Maplewood is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 census, Maplewood had a population of 8,269.
History
Maplewood was established around the turn of the 20th century. Maplewood was one of the early suburbs of St. Louis. Located just outside the city limits, Maplewood was located at the end of one of St. Louis's streetcar lines and was also located near major railroads.
It was built as a bedroom community. Advertising suggested that people should get away from the city (in an era of common and sooty commercial, industrial, and domestic coal burning) and enjoy the fresh air of less densely populated areas like Maplewood. Maplewood's historic residential areas were mostly built from 1900 to 1910 and a number of well-preserved homes remain. Several of these homes have remained in the same family for generations.
Maplewood is currently being revitalized by an influx of restaurants, businesses, and shops around Manchester Ave., Sutton Ave., and the Greenwood Historic District.
Up until 2018, under a local nuisance ordinance, a person who called the police for domestic violence more than twice in 180 days could face eviction. In 2012, a woman was evicted from her home after she had called the police four times to request protection from physical assaults by her ex-boyfriend. She became homeless in the process. In 2017, the ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of the victim, claiming that the Maplewood nuisance ordinance violated the First Amendment right to petition the government for assistance, as well as the rights to travel, equal protection and due process. In 2018, the ordinance was revised to eliminate language that allowed officials to fine or evict people who were victims of crime.
In 2021, residents of Maplewood elected Nikylan Knapper as the city's first black mayor.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Maplewood city, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition<br><small></small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(NH = Non-Hispanic)</small>
!Pop 2000
!Pop 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |Pop 2020
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|White alone (NH)
|6,922
|5,783
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,001
|75.01%
|71.87%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |72.57%
|-
|Black or African American alone (NH)
|1,461
|1,381
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,084
|15.83%
|17.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.11%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|28
|16
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14
|0.30%
|0.20%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.17%
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|389
|279
|style='background: #ffffe6; |269
|4.22%
|3.47%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.25%
|-
|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|6
|11
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|0.07%
|0.14%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.07%
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|12
|15
|style='background: #ffffe6; |42
|0.13%
|0.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.51%
|-
|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|205
|254
|style='background: #ffffe6; |505
|2.22%
|3.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.11%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|205
|307
|style='background: #ffffe6; |348
|2.22%
|3.82%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.21%
|-
|Total
|9,228
|8,046
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8,269
|100.00%
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Maplewood had a population of 8,269. The median age was 34.7 years. 17.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.4 males age 18 and over.
The population density was 5,300.6 inhabitants per square mile (2,041.7/km).
There were 4,453 households in Maplewood, of which 19.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 26.4% were married-couple households, 30.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 50.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. estimates show that the median household income was $49,833 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,469) and the median family income was $71,939 (+/- $4,544). Males had a median income of $40,494 (+/- $13,044) versus $38,790 (+/- $1,407) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $38,922 (+/- $1,549). Approximately, 10.4% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under the age of 18 and 18.6% of those ages 65 or over.
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 8,046 people, 4,269 households, and 1,769 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 4,889 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 74.1% White, 17.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 3.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.22%.
2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 9,228 people, 4,815 households, and 2,041 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 5,266 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 76.16% White, 15.93% African American, 0.33% Native American, 4.23% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.22%. As of April 2024, the current mayor is Barry Greenberg. The City Manager is the administrative head of the city, whereas the Mayor acts as a member of the City Council, but has no veto power.
Transportation
Public transportation
Maplewood is served by the Blue Line of the St. Louis region's MetroLink light rail system. The city has two stations, Maplewood-Manchester and Sunnen. Metro Transit also operates the Maplewood Transit Center located on Manchester Road. It connects the Maplewood-Manchester light rail station with MetroBus routes and paratransit services.
Major roads and highways
Major arterial routes in Maplewood include Big Bend Boulevard, Hanley Road, and Manchester Road. Hanley Road turns into Laclede Station Road just before entering Shrewsbury to the south while Interstate 44 passes Maplewood just south of the city limits near Deer Creek.
Schools
Public education in Maplewood is administered by the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District, which operates Maplewood Richmond Heights High School.
Maplewood has a lending library, the Maplewood Public Library.
Notable people
- Mark Christman, baseball player
- Paul Christman, Pro football
- Ray Kennedy, jazz pianist
- Pee Wee Russell, jazz musician, was born in Maplewood
- Tershawn Wharton, Defensive Tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs
See also
- 1939 St. Louis smog, an example of what levels pollution could rise to in nearby St. Louis
- Schlafly Bottleworks, Maplewood branch of the Saint Louis Brewery and a restaurant
References
External links
- City of Maplewood official website
- Maplewood Chamber of Commerce