Des Peres, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Des Peres, Missouri
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Des Peres City Hall predates the city's incorporation. It was originally built by the neighboring Lutheran Church as an orphanage.
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Location of Des Peres, Missouri
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Missouri | |
| County | St. Louis | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.32 sq mi (11.20 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.32 sq mi (11.19 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) | |
| Elevation | 617 ft (188 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,193 | |
| • Density | 2,128.50/sq mi (821.73/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| FIPS code | 29-19270 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394523 | |
Des Peres (pronounced "duh-PAIR") is a city in western St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. In 2020, about 9,193 people lived there.
Contents
History of Des Peres
Early Settlers and the City's Name
The land where Des Peres now stands was first home to several Native American tribes. These included the Osage Nation, Cahokia, and Kaskaskia peoples. The Osage were part of a larger group of tribes called the Dhegiha Sioux.
Des Peres is believed to be one of the oldest European settlements in Missouri. It was founded around 1700 by a group of Kaskaskia Native Americans and French people. They had moved from a camp on the Illinois River. The settlement was named "Des Peres," which is French for "The Fathers." This name honored the French Jesuit missionaries who settled there.
Growth and Development
In the 1800s, more people of European descent began to settle in Des Peres. By 1850, the nearby city of St. Louis had grown to 75,000 people. Des Peres attracted many German immigrants and people from southern states like Virginia. They came to the area because the U.S. government was selling farmland.
The city got its name from the River des Peres. Smaller streams like Deer Creek and Two Mile Creek, which flow through the town, are part of this river system. The name Des Pères still means "of the Fathers" in French.
In 1834, a small church called the Des Peres Presbyterian Church was built. This historic church is located on Geyer Road. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Today, Mark Becker is the mayor of Des Peres. He has been serving the city since 2018.
Geography of Des Peres
Des Peres covers a total area of about 4.32 square miles (11.2 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population of Des Peres
How Many People Live Here?
The city's population has grown a lot over the years. Here's how it has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 641 | — | |
| 1950 | 1,172 | 82.8% | |
| 1960 | 4,362 | 272.2% | |
| 1970 | 5,333 | 22.3% | |
| 1980 | 7,953 | 49.1% | |
| 1990 | 8,395 | 5.6% | |
| 2000 | 8,592 | 2.3% | |
| 2010 | 8,373 | −2.5% | |
| 2020 | 9,193 | 9.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Information
According to the 2020 United States census, 9,193 people lived in Des Peres. There were 2,997 households and 2,604 families. Most residents, about 89.64%, were white. There were also people who identified as Asian (3.2%), Black (1.21%), and other races. About 1.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 25.3% of the people living in Des Peres were under 18 years old. About 22.5% were 65 years or older. The average household had 2.8 people.
Economy in Des Peres
Local Businesses
Des Peres is home to some important businesses. The main office for Edward Jones Investments, a large financial company, is located here.
West County Center, a popular shopping mall, opened in Des Peres in 1969. It's a major place for shopping and entertainment in the area.
Another company, Redbird Engineering, also has its international headquarters in Des Peres.
City Taxes
One interesting fact about Des Peres is that the city itself does not collect property taxes. This has been true since 1995. Instead, property taxes in the area go to other services. These include the school district, special schools, St. Louis County, and the community college. They also support the zoo, museums, and the county library.
Culture and Recreation
Parks and Community Fun
Des Peres has six different parks for residents to enjoy. These include Des Peres Park, Harwood Park, Pioneer Park, and Sugar Creek Park.
The city also has two special "urban wildlife areas." These are the 13-acre Phantom Forest and the 10-acre Bittersweet Woods. They are managed with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Both areas are next to Dougherty Lake and have trails for the public to explore.
The Lodge is a community center in Des Peres. It has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center, a gym, and rooms for meetings and events.
The Jar of Pickles
There's a fun local tradition in Des Peres! On Interstate 270, near the West County Center, you might spot a jar of pickles on a highway guardrail. Locals often replace the jar if it gets damaged or goes missing. This tradition started around 2012. There's even a group on Facebook called "Team Pickle" dedicated to it!
See also
In Spanish: Des Peres (Misuri) para niños
