Chesterfield is a city located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. It is a western suburb of St. Louis. In 2020, about 49,999 people lived there. This makes it the 14th largest city in Missouri. The valley where Chesterfield is located was once called "Gumbo Flats." This name came from its soil, which was very rich but turned into a sticky, thick mud like gumbo when wet.

Discovering Chesterfield's Past

Early History of Chesterfield

People have lived in the area that is now Chesterfield for thousands of years. Native American artwork and carvings found here are about 4,000 years old. There's also a site from the Mississippian culture, dating back to around the year 1000. This site shows signs of a market and a special gathering place.

Historic Communities that Formed Chesterfield

The city of Chesterfield today grew from several smaller, older communities. These include:

Bellefontaine: This name means "beautiful spring" in French. Locals also called it "Hilltown." It started around 1837.
Lake: This town was first known as "Hog Hollow" around 1850. Its name changed to Lake in 1872.
Gumbo: Located in the valley, this area was named for its unique, sticky soil. This soil was even used to make gravel for streets at the 1904 World's Fair.
Monarch: This settlement grew along the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific rail line in the late 1870s.
Bonhomme: Meaning "good man" in French, this community was at the far western end of Olive Street Road. It had a blacksmith shop and a mill, but the Missouri River washed it away in the late 1800s.

The 1967 Tornado

On January 24, 1967, a very strong tornado hit St. Louis County. It was an F4 tornado, which means it caused a lot of damage. This tornado traveled about 21 miles (34 km) through the area. It was one of the worst tornadoes to hit the St. Louis area.

How Chesterfield Became a City

The name "Chesterfield" came from a landowner named Justus Post. He moved to Missouri in 1815 and bought a lot of land. He named the area after his hometown, Chesterfield, New Hampshire.

For many years, Chesterfield was a large area without its own city government. It included the small communities mentioned above. As more people moved in, big shopping centers like Chesterfield Mall were built. However, residents were worried about public services like police and fire protection. They also wanted the sales tax money to benefit their community directly.

So, a group called the "Chesterfield Incorporation Study Committee" was formed. They worked hard to make Chesterfield an official city. After several tries, the City of Chesterfield was finally established by its residents in 1988. Since then, it has grown into a major center for homes, businesses, and shopping in western St. Louis County.

Satellite image of Missouri River during Great Flood of 1993. This image shows the Missouri River during the Great Flood of 1993, which affected Chesterfield.

The Great Flood of 1993

On July 30, 1993, a levee that protected the Chesterfield Valley (then known as Gumbo Flats) from the Missouri River broke. This was part of the Great Flood of 1993. The entire area was flooded with many feet of water. Today, this valley has been rebuilt and is now the Chesterfield Commons, a large shopping area.

Scientific Discoveries in Chesterfield

At the Chesterfield Village Research Center, important scientific work has taken place. The first genetically modified potato was grown here on June 2, 1987.

Chesterfield's Location and Landscape

Chesterfield is about 25 miles (40 km) west of St. Louis. The city covers about 33.52 square miles (86.82 km²). Most of this is land, with a small part being water.

Some parts of Chesterfield are in the floodplain of the Missouri River. This area is known as Chesterfield Valley. Several small creeks flow into the Missouri River here. After the Great Flood of 1993, higher levees were built. This has led to a lot of new businesses and shops in the valley. The Spirit of St. Louis Airport is also located in Chesterfield Valley. It is used for corporate flights. The valley also has one of the longest outdoor strip malls in America.

People of Chesterfield

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1990	37,991	—
2000	46,802	23.2%
2010	47,484	1.5%
2020	49,999	5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020

In 2020, Chesterfield had 49,999 people living in 19,378 households. The city's population density was about 1,570 people per square mile (606 per km²).

Most of the people in Chesterfield are white (75.77%). There are also significant populations of Asian (14.38%) and African-American (3.18%) residents. About 2.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Chesterfield is about 46.8 years. About 21% of the population is under 18 years old.

Chesterfield's Economy

Several large companies have their main offices in Chesterfield. These include Reinsurance Group of America, Dierbergs, Kellwood, Amdocs, and Aegion.

Chesterfield has three malls, including two outlet malls. It also has a very large strip mall called Chesterfield Commons.

Major Employers in Chesterfield

Here are some of the top employers in Chesterfield:

#	Employer	Employees
1	St. Luke's Hospital	3,447
2	Parkway School District	1,195
3	Bayer	1,011
4	Delmar Gardens Enterprises	913
5	Reinsurance Group of America	780
6	Dierbergs Markets	485
7	Amdocs	455
8	Mercy Health	430
9	McBride & Son Companies	400
10	MOHELA	379

Arts and Culture in Chesterfield

The St. Louis County Library has a branch in Chesterfield called the Samuel C. Sachs Branch.

Parks and Fun in Chesterfield

Faust Park is a popular spot with a playground, a historical village, and walking trails. It also has a carousel and The Butterfly House, which opened in 1998. A large cement butterfly sculpture is also located nearby.

Other fun places in Chesterfield include the Chesterfield Amphitheater, the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex, and the Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center.

Learning in Chesterfield

Public Schools

Chesterfield is served by two main public school districts: Rockwood School District and Parkway School District. Schools located in Chesterfield include:

Chesterfield Elementary
Green Trails Elementary
Highcroft Ridge Elementary
Kehrs Mill Elementary
Marquette High School
Parkway Central High School
Parkway Central Middle
Parkway West High School
Parkway West Middle
River Bend Elementary
Shenandoah Valley Elementary
Wild Horse Elementary

Private Schools

Chesterfield has several private elementary schools: Chesterfield Day School, Chesterfield Montessori School, Ascension School, and Incarnate Word School. Barat Academy is a private high school.

Colleges and Trade Schools

Logan College of Chiropractic is located in Chesterfield. It offers courses in chiropractic care, sports science, and rehabilitation medicine.

Getting Around Chesterfield

Roads and Highways

Interstate 64 (also known as "Highway 40") runs east-west through Chesterfield. There are seven exits for the city. Missouri Route 340 (Olive Blvd.) also runs through Chesterfield. Missouri Route 141 runs along the eastern border of the city.

Public Transportation

Public transportation in Chesterfield is provided by Metro. Buses connect Chesterfield to many other parts of the Greater St. Louis area.

Air Travel

The Spirit of St. Louis Airport is located in the Chesterfield Valley. This airport is used for business and private flights.

Rail Service

The Central Midland Railway (CMR) provides freight train service to businesses in the Chesterfield Valley. This railway uses part of an old line built in 1870.

Famous People from Chesterfield

Max Scherzer: A professional baseball pitcher who plays for the Texas Rangers (baseball). He was born in Chesterfield.
Clayton Keller: A professional ice hockey player and captain for the Utah Hockey Club. He was born in Chesterfield.
Robbie Daymond: A professional voice actor.

Chesterfield, Missouri facts for kids

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