St. Peters is a city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 57,732 at the 2020 census, making it the tenth-largest city in Missouri. It is a northwestern suburb of St. Louis.

Interstate 70 passes through the city, providing a major transportation link. The city hosts the county's largest shopping center, Mid Rivers Mall.

History

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the area that would become St. Peters was inhabited by Mississippian mound builders. The remains of a village were uncovered during the construction of I-70 in 1954 and a street near the site was later named Mound Drive after the mounds built by the villagers.

One of the first documented sources about European settlers in the area is a Spanish census from 1791, which documented a land grant. St. Peters was named for a Jesuit mission established there. In 1895, music was a binding factor for the area, with a well-known cornet band.

Throughout most of the twentieth century, St. Peters was a small farming town. As recently as 1970, St. Peters had a population of only 486.

During flooding in the region, the National Weather Service reported of rainfall in St. Peters for July 26, 2022, considered an unofficial record.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, St. Peters had a population of 57,732, 23,606 households, and 15,215 families. The population density was . There were 24,233 housing units, of which 2.6% were vacant; the homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%.

The median age was 41.1 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18, 7.4% were from 18 to 24, 26.7% were from 25 to 44, 27.0% were from 45 to 64, and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.6 males age 18 and over.

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 48,135 || 83.4%

|-

| Black or African American || 3,243 || 5.6%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 126 || 0.2%

|-

| Asian || 1,481 || 2.6%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 36 || 0.1%

|-

| Some other race || 839 || 1.5%

|-

| Two or more races || 3,872 || 6.7%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 2,189 || 3.8%

|}

2016–2020 American Community Survey

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $80,119 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,560) and the median family income was $97,777 (+/- $5,810). Males had a median income of $50,557 (+/- $1,820) versus $35,913 (+/- $2,149) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $42,138 (+/- $1,569). Approximately, 2.8% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under the age of 18 and 4.6% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 52,575 people, 20,861 households, and 14,244 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 21,717 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 91.7% White, 3.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 20,861 households, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the city was 38.8 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.9% were from 25 to 44; 30% were from 45 to 64; and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 51,381 people, 18,435 households, and 13,936 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 18,776 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.25% White, 2.80% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.

There were 18,435 households, out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $57,898, and the median income for a family was $65,123. Males had a median income of $45,497 versus $30,295 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,792. About 1.5% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

The Spencer Road Branch library, the largest and busiest within the St. Charles City-County Library District, is in St. Peters.

Parks and recreation

St. Peters has the most extensive park system in St. Charles County. The city has over of parks and trails. Outdoor amenities include: recreation trails, playgrounds, picnic shelters and pavilions, athletic fields, fishing ponds, and landscape areas.

The St. Peters Rec-Plex, a family recreation and athletic training complex, is situated next to St. Peters City Hall. The Rec-Plex hosted the 2004 Olympic Diving Trials The Rec-Plex underwent an $18.5 million expansion in 2007.

Government

right|thumb|St. Peters City Hall

Citizens elect a mayor and eight aldermen (two for each of four wards) to govern the city. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen appoint individuals to the positions of City Collector, City Clerk, and City Treasurer. A Municipal Judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit, also known as the St. Peters Municipal Court, has a four-year term. A City Administrator also works for the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

The Board of Aldermen meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, except the months of June, July, November and December when one meeting is held each month on a date scheduled with the Mayor.

City elections are held in April, per Missouri law for elected officials. Propositions may be voted upon at these elections, or others held in February, August or November.

The mayor is Len Pagano.

Education

The north/northwest parts of St. Peters are in the Fort Zumwalt School District<!--UNI 08370-->. The southern part of St. Peters is in the Francis Howell School District<!--UNI 28950-->. A northeast sliver of St. Peters is in the St. Charles R-VI School District<!--UNI 28920-->.

Three public high schools are within St. Peters city limits: two in the Fort Zumwalt district, Fort Zumwalt South High School with an enrollment of 1,700 students, and Fort Zumwalt East High School (1,100 students) which opened in 2007, and another, Francis Howell North High School (1,690 students) in the Francis Howell district. Some high school students from St. Peters attend schools in surrounding communities such as Francis Howell Central High School in neighboring Cottleville, and Fort Zumwalt North and Fort Zumwalt West High Schools in O'Fallon.

Other public schools in the city include Fairmount, Hawthorn, Lewis & Clark, Mid Rivers, Progress South, St. Peters, and Warren Elementary Schools, as well as DuBray and Fort Zumwalt South Middle Schools.

The city limits also contain the private Lutheran High School of St Charles County.

Infrastructure

St. Peters is home to Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, the county's second busiest after St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles. Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital serves a large portion of St. Charles County, Lincoln County, and Pike County; it is St. Charles County's second largest hospital, with 175 rooms, and a satellite location of the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center.

The city's "Recycle City" opened in April 1997 and has the ability to recycle various types of material which is then sold to companies that use recycled goods in products. In 2007, Recycle City recycled 12,522,767 pounds of material.

Notable people

References

  • City of St. Peters
  • Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce&nbsp;– St. Peters & St. Charles Chambers of Commerce merged in December 2011
  • Historic maps of St. Peters in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri