St. Charles County, Missouri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Charles County
U.S. county
St. Charles County Courthouse in St. Charles
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Founded	October 1, 1812
Named for	Charles Borromeo
Seat	St. Charles
Largest city	O'Fallon
Area
• Total	593 sq mi (1,540 km2)
• Land	560 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Water	32 sq mi (80 km2)  5.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	405,262
• Density	683.4/sq mi (263.87/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	2nd, 3rd

St. Charles County is in the central eastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 405,262, making it Missouri's third-most populous county. Its county seat is St. Charles. The county was organized October 1, 1812 and named for Saint Charles Borromeo, an Italian cardinal. The county executive is Steve Ehlmann, since January 2007.

St. Charles County is part of the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area and contains many of the city's northwestern suburbs.

The wealthiest county in Missouri, St. Charles County is one of the nation's fastest-growing counties.

St. Charles County includes an area of vineyards and wineries whose distinction has been nationally recognized. On its rural outer edge along the south-facing bluffs above the Missouri River is an area of numerous wineries, so that Missouri Route 94 is sometimes called the Missouri Weinstrasse. The area includes the Augusta AVA, designated in 1980 as the first American Viticultural Area by the federal government.

Demographics

As of 2020, there were 405,262 people and 150,668 households residing in the county. The population density was 643 people per square mile (1665/km²). There were 161,144 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 83.8% White, 5.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 6.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino made up 4.0% of the population.

There were 101,663 households, out of which 40.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.20% were married couples living together, 9.20% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 24.20% were non-families. 19.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county, the population was spread out in age, with 29.00% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $71,458, and the median income for a family was $64,415. Males had a median income of $44,528 versus $29,405 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,592. 4.00% of the population and 2.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.90% are under the age of 18 and 5.10% are 65 or older.

St. Charles County has had one of the fastest-growing populations in the state for many decades, with 55% growth in the 1970s, 48% in the 1980s, 33% in the 1990s, and another 27% in the 2000s. The county sits at a cross-section of industry, as well as extensive retail and some agriculture. With the Missouri River on the south and east and the Mississippi River on the north, the county is bisected east to west by Interstate 70. After St. Charles Airport closed in 2010, the county has one remaining small airport, St. Charles County Smartt Airport. Two ferries cross the Mississippi River from St. Charles County.

Education

Public schools

• Fort Zumwalt R-II School District – O'Fallon

• Francis Howell R-III School District – St. Peters

• Orchard Farm R-V School District – St. Charles

• St. Charles R-VI School District – St. Charles

• Wentzville R-IV School District – Wentzville

Private schools

Alternative schools

• Boonslick State School – St. Peters – Special Education
• Fort Zumwalt Hope High School – O'Fallon – Other/Alternative School – (09-12)
• Francis Howell Union High School – St. Charles – Other/Alternative School – (09-12)
• Heritage Landing – St. Peters – Other/Alternative School – (06-12)
• The Lead School – O'Fallon – Other/Alternative School – (K-12)
• Lewis & Clark Career Center – St. Charles – Vocational/Technical School – (09-12)
• Quest Day Treatment Center – St. Charles – Other/Alternative School – (06-12)
• Success Campus – St. Charles – Other/Alternative School – (09-12)

Higher education

• Lindenwood University – St. Charles
• St. Charles Community College – Cottleville

Public libraries

• St. Charles City-County Library District

Images for kids

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  St. Charles County is the only known habitat of the threatened decurrent false aster in Missouri.