Soulard, St. Louis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Soulard
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Neighborhood of St. Louis
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The Soulard Market in the northern portion of the Soulard neighborhood.
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Location (red) of Soulard within St. Louis
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| City | St. Louis |
| Wards | 7, 9 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.60 sq mi (1.6 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,831 |
| • Density | 6,390/sq mi (2,465/km2) |
| ZIP code(s) |
Part of 63104
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| Area code(s) | 314 |
| Website | stlouis-mo.gov |
Soulard is a really old and cool neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri. It's famous for the Soulard Farmers Market, which is the oldest farmers' market west of the Mississippi River. Soulard is also known as a historic district, meaning it has many old buildings and a special history.
A Look Back: Soulard's History
The neighborhood gets its name from Antoine Soulard and Julia Cérre Soulard. Antoine Soulard started developing the land in the 1790s. He was a surveyor for the Spanish government and had come to America from France. Many of the churches in Soulard, like Trinity Lutheran, are from the 1800s.
Soulard Today: What's Happening?
Soulard is one of the oldest communities in St. Louis. Today, it's mostly a place where people live, with lots of homes, restaurants, and shops. It's also home to the North American headquarters of Anheuser-Busch, which has a big brewery there.
The neighborhood is split by Lynch Street. North of this street, you'll find many row homes and small apartments. South of it, you'll see the large Anheuser-Busch Brewery and its main offices. Many of the houses in Soulard were built in the mid-to-late 1800s. You can also find several historic churches here.
Many places in Soulard offer live music, especially blues and jazz bands. These music styles are very popular in St. Louis. A famous blues piano player named James Crutchfield lived in Soulard from 1984 until 2001 and played in many local music spots. The area often has community events where people can explore different places.
Groups like the Soulard Restoration Group work to keep the neighborhood clean and safe. They also organize events and publish a newspaper called The Soulard Renaissance.
The Soulard Farmers Market is a big part of the neighborhood. It's the oldest farmers' market west of the Mississippi River. Over a hundred vendors sell fresh produce, meats, spices, flowers, and other foods.
The market is even featured in the beginning of Alan Schroeder's picture book Ragtime Tumpie.
Fun Events in Soulard
Soulard hosts many exciting events throughout the year. Two of the most popular are Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest. These are big celebrations that bring lots of people to the neighborhood.
Who Lives in Soulard?
Soulard is a diverse neighborhood. In 2020, the population was 3,831 people. Most residents were White (75.2%), with 15.8% Black, 1.1% Asian, and 0.2% Native American. About 6.0% of the population identified as being from two or more races. Also, 4.3% of the people living in Soulard were of Hispanic origin.
Gallery
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The Anheuser-Busch and Lemp brewery buildings and Soulard in south city near the Mississippi River, 2006
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A two-family home in Soulard, around 2006
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Stars are a common architectural design from the time Soulard's buildings were made. This is an anchor plate on brick.
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People walking on South Eighth Street, around 1910
More to Explore
- Anzeiger des Westens, a German-American newspaper that used to be published in St. Louis.
- Lafayette Square, St. Louis, another historic neighborhood nearby.
- LaSalle Park, an area that was once part of Soulard.
- Missouri Rhineland, a region known for making wine.
