Kirkwood, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Kirkwood is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis
, located in St. Louis County
, Missouri
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,540. Founded in 1853, the city is named for James Pugh Kirkwood
, builder of the Pacific Railroad
through that town. It was the first planned suburb located west of the Mississippi River
.
and the 1849 cholera
outbreak that killed a tenth of the residents of downtown St. Louis
. Kirkwood was the first suburban municipality built outside of the St. Louis City boundaries.
Hiram W. Leffingwell and Richard Smith Elliott bought land 14 miles (22.5 km) from downtown in 1850 at about the same time James P. Kirkwood was laying out a route for the Pacific Railroad. When the railroad reached the community in 1853, the developers sold lots for the Kirkwood Association. Other Leffingwell developments were to include the construction of Grand Avenue and the establishment of Forest Park.
The original town plat including quarter section
blocks and families could be a block estate of 5 acres (20,234.3 m²). Deed restrictions prohibited industrial development.
The train station of Richardsonian Romanesque
style was built in 1893. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP), it has become a symbol of the town. It is the only station stop that Amtrak
makes in the St. Louis metropolitan area outside the central city. Among the four other buildings in Kirkwood listed on the NRHP is a Frank Lloyd Wright
house in Ebsworth Park Foundation.
In 1895 the Meramec Highlands resort was built on the bluffs above the Meramec River.
The Kirkwood High School Pioneers
and Webster Groves Statesmen
alternate as hosts of the annual Turkey Day Game, the longest-running football
high school Thanksgiving Day rivalry west of the Mississippi
. The 100th anniversary game was in 2007. The winner of the Turkey Day Game receives the Frisco Bell, while the loser gets the Little Brown Jug.
The Kirkwood Farmers' Market
was founded in 1976. It is an outdoor market that has a variety of homegrown vegetables and fruits. There are more than 300 local businesses that contribute to the market.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24.1 km²), of which 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 0.54%, is water.
of 2010, there were 27,324 people, 11,894 households, and 10,276 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,993.5 people per square mile. There were 12,895 housing units at an average density of 1,333.7 per square mile (514.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.4% White (88.2% Non-Hispanic White), 7.0% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races
, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
In 2000 there were 11,763.5 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $70,261, and the median income for a family was $89,219. Males had a median income of $51,515 versus $36,235 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $32,012. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
was arrested for abducting 13-year-old William "Ben" Ownby. Police investigating the case had discovered Ownby and also 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck living at Devlin's apartment. Hornbeck had been missing since the age of 11, when he was abducted from near his home in Richwoods, Missouri
. The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation
was set up to find him and other missing children.
On February 7, 2008 a gunman shot multiple people at a Kirkwood city council session
, killing five: Council Member Connie Karr, Council Member Michael H. T. Lynch, Public Works Director Kenneth Yost, and two police officers, Sgt. William Biggs and Officer Tom Ballman. Sergeant Biggs was killed in the lot of a nearby Imo's Pizza restaurant; Thornton stole his gun and proceeded to enter City Hall. Once inside, he killed Officer Ballman and opened fire on the city council. Kirkwood mayor Mike Swoboda
and Suburban Journals reporter Todd Smith were wounded. The gunman, Kirkwood resident Charles "Cookie" L. Thornton, who had a history of disruptive behavior and legal actions against the city government. The legal actions were related to ordinance violations and other issues with the police and the city council. Thornton was shot and killed by additional officers, who responded after one of the dying officers was able to activate his emergency signal on his radio. Within minutes, dozens of officers were on the scene. Mayor Swoboda died later the same year on September 6, 2008, succumbing to cancer
in addition to complications from the February shootings.
. Passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak
. Kirkwood Station
is located near the center of downtown Kirkwood and is a stop for Amtrak's Missouri River Runner
.
. Bus service connects Kirkwood to other suburban communities and downtown St. Louis.
passes through the community along the southern portions of the city limits. Major surface streets include Manchester Road (Missouri Route 100) bordering the city to the north, and US 61/67 (Lindbergh Boulevard) which runs north-south through downtown Kirkwood as Kirkwood Road.
, which dates back to 1865. North Glendale, Robinson, and half of Tillman go to Nipher Middle School, and Keysor, Westchester, and half of Tillman go to North Kirkwood Middle School. The district covers all of Kirkwood as well as all or parts of the neighboring smaller communities of Des Peres
, Frontenac
, Glendale
, Huntleigh
, Oakland
, and Warson Woods
.
. Meramec is the largest community college in Missouri, with over 12,000 undergraduate and transfer students.
St. 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...
, located in St. Louis County
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...
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,540. Founded in 1853, the city is named for James Pugh Kirkwood
James P. Kirkwood
James Pugh Kirkwood was a 19th-century American civil engineer.He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on March 27, 1807...
, builder of the Pacific Railroad
Pacific Railroad
The Pacific Railroad was a railroad based in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was a predecessor of both the Missouri Pacific Railroad and St. Louis-San Francisco Railway.The Pacific was chartered by Missouri in 1849 to extend "from St...
through that town. It was the first planned suburb located west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
History
Plans for a new community close to St. Louis began following the St. Louis Fire (1849)St. Louis Fire (1849)
The St. Louis Fire of 1849 was a devastating fire that occurred on May 17, 1849 and destroyed a significant part of St. Louis, Missouri and many of the steamboats using the Mississippi River and Missouri River. This was the first fire in United States history in which it is known that a firefighter...
and the 1849 cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
outbreak that killed a tenth of the residents of downtown St. Louis
Downtown St. Louis
Downtown St. Louis is the central business district of St. Louis, Missouri, the hub of tourism and entertainment, and the anchor of the St. Louis metropolitan area. The downtown is bounded by Cole Street to the north, the river front to the east, Chouteau Avenue to the south, and Jefferson Avenue...
. Kirkwood was the first suburban municipality built outside of the St. Louis City boundaries.
Hiram W. Leffingwell and Richard Smith Elliott bought land 14 miles (22.5 km) from downtown in 1850 at about the same time James P. Kirkwood was laying out a route for the Pacific Railroad. When the railroad reached the community in 1853, the developers sold lots for the Kirkwood Association. Other Leffingwell developments were to include the construction of Grand Avenue and the establishment of Forest Park.
The original town plat including quarter section
Quarter section
A quarter section, often shortened to quarter, is an area of one-fourth of a square mile, or . It was a common size of a tract in homesteading in the United States and Canada.For details on its use, see*Dominion Land Survey in Canada...
blocks and families could be a block estate of 5 acres (20,234.3 m²). Deed restrictions prohibited industrial development.
The train station of Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
style was built in 1893. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NRHP), it has become a symbol of the town. It is the only station stop that Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
makes in the St. Louis metropolitan area outside the central city. Among the four other buildings in Kirkwood listed on the NRHP is a Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
house in Ebsworth Park Foundation.
In 1895 the Meramec Highlands resort was built on the bluffs above the Meramec River.
Traditions
The Greentree Parade is held every September. The Greentree Festival has many things to do such as arts and crafts for kids and many different foods from many different cultures. Greentree has been a tradition for 50 years. Since 1961, it has been held in Kirkwood Park. The festival was originally created to replace the drought-stricken trees in the park.The Kirkwood High School Pioneers
Kirkwood High School
Kirkwood High School is a secondary school in Kirkwood, Missouri. It is located at 801 W Essex Ave, Kirkwood, MO. The school is part of the Kirkwood R-7 School District. The current principal is Dr. Mike Havener who replaced Dr...
and Webster Groves Statesmen
Webster Groves High School
Webster Groves High School is a public secondary school in Webster Groves, Missouri, United States. It is located at 100 Selma Ave, Webster Groves, MO. The school is part of the Webster Groves School District and its current principal is Dr. Jon Clark....
alternate as hosts of the annual Turkey Day Game, the longest-running football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
high school Thanksgiving Day rivalry west of the Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The 100th anniversary game was in 2007. The winner of the Turkey Day Game receives the Frisco Bell, while the loser gets the Little Brown Jug.
The Kirkwood Farmers' Market
Farmers' market
A farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
was founded in 1976. It is an outdoor market that has a variety of homegrown vegetables and fruits. There are more than 300 local businesses that contribute to the market.
Geography
Kirkwood is located at 38°34′50"N 90°24′51"W (38.580652, -90.414289).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 9.3 square miles (24.1 km²), of which 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 0.54%, 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 2010, there were 27,324 people, 11,894 households, and 10,276 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 2,993.5 people per square mile. There were 12,895 housing units at an average density of 1,333.7 per square mile (514.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.4% White (88.2% Non-Hispanic White), 7.0% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.4% 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 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
In 2000 there were 11,763.5 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $70,261, and the median income for a family was $89,219. Males had a median income of $51,515 versus $36,235 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 $32,012. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Crime
The city is normally low in crime. In 2007 and 2008, Kirkwood was the site of two sensational events. On January 12, 2007, Michael J. DevlinMichael J. Devlin
Michael John Devlin is an American criminal convicted of kidnapping and child sexual abuse. He is currently serving three life sentences at Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri.- Early life :...
was arrested for abducting 13-year-old William "Ben" Ownby. Police investigating the case had discovered Ownby and also 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck living at Devlin's apartment. Hornbeck had been missing since the age of 11, when he was abducted from near his home in Richwoods, Missouri
Richwoods, Missouri
Richwoods is an unincorporated community in northern Washington County, Missouri, United States founded in 1830. It is located just off Route 47 about fifteen miles west of De Soto and nineteen miles south of St. Clair.- 911 :...
. The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation
Shawn Hornbeck Foundation
The ' is a non-profit charitable organization based in Richwoods, Missouri, devoted to the search for and rescue of abducted children. It runs the Search and Rescue Team....
was set up to find him and other missing children.
On February 7, 2008 a gunman shot multiple people at a Kirkwood city council session
Kirkwood City Council shooting
The Kirkwood City Council shooting occurred on February 7, 2008, in Kirkwood, Missouri, United States; a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri in St. Louis County. A gunman went on a shooting rampage at a public meeting in the city hall, leaving six people dead and two others injured...
, killing five: Council Member Connie Karr, Council Member Michael H. T. Lynch, Public Works Director Kenneth Yost, and two police officers, Sgt. William Biggs and Officer Tom Ballman. Sergeant Biggs was killed in the lot of a nearby Imo's Pizza restaurant; Thornton stole his gun and proceeded to enter City Hall. Once inside, he killed Officer Ballman and opened fire on the city council. Kirkwood mayor Mike Swoboda
Mike Swoboda
Mike Swoboda was the former mayor of Kirkwood, Missouri, first elected to the position in 2000 for a term lasting until 2004, and re-elected in 2004 for a term lasting until 2008....
and Suburban Journals reporter Todd Smith were wounded. The gunman, Kirkwood resident Charles "Cookie" L. Thornton, who had a history of disruptive behavior and legal actions against the city government. The legal actions were related to ordinance violations and other issues with the police and the city council. Thornton was shot and killed by additional officers, who responded after one of the dying officers was able to activate his emergency signal on his radio. Within minutes, dozens of officers were on the scene. Mayor Swoboda died later the same year on September 6, 2008, succumbing to cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in addition to complications from the February shootings.
Transportation
Rail
Kirkwood sits along the Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
. Passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
. Kirkwood Station
Kirkwood (Amtrak station)
The Kirkwood Amtrak station is a suburban train station in Kirkwood, Missouri, served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system.Located in downtown Kirkwood, it is one of three Amtrak stations in the St. Louis metropolitan area; the other two are the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center...
is located near the center of downtown Kirkwood and is a stop for Amtrak's Missouri River Runner
Missouri River Runner (Amtrak)
The Missouri River Runner is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak running between Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center in St. Louis and Kansas City Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. This train route was formerly operated as part of the Missouri Service train network, which included...
.
Bus
Bus service in Kirkwood is provided by MetroMetroBus (St. Louis)
MetroBus is the public bus service for the Greater St. Louis Region connected with the MetroLink light rail system. It is managed by the Bi-State Development Agency and uses a shared fare system with the MetroLink rail.-Service:...
. Bus service connects Kirkwood to other suburban communities and downtown St. Louis.
Road
Interstate Highway 270 runs along the western edge of Kirkwood. Interstate 44Interstate 44
Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
passes through the community along the southern portions of the city limits. Major surface streets include Manchester Road (Missouri Route 100) bordering the city to the north, and US 61/67 (Lindbergh Boulevard) which runs north-south through downtown Kirkwood as Kirkwood Road.
Primary and secondary schools
Public education in Kirkwood falls under the Kirkwood R-7 School District, which includes five elementary schools, Tillman Elementary, North Glendale Elementary, Keysor Elementary, Robinson Elementary, and Westchester Elementary, two middle schools, Nipher Middle School and North Kirkwood Middle school, and a single high school, Kirkwood High SchoolKirkwood High School
Kirkwood High School is a secondary school in Kirkwood, Missouri. It is located at 801 W Essex Ave, Kirkwood, MO. The school is part of the Kirkwood R-7 School District. The current principal is Dr. Mike Havener who replaced Dr...
, which dates back to 1865. North Glendale, Robinson, and half of Tillman go to Nipher Middle School, and Keysor, Westchester, and half of Tillman go to North Kirkwood Middle School. The district covers all of Kirkwood as well as all or parts of the neighboring smaller communities of Des Peres
Des Peres, Missouri
Des Peres is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,373 at the 2010 census.-History:The first inhabitants of Des Peres were the Cahokia, the Kaskaskia, the Michigamea, the Moingwena, and the Tamaora Native American tribes....
, Frontenac
Frontenac, Missouri
Frontenac is a wealthy inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The signature landmark is Plaza Frontenac, a high-end mall featuring many prominent retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Tiffany & Co., among others...
, Glendale
Glendale, Missouri
Glendale is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,925 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Glendale is located at ....
, Huntleigh
Huntleigh, Missouri
Huntleigh is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 334 at the 2010 census.-History:The community, most of which encompasses what was the original 1700s farm of Stephen Maddox, is residential, with no commercial or industrial uses. Police services are provided by...
, Oakland
Oakland, Missouri
Oakland is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,381 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Oakland is located at ....
, and Warson Woods
Warson Woods, Missouri
Warson Woods is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,962 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Warson Woods is located at ....
.
Colleges and universities
St. Louis Community College operates a 78 acres (315,655.1 m²) campus in Kirkwood, STLCC-MeramecSt. Louis Community College-Meramec
St. Louis Community College-Meramec campus is located in the suburb of Kirkwood, MO. Meramec is the largest community college in Missouri with over 12,000 undergraduate and transfer students. Along with the main campus in Kirkwood, Meramec operates one satellite campus in South St...
. Meramec is the largest community college in Missouri, with over 12,000 undergraduate and transfer students.
External links
- City of Kirkwood official website
- Kirkwood Historical Society
- Kirkwood School District
- Greentree Festival
- Farmers Market
- Kirkwood at the Open Directory Project
- Historic maps of Kirkwood in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...