St. Louis County, Missouri Facts for Kids

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Saint Louis County

County

St. Louis County

Babler State Park, the largest of three state parks in St. Louis County

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Missouri

Missouri's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Missouri

Founded

October 1, 1812

Seat

Clayton

Largest city

Florissant

Area

• Total

523 sq mi (1,350 km²)

• Land

508 sq mi (1,320 km²)

• Water

15 sq mi (40 km²) 2.9%

Population

• Estimate

(2020)

1,004,125

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional districts

1st, 2nd

St. Louis County is located in the eastern-central portion of Missouri. It is bounded by the City of St. Louis and the Mississippi River to the east, the Missouri River to the north, and the Meramec River to the south. As of the 2020 Census, the total population was 1,004,125, making it the most populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. The county is included in the St. Louis, MO–IL metropolitan statistical area.

After Great Britain took over former French territory east of the Mississippi River, many ethnic French colonists moved west. They settled the area of St. Louis County and founded the city of St. Louis in the late 1700s. The US acquired this territory in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase.

In 1877 residents of the City of St. Louis voted to separate from the county and become an independent city. In the 1960s, with growing suburban development of Greater St. Louis, the county's population overtook that of the city for the first time. Restructuring of industry resulted in job and population declines in the city, and the county has continued to expand.

Through the decades changing conditions have led many business and political leaders to propose merging the city and county as a single government. In 2019 there was an effort to put the issue to a state-wide vote, but it did not get on a ballot.

Economy
Demographics
Education
- Colleges and Universities
Infrastructure
- Transportation
  - Major freeways and highways
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See also

Economy

As of 2009, the largest employment sectors in St. Louis County are education and health (25.2%), trade and transportation (19.6%), and professional business services (12.7%). The county also has the highest per capita income in Missouri ($49,727), and nearly one-fourth of the state workforce is employed in St. Louis County, but it accounts for 27% of the state's wages. It is home to the eighth-strongest market for technology hiring, and the world's largest concentration of plant science Ph.D.'s. The St. Louis County Economic Council is the economic development agency of St. Louis County, and it is operated under the authority of the St. Louis County government. Among the largest employers in the county are Boeing (16,000 employees), Washington University in St. Louis (13,200 employees), and SSM Healthcare (12,400 employees). As of 2013, Express Scripts has approximately 4,500 employees, with a planned expansion of 1,500 jobs to be added over the five years from 2013 to 2018.

Unemployment in St. Louis County is well below the national rate of 7.7% (November 2012) at 6.5% (October); for monthly unemployment numbers since June 2012, see below:

Unemployment in St. Louis County
Month	Civilian labor force	Employed	Unemployed	Unemployment rate
2013-03 March 2013	509,541	476,202	33,339	6.5
2012-10 October 2012	522,285	488,224	34,061	6.5
2012-9 September 2012	517,435	485,532	31,903	6.2
2012-8 August 2012	519,193	483,153	36,040	6.9
2012-7 July 2012	526,118	487,400	38,718	7.4
2012-6 June 2012	512,170	491,956	36,214	6.9

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1820	10,049	—
1830	14,125	40.6%
1840	35,979	154.7%
1850	104,978	191.8%
1860	190,524	81.5%
1870	351,189	84.3%
1880	31,888	−90.9%
1890	36,307	13.9%
1900	50,040	37.8%
1910	82,417	64.7%
1920	100,737	22.2%
1930	211,593	110.0%
1940	274,230	29.6%
1950	406,349	48.2%
1960	703,532	73.1%
1970	951,353	35.2%
1980	973,896	2.4%
1990	993,529	2.0%
2000	1,016,315	2.3%
2010	998,954	−1.7%
2020	1,004,125	0.5%
Independent City of St. Louis seceded from the County in 1876. Population of the City of St. Louis in 1880 was 350,518. U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2019

As of the census of 2010, there were 998,954 people. There were 404,765 households with 263,423 family households. The population density was 1,966 people per square mile (773/km²). There were 423,749 housing units at an average density of 834 per square mile (322/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.3% White (66.9% Non-Hispanic White), 35.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 3.5% Asian (1.1% Asian Indian, 1.0% Chinese, 0.3% Filipino, 0.3% Korean, 0.3% Vietnamese, 0.1% Japanese, 0.4% Other), 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races and 2.5% Hispanic or Latino (1.5% Mexican, 0.2% Puerto Rican, 0.1% Cuban, 0.8% Other).

There were 404,765 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $58,532, and the median income for a family was $72,680. Males had a median income of $45,714 versus $30,278 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,595. About 5.00% of families and 6.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.30% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over.

Racial composition	2010	2020
White	70.3%	63.0%
—Non-Hispanic	68.9%	62.2%
Black or African American	23.3%	24.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	2.5%	3.7%
Asian	3.5%	4.9%
Two or More Races	1.9%	5.7%

Education

Education in St. Louis County is provided by 24 school districts, private schools, both a unified public library system and several municipal libraries, and several colleges and universities.

School districts operating within St. Louis County include Affton, Bayless, Brentwood, Clayton, Ferguson-Florissant, Hancock Place, Hazelwood, Kirkwood, Jennings, Ladue, Lindbergh, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Mehlville, Normandy, Parkway, Pattonville, Ritenour, Riverview Gardens, Rockwood, Special School District, University City, Valley Park, and Webster Groves. Several of the school districts in the county also maintain a voluntary student transfer agreement with the St. Louis Public Schools that allows county residents to attend magnet schools in the city of St. Louis. In addition to public school districts, several private schools operate in the county. These include independent secular and religious schools, and Catholic parochial schools operated by the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

St. Louis County libraries include the unified St. Louis County Library and several municipal library systems.

Colleges and Universities

Washington University in St. Louis

Public and non-profit private colleges and universities in St. Louis County include Concordia Seminary, Eden Theological Seminary, Fontbonne University, Kenrick–Glennon Seminary, Logan College of Chiropractic, Maryville University, Missouri Baptist University, University of Missouri–St. Louis, St. Louis Christian College, three campuses of the St. Louis Community College, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis University, and Webster University.