St. James, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. James, Missouri
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| City of St. James | |
Business District of St. James in 2014
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| Nickname(s):
STJ, Forest City of The Ozarks
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Location of St. James, Missouri
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Phelps |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.28 sq mi (11.09 km2) |
| • Land | 4.27 sq mi (11.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,066 ft (325 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,935 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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4,053 |
| • Density | 921.11/sq mi (355.61/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| FIPS code | 29-64424 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396494 |
| Website | stjamesmissouri.org |
St. James is a city located in Phelps County, Missouri, in the United States. In 2020, about 3,935 people lived there.
Contents
History of St. James, Missouri
St. James was first called Big Prairie. This was because it was built on a large, natural grassy area. In 1859, a man named John Wood expected a railway to come through. The settlement was then briefly called Scioto, named after a town in Ohio. Many early settlers came from that Ohio town.
In 1860, the town was named St. James. This honored Thomas James, who came from Ohio. He started the Meramec Iron Works nearby. The town was meant to be a shipping point for the iron works. Before this, products were moved by wagon.
Important People in St. James History
Lucy Wortham James was a wealthy person who loved the St. James area. She spent part of her time living there. She was a descendant of Thomas James, who founded the Meramec Iron Works. Lucy Wortham James created The James Foundation. This group helped build the St. James City Park and the James Memorial Library. They also helped with Maramec Spring Park. Today, the City of St. James owns the park and the public library.
Mayme Ousley made history in St. James. She was the first woman elected mayor of any town in Missouri. She was first elected in St. James in 1921. In 2013, the city hall was named after her to honor her achievements.
Historic Places in St. James
Several places in St. James are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Maramec Iron Works District, St. James Chapel, and Verkamp Shelter. These places are important parts of the city's history.
Geography and Location
St. James is located in the lower parts of the Ozark Mountains. Its coordinates are 37°59′56″N 91°36′59″W / 37.99889°N 91.61639°W. The city covers about 4.29 square miles (11.09 square kilometers) in total. Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.
Population and People
St. James has grown over the years. Here's how the population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 392 | — | |
| 1890 | 467 | 19.1% | |
| 1900 | 575 | 23.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,100 | 91.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,117 | 1.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,294 | 15.8% | |
| 1940 | 1,812 | 40.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,996 | 10.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,384 | 19.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,929 | 22.9% | |
| 1980 | 3,328 | 13.6% | |
| 1990 | 3,256 | −2.2% | |
| 2000 | 3,704 | 13.8% | |
| 2010 | 4,216 | 13.8% | |
| 2020 | 3,935 | −6.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 4,216 people living in St. James. These people lived in 1,632 households. About 1,029 of these were families. The city had about 985 people per square mile.
Most of the people in St. James were White (96.11%). A smaller number were Black or African American (0.95%), Native American (0.66%), or Asian (0.28%). Some people were from other races or had two or more races. About 1.57% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (35.3%) had children under 18 living with them. About 41.4% were married couples. Some households had a female head without a husband (18.0%). A small number had a male head without a wife (3.7%). About 36.9% of households were not families.
The average age in the city was 37 years old. About 27.3% of residents were under 18. About 18.7% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.2%) and females (50.8%).
Economy and Jobs
Tacony Corporation is a company that makes vacuum cleaners in St. James. They produce popular brands like Simplicity and Riccar. This provides jobs for many people in the city.
Education and Learning
Public schools in St. James are managed by the St. James R-I School District. The city also has a public library called the James Memorial Library. It offers books and resources for everyone.
Arts, Culture, and Parks
St. James is known for its wineries. Several award-winning wineries, like St. James Winery, are located here. The city is also home to Maramec Spring Park.
Maramec Spring Park is a special place. It has the fifth largest spring in Missouri. About 100 million gallons of water flow from the spring every day! The park covers 1,860 acres of forests and fields. A 200-acre part of the park is open to the public. Here, visitors can enjoy a cafe, a store, camping, and watching wildlife. You can also feed fish, have picnics, and use playgrounds. The Meramec River flows through the park, which is great for fishing.
The park is open all year. There is a daily entry fee from mid-February through October. You can also buy annual passes. The James Foundation privately owns and runs Maramec Spring Park.
Local Media
The St. James Leader-Journal was the city's newspaper since 1896. It was in business longer than any other company in St. James. However, it closed on July 13, 2016. It was a weekly newspaper owned by GateHouse Media. The Leader-Journal was connected to The Rolla Daily News and the Waynesville Daily Guide. Both of those papers have also since closed or merged.
See also
In Spanish: St. James (Misuri) para niños
