Overland, Missouri Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Overland, Missouri
City
Downtown Overland
Nickname(s): Trampoline City
Location of Overland, Missouri
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	St. Louis
Area
• Total	4.41 sq mi (11.41 km²)
• Land	4.39 sq mi (11.37 km²)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.04 km²)
Elevation	650 ft (200 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	15,955
• Density	3,635.22/sq mi (1,403.53/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
FIPS code	29-55550
GNIS feature ID	2396112
Website	www.overlandmo.org

Overland is a city located in St. Louis County, Missouri, in the United States. In 2020, about 15,955 people lived there.

History of Overland
Geography of Overland
Population and People
- 2020 Census Information
- 2010 Census Information
Economy of Overland
Arts and Culture in Overland
Education in Overland
Notable People from Overland
See also

History of Overland

The area south of King's Road, leading to St. Charles, was first settled in the early 1820s. Travelers heading west from St. Louis often stopped overnight at a place known as "The Overland Park." It is said that Daniel Boone built a small cabin here. This cabin was near where Lake Sherwood and Wyland Elementary School are today.

Over time, more businesses opened in the area. In 1846, a one-room school called the Buck School was built. Later, in 1867, the Ritenour School District was created. In 1919, the town's name was shortened to "Overland." This was done to avoid confusion with the city of Overland Park, Kansas when mail was being sent.

The town officially became a city in 1939. It started with a government led by a mayor and a city council. In the 1990s, the city's voters decided to change its classification to a third-class city. Then, in 2007, residents voted to change the government again. They chose a mayor-council-administrator system. In this system, the mayor is the main elected leader. The city council makes laws and decisions for the city. A city administrator handles the daily operations of the city.

A large building, the Military Personnel Records Center, was built in 1956. It was used by the United States Department of Defense. Later, it became part of the National Archives. On July 12, 1973, a huge fire broke out there. It destroyed millions of important military personnel files. This was one of the biggest losses of government records in the country's history.

In April 2007, Overland residents voted to remove Mayor Ann Purzner from office. She was replaced temporarily by Alderman Jerry May. Later that year, Councilman Mike Schneider was elected as the new mayor.

Geography of Overland

Overland covers a total area of about 4.38 square miles (11.34 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 4.36 square miles (11.29 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.05 square kilometers), is water.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1940	2,934	—
1950	11,566	294.2%
1960	22,763	96.8%
1970	24,819	9.0%
1980	19,620	−20.9%
1990	17,987	−8.3%
2000	16,838	−6.4%
2010	16,062	−4.6%
2020	15,955	−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

Lake Sherwood in Overland

2020 Census Information

The 2020 United States census counted 15,955 people living in Overland. There were 6,351 households and 3,758 families. The population density was about 3,634 people per square mile.

Most residents, about 55.94%, identified as white. About 22.71% identified as black or African-American. Other groups included Native American, Asian, and people from two or more races. About 16.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

About 24.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.4 people. The average family had 3.1 people. The median age in the city was 35.3 years.

2010 Census Information

In 2010, there were 16,062 people living in Overland. There were 6,717 households and 4,136 families. The population density was about 3,683 people per square mile.

About 73.3% of residents were White. About 16.4% were African American. Other groups included Native American, Asian, and people from other races. About 6.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 30.2% of households had children under 18. The average household size was 2.38 people. The average family size was 2.96 people. The median age in the city was 37.9 years.

Economy of Overland

Overland is home to several important businesses. Build-A-Bear Workshop had its main office here until 2020. Companies like Dr Pepper Snapple Group also have manufacturing operations in Overland.

Many Overland residents work at large companies nearby. These include the St. Louis Boeing plant, Monsanto, and Emerson Electric. The city also has a strong retail district with many shops.

Overland was once the location of the National Personnel Records Center. This center stored important military records for all branches of the United States armed forces. It was also home to the Army Human Resources Command (HRC). This facility closed in 2005. The former Army HRC building is now called the Charles F. Prevedel Federal Building. It houses offices for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Agriculture.

Arts and Culture in Overland

Overland has several historical properties that are recognized as county landmarks:

Lackland House: Built around 1844, this house has 13 glass panes at the front door. It also has 13 crossbars on the front porch. These features remember the original 13 states of the U.S.
Alexander McElhinney Log House: This is a special type of log home called a "dogtrot" house. It was built in the 1850s. It was moved and restored in the 1980s.
Wild Acres Park: This park covers 31.5 acres. It includes a large home built in 1907 in the Renaissance Revival style. The city bought the estate and opened it as Wild Acres Park in 1995.
Gocke-Vance House: This unique home was built in 1910. It was designed to be fireproof and was based on a plan by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

The U.S. Army Publications Distribution Center in Overland is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.