Lake St. Louis, Missouri
Encyclopedia
The City of Lake St. Louis is a planned community
situated around two lakes between Interstate 70
and Interstate 64
in western St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,545 as of the 2010 US Census. Lake St. Louis is a suburb of St. Louis.
Ellerman and Nathan formed Trails Lake Development Corp. instors to keep the project afloat, including R. T. Crow. The financial troubles continued for Ellerman and Nathan, and The Healey Discount Corp., owned by Crow and the three other investors, foreclosed on Ellerman and Nathan's Trails Lake Development Corp. in June 1966.
R. T. Crow felt the location of "Lake St. Louis" (indicating a change of ownership and the "planned community
" concept), between two major highways, I-70 and Rt. 61, and the westward growth of St. Louis justified building a new town, rather than just the weekend community envisioned by Ellerman and Nathan. He investigated the idea of new towns, including visiting many others in the east. In the end, Crow bought out the other three investors who were part of The Healey Discount Corp., and he became the sole developer of the Lake St. Louis development. St. Charles County approved the preliminary plan for Lake St. Louis in April 1967. People who had purchased lots from the first developers were given credits for lots in the new Lake St. Louis project.
The first residents of Lake St. Louis were the Neal family, who moved to an existing home on the property in January, 1968. Gene Neal later became a vice president of one of Crow's company, his wife Hazel managed the Lake St. Louis Country Club. Son Mike played the "boy" of various mythical families in the development's television and print advertising, and later was a founding member of the community's water ski club.
By 1969, the 85 acre (34.4 ha) Lake Ste. Louise, the 9-hole, 3-par golf course, tennis courts, clubhouse and pool were open. Construction on the dam for the 600 acres (2.4 km²) Lake St. Louis, the larger of the two lakes in the community, began in 1968. It was completed in 1972, and Crow filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 1974 - an action brought on in part by the energy crisis
. Interstate highway speeds were reduced from 70 mile per hour. Also, the I-70 bridge over the Missouri River was closed partially while the second bridge was added. The combination of events suddenly made Lake St. Louis too far away from employment and retail centers.
With Crow out of the picture, and the looming threat of annexation from O'Fallon
on the East and Wentzville
on the West, the residents of the Harbor Town area of the community petitioned St. Charles County Circuit Court
for incorporation of the Town of Harbor Town. The Court granted the petition in June, 1975, and with the approval of the incorporation, the Circuit Court appointed a Board of Trustees: George Heidelbaugh, Charles Bailey, David Spitznagel, Betty Patton and Howard Haddock as Chairman. In December 1975, the town boundaries were expanded to include what was known as Phase A, the western-most portion of the city. In 1976, a special census was conducted that counted 2,445 residents. Residents voted in 1977 to change the name to Lake St. Louis and become a 4th Class City under the Revised Statutes of Missouri. Howard Haddock was elected as the first mayor of the city.
, the city has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²), of which, 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (10.08%) is water.
of 2000,it is estimated there were 13,708 people, 3,923 households, and 3,005 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,359.3 people per square mile (524.9/km²). There were 4,133 housing units at an average density of 552.4 per square mile (213.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.60% White, 1.84% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races
, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 3,923 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $68,830, and the median income for a family was $80,700. Males had a median income of $57,201 versus $30,335 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $32,064. About 2.1% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
The residents of Lake St. Louis are part of the Wentzville R-IV School District
.
opened a store on the city's previously undeveloped south side in 2004, at the intersection of I-64 and Lake Saint Louis Boulevard, it marked the beginning of a rapid retail and commercial growth for the city. This was the first new retail development the city had seen in 17 years. In addition to the Schnucks development, the National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) also announced plans to build its $18 million 135,000-square-foot headquarters near the same intersection in 2004. The initial commercial development of 2004 was soon followed by the development of two large retail districts in the city: The Shoppes at Hawk Ridge in and The Meadows at Lake St. Louis. Prior to this period of current retail growth, the city had very little commercial development. Residents of the lakeside community traveled to nearby Wentzville or O'Fallon for most shopping, dining, and other service needs that were not previously available in the city.
, and numerous smaller retailers and restaurants. The Wal-Mart Supercenter was the most expensive store the company ever built, according to developer Don LaBrayere. Building styles and landscaping play a vital role in the look of the development. Businesses such as White Castle and Steak n Shake were forced to abandon their standard store designs and color schemes in order to comply with style elements of the development.
in the county. It features two landscaped boulevards in a downtown street grid, surrounded by 500,000 sq ft (46,000 m2) of restaurants and a variety of specialty retail stores. The retail portion of the development is anchored by upscale specialty department store Von Maur
. Kansas City-based Ferguson Properties also plans to build a 110- to 120-room Marriott or Hilton branded hotel geared toward business travelers as part of the lifestyle center. The Meadows is located on 64 acres on the north side of I-64 near Lake Saint Louis Boulevard.
Planned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
situated around two lakes between Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
and Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
in western St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,545 as of the 2010 US Census. Lake St. Louis is a suburb of St. Louis.
History
In January 1961, Ellis Ellerman and Ira Nathan begin developing plans for a private resort community, a popular concept in the 1960s in the St. Louis region. The vision was for a weekend resort with a lake large enough for recreation and a location close to St. Louis. Ellerman and Nathan hired engineers to begin the initial planning of the lake and community, and Nathan named the project "Lake St. Louis" in 1961.Ellerman and Nathan formed Trails Lake Development Corp. instors to keep the project afloat, including R. T. Crow. The financial troubles continued for Ellerman and Nathan, and The Healey Discount Corp., owned by Crow and the three other investors, foreclosed on Ellerman and Nathan's Trails Lake Development Corp. in June 1966.
R. T. Crow felt the location of "Lake St. Louis" (indicating a change of ownership and the "planned community
Planned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
" concept), between two major highways, I-70 and Rt. 61, and the westward growth of St. Louis justified building a new town, rather than just the weekend community envisioned by Ellerman and Nathan. He investigated the idea of new towns, including visiting many others in the east. In the end, Crow bought out the other three investors who were part of The Healey Discount Corp., and he became the sole developer of the Lake St. Louis development. St. Charles County approved the preliminary plan for Lake St. Louis in April 1967. People who had purchased lots from the first developers were given credits for lots in the new Lake St. Louis project.
The first residents of Lake St. Louis were the Neal family, who moved to an existing home on the property in January, 1968. Gene Neal later became a vice president of one of Crow's company, his wife Hazel managed the Lake St. Louis Country Club. Son Mike played the "boy" of various mythical families in the development's television and print advertising, and later was a founding member of the community's water ski club.
By 1969, the 85 acre (34.4 ha) Lake Ste. Louise, the 9-hole, 3-par golf course, tennis courts, clubhouse and pool were open. Construction on the dam for the 600 acres (2.4 km²) Lake St. Louis, the larger of the two lakes in the community, began in 1968. It was completed in 1972, and Crow filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 1974 - an action brought on in part by the energy crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
. Interstate highway speeds were reduced from 70 mile per hour. Also, the I-70 bridge over the Missouri River was closed partially while the second bridge was added. The combination of events suddenly made Lake St. Louis too far away from employment and retail centers.
With Crow out of the picture, and the looming threat of annexation from O'Fallon
O'Fallon, Missouri
O'Fallon is a suburban city along Interstate 70 between Lake St. Louis and St. Peters in Saint Charles County, Missouri. It is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census population of 79,329, it is the seventh largest city in the state and the largest in St. Charles...
on the East and Wentzville
Wentzville, Missouri
Wentzville is a city located in western St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 29,070. The city's major employer is General Motors which has a full size van assembly plant located there. As the site of the county fairgrounds,...
on the West, the residents of the Harbor Town area of the community petitioned St. Charles County Circuit Court
Missouri Circuit Courts
The Missouri Circuit Courts are the state trial courts of original jurisdiction and general jurisdiction of the state of Missouri.-Jurisdiction:The Missouri Constitution provides for the Circuit Courts in Article V, Judicial Department.-List of circuits:...
for incorporation of the Town of Harbor Town. The Court granted the petition in June, 1975, and with the approval of the incorporation, the Circuit Court appointed a Board of Trustees: George Heidelbaugh, Charles Bailey, David Spitznagel, Betty Patton and Howard Haddock as Chairman. In December 1975, the town boundaries were expanded to include what was known as Phase A, the western-most portion of the city. In 1976, a special census was conducted that counted 2,445 residents. Residents voted in 1977 to change the name to Lake St. Louis and become a 4th Class City under the Revised Statutes of Missouri. Howard Haddock was elected as the first mayor of the city.
Geography
Lake St. Louis is located at 38°47′8"N 90°47′1"W (38.785620, -90.783610). According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²), of which, 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (10.08%) is water.
Demographics
Per 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,it is estimated there were 13,708 people, 3,923 households, and 3,005 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 1,359.3 people per square mile (524.9/km²). There were 4,133 housing units at an average density of 552.4 per square mile (213.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.60% White, 1.84% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.40% 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 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 3,923 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $68,830, and the median income for a family was $80,700. Males had a median income of $57,201 versus $30,335 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 $32,064. About 2.1% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
The residents of Lake St. Louis are part of the Wentzville R-IV School District
Wentzville R-IV School District
Wentzville R-IV School District is a school district in Wentzville, Missouri, United States.The district serves the cities of Foristell, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville; and portions of O'Fallon and Dardenne Prairie...
.
Commercial development
When SchnucksSchnucks
Schnucks is a supermarket chain. Based in suburban St. Louis, the company was started in 1939 with the opening of a store in north St. Louis city and now operates 100 stores in five states throughout the midwest. Schnucks also runs stores under the Logli Supermarkets and Hilander Foods banners...
opened a store on the city's previously undeveloped south side in 2004, at the intersection of I-64 and Lake Saint Louis Boulevard, it marked the beginning of a rapid retail and commercial growth for the city. This was the first new retail development the city had seen in 17 years. In addition to the Schnucks development, the National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) also announced plans to build its $18 million 135,000-square-foot headquarters near the same intersection in 2004. The initial commercial development of 2004 was soon followed by the development of two large retail districts in the city: The Shoppes at Hawk Ridge in and The Meadows at Lake St. Louis. Prior to this period of current retail growth, the city had very little commercial development. Residents of the lakeside community traveled to nearby Wentzville or O'Fallon for most shopping, dining, and other service needs that were not previously available in the city.
The Shoppes at Hawk Ridge
Bounded by I-64 to the north, South Fox Hound Drive to the east, and Hawk Ridge Trail to the South, the Shoppes at Hawk Ridge is an 800,000 sq ft (74,000 m2) retail development situated on the south side of Lake St. Louis. The development was spurred by the new $26 million Hwy N overpass completed in October 2005, which will eventually become part of the Page Avenue extension. The development was the largest retail project in St. Charles County at the time of its construction, and it opened in January 2006. The Hawk Ridge development is anchored by St. Charles County's first Wal-Mart Supercenter, Lowe'sLowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
, and numerous smaller retailers and restaurants. The Wal-Mart Supercenter was the most expensive store the company ever built, according to developer Don LaBrayere. Building styles and landscaping play a vital role in the look of the development. Businesses such as White Castle and Steak n Shake were forced to abandon their standard store designs and color schemes in order to comply with style elements of the development.
The Meadows at Lake St. Louis
The second major retail development that anchors the Lake St. Louis retail district is The Meadows at Lake St. Louis. Opened in August 2008, the Meadows is an open air shopping district geared toward the community's affluent residents. The Meadows was developed to meet the growing demand for specialty stores and restaurants in St. Charles County, and it was billed as the first lifestyle centerLifestyle center (retail)
A lifestyle center is a shopping center or mixed-used commercial development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities oriented towards upscale consumers...
in the county. It features two landscaped boulevards in a downtown street grid, surrounded by 500,000 sq ft (46,000 m2) of restaurants and a variety of specialty retail stores. The retail portion of the development is anchored by upscale specialty department store Von Maur
Von Maur
Von Maur is an mid-range specialty department store chain with stores located in the Midwestern United States and newly expansion stores in the Southern United States. The chain, based in Davenport, Iowa, sells mid-priced brand-name apparel, accessories, cosmetics, gifts, jewelry and shoes. As of...
. Kansas City-based Ferguson Properties also plans to build a 110- to 120-room Marriott or Hilton branded hotel geared toward business travelers as part of the lifestyle center. The Meadows is located on 64 acres on the north side of I-64 near Lake Saint Louis Boulevard.
Notable current and past residents
- Howard "Chingy" Bailey, Jr.ChingyHoward Bailey, Jr. , better known by his stage name Chingy, is an American rapper.Chingy grew up in the Walnut Park section of St. Louis and began rapping in earnest in his late teens...
, Platinum selling music artist - Jonathan DolanJonathan DolanJonathan Dolan is a former Missouri legislator having served the Missouri Senate from 2003 to 2005 and the Missouri House of Representatives from 1997 to 2003....
, Missouri State Senator - Cornell "Nelly" Haynes, Jr.NellyCornell 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...
, Grammy Award winning music artist. His house in Lake St. Louis was featured on MTV CribsMTV CribsMTV Cribs and CMT Cribs, depending on which channel it airs, is a franchise reality television program that originated on the MTV Networks' MTV. It later aired on its CMT channel that features tours of the houses and mansions of celebrities. The first show aired September 2000...
. - Alonzo "Zo" Lee Jr. of The Trak StarzThe Trak StarzThe Trak Starz , are a Grammy Award-winning American hip-hop production group from St. Louis, Missouri.-Biography:...
, Grammy award-winning music producer - Shaun MurrayShaun MurrayShaun Murray is a four-time World champion wakeboarder, and the main character featured in Activision's video game "Wakeboarding Unleashed" in 2002, which was released for PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameBoy Advance.-Early life:Shaun Murray was born on April 28, 1976 in Mission Viejo, California, and...
, Four time World Champion wakeboarder - Dave Phillips, Retired Major League Baseball umpireUmpire (baseball)In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
- Jud "Fabio" Birza, winner of Survivor: NicaraguaSurvivor: NicaraguaSurvivor: Nicaragua is the 21st season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor. It premiered on September 15, 2010 at 8:00pm, moving to the Wednesday timeslot for the first time since Survivor: Borneo....