwood
and Broadstripe have their headquarters in Chesterfield.
by Bob Cassilly
was dedicated in 1999.
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...
. As of the 2010 census the population is 47,484. Chesterfield also celebrated its 20th birthday in 2008.
Geography
Chesterfield is located at 38°39′12"N 90°33′15"W (38.653402, -90.554255) about 25 miles (40.2 km) west of St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. 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 32.7 square miles (84.7 km²), of which 31.5 square miles (81.6 km²) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) (3.73%) is water.
Portions of Chesterfield are located in the floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
, now known as Chesterfield Valley, formerly Gumbo Flats. This area was submerged during the Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993
The Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries, from April to October 1993. The flood was among the most costly and devastating to ever occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages...
; higher levees built since then have led to extensive commercial development in the valley. Chesterfield Valley is the location of Spirit of St. Louis Airport
Spirit of St. Louis Airport
Spirit of St. Louis Airport is a public airport located 17 miles west of the central business district of St. Louis, in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. It is owned by St. Louis County.- Facilities and aircraft :Spirit of St...
, used for corporate aviation, as well as the longest outdoor strip mall in America http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/268479/flood_plain_developers_dare_nature/?source=r_science. The remainder of Chesterfield is located on the bluffs
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
above the floodplain, and includes residential and retail development.
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 46,802 people, 18,060 households, and 13,111 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 1,485.4 people per square mile (573.5/km²). There were 18,738 housing units at an average density of 594.7 per square mile (229.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.30% White, 0.86% African American, 0.12% Native American, 5.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% 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 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population.
There were 18,060 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% 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, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $92,977, and the median income for a family was $117,092. Males had a median income of $74,934 versus $39,217 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 $43,288. About 1.8% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
For many years, Chesterfield was an all inclusive place name for a vast unincorporated area of St. Louis County. Police and fire protection were fragmented and sporadic, the former provided by St. Louis County. As the population grew, malls and other developments sprang up. But many residents were concerned by the lack of quality services and that the municipal sales tax failed to beneifit the community.An organization was formed calling itself the "Chesterfield Incorporation Study Committee." Headed by president John A. Nuetzel, himself former president of the River Bend Association, (a zoning watchdog) the members passed the hat at neighborhood meetings, engaged legal help, drew up metes and bounds and forced several unsuccessful votes for incorporation. After a number of years, in 1989, The City of Chesterfield was finally established by its residents and thrives today as a major residential, business, retail and transportation center on the western edge of St. Louis County.
- On January 24, 1967, a violent F4Fujita scaleThe Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornadoTornadoA tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
ripped a 21 miles (33.8 km) path of destruction across St. Louis County. It was the fourth-worst tornado to hit the St. Louis metro area and the most recent F4 tornado to hit the city. It set down near the Chesterfield Manor nursing home, and then moved through River Bend Estates and across northeast St. Louis County.
Historical communities
The present-day city of Chesterfield is made up of several smaller historical communities, including:- Bellefontaine (French for, "beautiful spring"), or as the locals called it, "Hilltown", dates to about 1837 with the arrival of August Hill. The first post office was established as Bellemonte ("beautiful mountain") in 1851. Eighteen years later, in 1869, the town and post office name were both changed to Bellefontaine. Rinkel's Market was a familiar landmark for years, at the intersection of present day Olive Blvd. and Chesterfield Parkway (where Charlie Gitto's from The Hill is now).
- The town of Lake started out as "Hog Hollow," in about 1850. The post office was established as Hog Hollow, in 1871; but a year later the town's name was changed, to what some thought was the more suitable name of Lake. Zierenberg's General Merchandise and Saloon (built around 1880), was a well known landmark, at the 18- mile marker on Olive Street Road. The original structure was destroyed by fire in 1918. It was replaced by the still existing structure, on the same site (Olive Blvd. and Hog Hollow Road).
- Gumbo is located in the valley at the present intersection of Chesterfield Airport Road and Long Road. A notable landmark (until it was razed in 1998), was the old Twenty Five Mile House - so named because of its distance from downtown St.Louis. Gumbo's name derived from its soil, which though very rich and silty, when wet became gumbo mud. A substance very similar to gravel was made from Gumbo mud and used for streets and sidewalks in Forest Park during the 1904 World's Fair. Gumbo's post office operated from 1882 to 1907.
- Monarch (earlier called Atherton, then Eatherton), was one of the settlements that sprang up along the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific rail line, when it came through the valley in the late 1870s. William Sutton's General Store stood on the northwest corner of Eatherton and Centaur Roads. Their post office operated from 1895 to 1907, when the mail was transferred to Chesterfield. A well known residence in Monarch was named "The Shadows"; it still survives, with a commanding view from its bluff site.
- Bonhomme had a colorful life. The name is French for "good man." This small community, at the extreme western end of Olive Street Road, was close to the Howell's Ferry landing. It had a blacksmith shop, grist mill, store, post office and Fenn's saw mill; but it was all washed away in the late 19th century by the Missouri River. Bonhomme was a popular name in St. Louis County; with Bonhomme streets, roads, creeks, churches and townships still so-named. However, this Bonhomme is the only one that ever had its own post office.
Highways and major roads
Interstate 64Interstate 64 in Missouri
In the U.S. state of Missouri, Interstate 64 passes through in the St. Louis area. The entire route overlaps U.S. Route 40. Because the road was a main thoroughfare in the St. Louis area before the development of the Interstate Highway System, it is not uncommon for locals to refer to the stretch...
runs East-West through Chesterfield, there are seven exits serving the city (exit numbers 14-21). Missouri Route 340 (Olive Blvd.) runs on an East-West though much of Chesterfield before turning Southwest near the I-64 Interchange, Rt 340 is known as Clarkson Rd South of junction. Missouri Route 141 (Woodsmill Rd) runs along the Eastern border between Chesterfield and Town and Country, Missouri
Town and Country, Missouri
Town and Country is a wealthy inner ring suburb in west St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, with a population of 10,815 as of the 2010 census. Town and Country has the highest median household income of any city in Missouri with population over 10,000 and also has one of the highest median...
. Rt. 141's northern terminus is located in Chesterfield at Olive Blvd. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and St. Louis County Department of Highways and Traffic (DHT) will begin construction of Route 141 in Chesterfield in 2009. MoDOT will expand Route 141 between just south of Ladue Road (Route AB) to Olive Road (Route 340). DHT will extend Route 141 from Olive Road to the Page Avenue Extension (Route 364) at the Maryland Heights Expressway
Public transportation
Public transportion is provided by MetroBi-State Development Agency
The Bi-State Development Agency is an interstate compact formed by Missouri and Illinois in 1949. Since February 2003 the agency has been doing business as Metro. It operates with a budget of $160 million, which is funded by sales taxes from the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County, the St...
and connects Chesterfield to many other portions of Greater St. Louis by numerous bus routes.
Air
Spirit of St. Louis AirportSpirit of St. Louis Airport
Spirit of St. Louis Airport is a public airport located 17 miles west of the central business district of St. Louis, in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. It is owned by St. Louis County.- Facilities and aircraft :Spirit of St...
, is located in the Chesterfield Valley; the airport is owned by St. Louis County.
Primary and secondary schools
Chesterfield has a number of elementrary and middle schools and two high schools. The Rockwood School DistrictRockwood School District
Rockwood School District is in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States.The Rockwood School District is St. Louis County's largest public school system, serving about 22,000 students....
serves the Western portions of the city, while the Parkway School District
Parkway School District
Parkway School District is in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. Their central offices are located at 455 N. Woods Mill Rd., Chesterfield, Missouri.-Incidents on Parkway School District property:* Parkway South Junior High School shooting...
serves the Eastern portions of Chesterfield.
Economy
Reinsurance Group of AmericaReinsurance Group of America
Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated, is a leader in the global life reinsurance industry, with more than $2.4 trillion of life reinsurance in force and assets of more than $27,2 billion...
, Dierbergs, Kellwood
Kellwood Company
Kellwood Company designs, manufactures, and markets a growing collection of premier fashion brands across a broad range of consumer lifestyles including Vince, Rebecca Taylor, ADAM, Baby Phat, Phat Farm, Sag Harbor, Briggs NY, Jolt, and My Michelle as well as licensed brands XOXO and David Meister...
and Broadstripe have their headquarters in Chesterfield.
Top employers
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Luke's Hospital | 3,645 |
| 2 | Pfizer Pfizer Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States... |
1,077 |
| 3 | Parkway School District Parkway School District Parkway School District is in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. Their central offices are located at 455 N. Woods Mill Rd., Chesterfield, Missouri.-Incidents on Parkway School District property:* Parkway South Junior High School shooting... |
1,027 |
| 4 | McBride & Son Homes | 700 |
| 5 | Reinsurance Group of America Reinsurance Group of America Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated, is a leader in the global life reinsurance industry, with more than $2.4 trillion of life reinsurance in force and assets of more than $27,2 billion... |
600 |
| 6 | Amdocs Amdocs Amdocs Limited is a provider of software and services for billing, customer relationship management , operations support systems... |
550 |
| 7 | Mercy Health Plans | 370 |
| 7 | Rockwood School District Rockwood School District Rockwood School District is in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States.The Rockwood School District is St. Louis County's largest public school system, serving about 22,000 students.... |
363 |
| 9 | IKON Office Solutions IKON Office Solutions IKON Office Solutions is a company based in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Formerly part of ALCO Standard. It was the world's largest independent provider of document management systems and services until it was purchased by manufacturer Ricoh in 2008... |
293 |
| 10 | RGA Reinsurance Group of America Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated, is a leader in the global life reinsurance industry, with more than $2.4 trillion of life reinsurance in force and assets of more than $27,2 billion... Technology Partners |
289 |
Sports
- St. Louis BanditsSt. Louis BanditsThe St. Louis Bandits are a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Midwest Division. The team plays their home games at the 2,200-seat Hardee's Iceplex in Chesterfield, Missouri....
(NAHL) play at the Hardee's Iceplex in the Chesterfield Valley.
Attractions
Faust Park contains an updated playground, historical village, walking trail, carousel, and the The Butterfly House, which opened in 1998. A nearby giant cement butterfly sculptureSculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
by Bob Cassilly
Bob Cassilly
Robert James Cassilly Jr. was an American sculptor, entrepreneur, and museum director. Based in St...
was dedicated in 1999.
Notable residents
Chesterfield is home to many high profile business professionals, athletes, and musicians, including:- Jeremy MaclinJeremy Maclin-2009 NFL Draft:Maclin was considered a top National Football League prospect following his second season, and roommate Sean Weatherspoon hoped to convince Maclin to return for his junior year instead of leaving Missouri for the 2009 NFL Draft. Weatherspoon’s efforts were unsuccessful, and on...
, former Missouri TigersMissouri TigersThe Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
wide receiver, current wide receiver for the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Davis PayneDavis PayneDavis Payne is a retired Canadian ice hockey winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins and is the former head coach of the St. Louis Blues.-Playing career:...
, head coach of the St. Louis Blues - Max ScherzerMax ScherzerMaxwell M. "Max" Scherzer is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.-Early life:...
, MLB pitcher for the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. - Yan StastnyYan StastnyYan Stastny is an American-Canadian born professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. Yan comes from a notable hockey family, and is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Šťastný...
, Professional Hockey Player; St. Louis Blues, Parkway Central High SchoolParkway Central High SchoolParkway Central High School is a secondary school located in Chesterfield, Missouri. The school's mascot is the Colt. Parkway Central High School is the original high school in the Parkway School District in St. Louis County. It serves 1,353 students in grades 9-12...
alumnus. - Jim TalentJim TalentJames Matthes "Jim" Talent is an American politician and former senator from Missouri. He is a Republican and resided in the St. Louis area while serving in elected office. He identifies with the conservative wing of the Republican party, being particularly outspoken on judicial appointments,...
, Former U.S. Senator (R). - Adam WainwrightAdam WainwrightAdam Parrish Wainwright is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was drafted 29th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 amateur draft. He made his major league debut for the St...
, MLB pitcher for the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. - Kurt WarnerKurt WarnerKurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is a retired American football player. He played quarterback for three National Football League teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 after playing...
, NFL Quarterback for Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 1999, 2001 NFL MVP, 1999 Super Bowl MVP. - NellyNellyCornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...
, Musician - Al LoweAl LoweAl Lowe is an American musician and game designer/programmer who developed several adventure games, mostly for Sierra On-Line. He is best known for his creation of Leisure Suit Larry and the long-running series it spawned....
, Games Designer and creator of Leisure Suit Larry.