Fenton, Missouri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fenton, Missouri
City
Main Street in Fenton (February 2018)
Location within St. Louis County, Missouri
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	St. Louis
Founded	1818
Incorporated	1948
Area
• Total	6.59 sq mi (17.07 km2)
• Land	6.27 sq mi (16.24 km2)
• Water	0.32 sq mi (0.83 km2)
Elevation	413 ft (126 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,989
• Density	636.10/sq mi (245.58/km2)
Demonym(s)	Fentonian, Fentonling
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip code	63026
Area code(s)	636
FIPS code	29-23950
GNIS feature ID	2394757
Website	fentonmo.org

Bicycle party resting in Fenton, Missouri, September 12, 1897

Fenton is a friendly city located in St. Louis County, Missouri, in the United States. It's a suburb of the larger St. Louis area. About 3,989 people called Fenton home according to the 2020 census. This city is known for its beautiful parks and strong community spirit.

History of Fenton

Early Settlements and Founding

The area where Fenton now stands has been lived in for over 900 years. This is because of its rich land and its closeness to the Meramec River. Evidence of ancient people, like the "Fenton Mounds," shows that the Mississippian people lived here between A.D. 1050 and 1400.

Native Americans and early settlers lived in the Fenton area in the 1770s. The city of Fenton was officially founded by William Lindsay Long on March 23, 1818. The first part of the city, which was eight blocks big, is now called "Old Towne Fenton."

Becoming an Official City

Fenton remained a small community for 130 years before it officially became a city in 1948. Garrett Hitzert was the first mayor after Fenton was incorporated. His leadership helped build the city into what it is today. He had the idea for Fenton's large business and industrial areas, which are a big part of the city's financial success.

Geography and Location

Fenton is located about two miles south of I-44. It sits on the west bank of the Meramec River. The main roads, Route 30 and Route 141, are just to the west of the city.

The United States Census Bureau says that Fenton covers a total area of about 6.38 square miles (16.52 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 6.05 square miles (15.67 square kilometers), and a small part is water.

Population and People

Fenton's Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 4,022 people living in Fenton. These people made up 1,549 households. Most of the people living in Fenton were White, making up 95.5% of the population. There were also smaller groups of African American, Native American, and Asian residents.

The average age of people in Fenton was 46.7 years old. About 21.5% of the residents were under 18 years old. Many adults, about 37.3%, were between 45 and 64 years old.

Economy and Businesses

Fenton is home to many important companies. These businesses help the city's economy grow. Some of the major companies include:

• Tacony Corporation and Nooter Eriksen Corporation, which make industrial equipment.
• Sachs Electric, an electrical contractor.
• UniGroup, which owns well-known moving companies like United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit.
• Maritz, a company that helps other businesses with marketing and events.
• Fabick Caterpillar, which sells heavy machinery.

Fenton also has a large industrial park and a new logistics park. These areas are great for businesses that need space for factories, warehouses, and shipping.

The Former Chrysler Plant

The old Chrysler car assembly plants were once a very important part of Fenton's economy. They opened in 1959 and were easy to see from Interstate 44. For many years, these plants provided many jobs for people in Fenton.

The South plant used to build Chrysler minivans. The North plant built Dodge Ram trucks. The South plant closed in 2008, and the North plant closed in 2009. Later, the large area where the plants stood was bought by a developer. They plan to build new offices, businesses, and shops there.

Sports and Athletics

Fenton is a great place for sports, especially youth soccer. The St. Louis Soccer Park is very close to Fenton. This park hosts many professional and semi-professional soccer games. It has even hosted games for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1990 FIFA World Cup. The Saint Louis FC team plays their home games at this park.

The Fenton Athletic Association helps organize local sports. Ice hockey is also popular in Fenton. The Fenton Forum is a place where the Rockwood Summit Falcons ice hockey team plays. Youth hockey clubs also use this rink. Every year, Fenton hosts the Missouri Fall Face-Off NCAA lacrosse competition.

Parks and Recreation

Fenton is often called the "City of Parks" because it has so many green spaces. The city has seven developed parks covering over 350 acres. These parks offer lots of fun activities:

• Soccer fields
• Baseball and softball diamonds
• Sand volleyball courts
• Basketball courts
• Tennis courts
• Playgrounds
• Fishing ponds
• About three miles of paths for biking and walking

Some of the parks include Fenton City Park, Bud Weil Memorial Park, and Fenton Meramec Greenway. There are also plans to develop new trails and areas for relaxing in the heart of the city.

Heroes Memorial

In 2004, the city of Fenton decided to build a special memorial. This memorial honors the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It also pays tribute to police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and all military veterans. It's a place to remember and thank those who serve and protect.

Education in Fenton

Students in Fenton attend schools in a few different school districts. These include the Rockwood, Northwest, and Lindbergh school districts. Rockwood Summit High School is located right in Fenton and is the main high school for many local students.

There are also private schools in or near Fenton:

• St. Paul Catholic School
• Our Savior Lutheran School
• Heritage Classical Christian Academy

The St. Louis County Library system has a branch in Fenton, which is a great resource for books and learning.

Notable People from Fenton

Many interesting people have connections to Fenton, Missouri:

• Josh Arnold, a host on "The Bob & Tom Show"
• Brian Boehringer, a former professional baseball pitcher
• Nicole Galloway, who served as the State Auditor of Missouri
• Joyce Meyer, a well-known Christian author and speaker
• Jackson Rutledge, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals baseball team
• Ken Schrader, a famous NASCAR driver
• Mike Wallace, another stock car racing driver
• Brandon Williams, an NFL defensive lineman

See also

In Spanish: Fenton (Misuri) para niños