Lake St facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake St. Louis, Missouri
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Location in the state of Missouri
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | St. Charles |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.72 sq mi (22.58 km2) |
| • Land | 7.91 sq mi (20.49 km2) |
| • Water | 0.81 sq mi (2.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 564 ft (172 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 14,545 |
| • Estimate
(2012)
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14,687 |
| • Density | 1,838.8/sq mi (710.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
63367
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| Area code(s) | 636 |
| FIPS code | 29-40043 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1669602 |
| Website | http://www.lakesaintlouis.com/ |
The City of Lake St. Louis is a special city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. It's known as a "planned community" because it was designed from the very beginning. The city is built around two beautiful lakes. You can find it between Interstate 70 and Interstate 64. In 2010, about 14,545 people lived there. Lake St. Louis is a suburb of the larger city of St. Louis.
Contents
Discovering Lake St. Louis History
In 1961, two people named Ellis Ellerman and Ira Nathan started planning a private resort. They wanted a fun place for weekends with a big lake for activities. Nathan named the project "Lake St. Louis."
They formed a company and sold some lots. But they didn't have enough money or experience. Other investors, like R. T. Crow, joined to help. Eventually, Crow's company took over the project in 1966.
Building a New Town Concept
R. T. Crow had a bigger idea. He saw that Lake St. Louis was perfectly located between two major highways. He decided to build a whole new town, not just a weekend resort. In 1967, St. Charles County approved his plan. People who had bought lots from the first developers were given new ones in Crow's project.
The first family, the Neals, moved into an existing home in 1968. They helped the community grow. For example, their son Mike appeared in ads for the development. He also helped start the community's water ski club.
Challenges and Growth
By 1969, a smaller lake, Lake Ste. Louise, was open. It had a golf course, tennis courts, a clubhouse, and a pool. The dam for the larger Lake St. Louis was finished in 1972. This big lake is about 600-acre (2.4 km2).
However, in 1974, Crow faced financial problems. The 1973 oil crisis made travel harder. Highway speeds were reduced, and a bridge was partly closed. This made Lake St. Louis feel too far from jobs and shops.
Becoming an Official City
With Crow no longer involved, residents worried about nearby cities taking over their area. So, in 1975, people from the Harbor Town area asked to become their own town. The court agreed, and a Board of Trustees was appointed.
In December 1975, the town grew to include more areas. A special count in 1976 showed 2,445 residents. In 1977, residents voted to change the name to Lake St. Louis. They also decided to become a "4th Class City" under Missouri law. Howard Haddock became the first mayor.
Understanding the Community Association
The two lakes in Lake St. Louis are private. They belong to the Lake St. Louis Community Association (LSLCA). This group manages the lakes and other fun places. They also provide services for the community.
Members pay a fee to the LSLCA. This money helps maintain the lakes, country club, marinas, and parks. Not all residents of the city are members. This means some people who live in Lake St. Louis cannot use the private lakes. This helps prevent the lakes from getting too crowded.
Exploring Lake St. Louis Geography
Lake St. Louis is located at 38°47′8″N 90°47′1″W / 38.78556°N 90.78361°W. The city covers a total area of about 8.72 square miles (22.58 km2). Most of this area, about 7.91 square miles (20.49 km2), is land. The remaining part, about 0.81 square miles (2.10 km2), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 3,843 | — | |
| 1990 | 7,400 | 92.6% | |
| 2000 | 10,169 | 37.4% | |
| 2010 | 14,545 | 43.0% | |
| 2015 (est.) | 15,375 | 5.7% | |
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2010 Census Snapshot
In 2010, Lake St. Louis had 14,545 people living there. There were 5,816 households, which are groups of people living together. The city had about 1,839 people per square mile.
Most residents, about 92.2%, were White. About 3.8% were African American, and 2.1% were Asian. About 2.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households, 31.5%, had children under 18. About 60.8% were married couples. The average household had 2.50 people. The average family had 2.94 people.
The average age in the city was 41.3 years old. About 23.4% of residents were under 18. And 16% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.5%) and females (50.5%).
Education Opportunities
Students living in Lake St. Louis attend schools in the Wentzville R-IV School District. This district serves the educational needs of the community.
Growing Commercial Development
For many years, Lake St. Louis had few shops or restaurants. Residents often traveled to nearby Wentzville or O'Fallon for their needs. This changed in 2004.
That year, a Schnucks grocery store opened on the city's south side. This was the first new retail development in 17 years. The National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) also built its headquarters nearby. These events started a period of fast growth for the city.
The Shoppes at Hawk Ridge
One major shopping area is The Shoppes at Hawk Ridge. It's a large retail area, about 800,000 square feet. This development opened in 2006. It was the biggest retail project in St. Charles County at the time.
The Shoppes at Hawk Ridge has a Wal-Mart Supercenter and Lowe's. It also has many smaller stores and restaurants. Developers made sure the buildings looked nice. Even places like White Castle changed their usual designs to fit in.
The Meadows at Lake St. Louis
Another big shopping area is The Meadows at Lake St. Louis. It opened in 2008. The Meadows is an outdoor shopping center. It was designed for people looking for special stores and restaurants.
It has two landscaped boulevards and many unique shops. The main store is the upscale department store Von Maur. There are also plans for a Marriott or Hilton hotel. The Meadows is located on about 64 acres (26 ha) of land. Future plans include more retail buildings and possibly a Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue.
Famous People from Lake St. Louis
Many talented people have lived in Lake St. Louis:
- Howard "Chingy" Bailey, Jr., a music artist who has sold many records.
- Jud "Fabio" Birza, who won the TV show Survivor: Nicaragua.
- Don Coryell, a former NFL Head Coach.
- Jonathan Dolan, a Missouri State Senator.
- Cornell "Nelly" Haynes, Jr., a Grammy Award-winning music artist. His house in Lake St. Louis was shown on MTV Cribs.
- Alonzo "Zo" Lee Jr. of The Trak Starz, a Grammy award-winning music producer.
- Shaun Murray, a four-time World Champion wakeboarder.
- Cal Neeman, a former Major League Baseball catcher.
- Dave Phillips, a retired Major League Baseball umpire.
