Saint Charles (commonly abbreviated St. Charles) is a city in and the county seat of St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 70,493 at the 2020 census, making St. Charles the eighth-most populous city in Missouri. Situated on the Missouri River near its mouth at the Mississippi, St. Charles is approximately 20 miles northwest of St. Louis.
The city was founded circa 1769 as Les Petites Côtes, or "The Little Hillsides" in French, by Louis Blanchette, a French-Canadian fur trader. The St. Charles area was settled primarily by French-speaking colonists from Canada in its early days. This former French territory west of the Mississippi River was nominally ruled by Spain following France's defeat in the Seven Years' War, while France had also ceded the east of the Mississippi to Great Britain. St. Charles is thus the third-oldest city in what is now the state of Missouri. In the 18th and 19th century, the city's waterfront played a significant role as a river port for westward trade and expansion, including trade with Native American tribes on the upper Missouri River.
In 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition considered this settlement the last "civilized" stop before they headed upriver to explore the western territory that the United States acquired from France in the Louisiana Purchase.
The city served as the first Missouri capital from 1821 to 1826. It was also the starting point of the Boone's Lick Road to the Boonslick and the Santa Fe Trail. In the 20th century, it became the site of the Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne Catholic shrine.Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne , Academy of the Sacred Heart. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
History Native American peoples inhabited the area at least as early as 11,000 B.C. When European colonists arrived, the area was inhabited by the historic Ilini, Osage and Missouri tribes.
According to Hopewell's Legends of the Missouri and Mississippi, Blanchette met another French Canadian (Bernard Guillet) at this site in 1765. Blanchette, determined to settle there, asked if Guillet, who had become an honorary chief of a Dakota band, had chosen a name for it.
"I called the place 'Les Petites Côtes' " replied Bernard, "from the sides of the hills that you see."
"By that name shall it be called", said Blanchette Chasseur, "for it is the echo of nature—beautiful from its simplicity."
Blanchette settled there circa 1769 under the authority of the Spanish governor of Upper Louisiana (the area had been ceded by France to Spain under an agreement with Great Britain following French defeat in the French and Indian Wars). He was appointed as the territory's civil and military leader, serving until his death in 1793. Although the settlement was under Spanish jurisdiction, the settlers were primarily Native American and French Canadians who had migrated from northern territories and most of whom spoke French.
Considered to begin in St. Charles, the Boone's Lick Road along the Missouri River was the major overland route for European-American settlement of central and western Missouri. This area became known as the Boonslick or "Boonslick Country." At Franklin, the trail ended. Westward progress continued on the Santa Fe Trail.
San Carlos Borromeo
The first church, built in 1791, was Catholic and dedicated to the Italian saint Charles Borromeo, under the Spanish version of his name, San Carlos Borromeo. The town became known as San Carlos del Misuri (St. Charles of the Missouri). The original location of the church is not known but a replica has been built just off Main Street. The fourth St. Charles Borromeo Church now stands on Fifth Street.
The Spanish Lieutenant-Governor Carlos de Hault de Lassus appointed Daniel Boone as commandant of the Femme Osage District. He served in this role until the United States government acquired control in 1804 following the Louisiana Purchase from France.
The name of the town, San Carlos, was anglicized to St. Charles. William Clark arrived in St. Charles on May 16, 1804. With him were 40 men and three boats; they made final preparations for their major cross-country expedition, as they waited for Meriwether Lewis to arrive from St. Louis. They attended dances, dinners, and a church service during this time. Excited to be part of the national expedition, the townspeople were very hospitable to the explorers. Lewis arrived via St. Charles Rock Road on May 20. The expedition launched the next day in a keel boat at 3:30 pm. St. Charles was the last established European-American town that the expedition visited for more than two and a half years.
State capital and growth
When Missouri was granted statehood in 1821, the legislature decided to build a "City of Jefferson" to serve as the state capital, in the center of the state, overlooking the Missouri River. Since this land was undeveloped at the time, a temporary capital was needed. St. Charles was chosen over eight other cities in a competition to house the temporary capital. It offered free meeting space for the legislature in rooms located above a hardware store. This building is preserved as the First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site and may be toured. The Missouri government continued to meet there until buildings were completed in Jefferson City in 1826.
Gottfried Duden was a German who visited in the area in 1824. Travelling under the guidance of Daniel M. Boone, he wrote extensive accounts of life in St. Charles County during his year there. He published these after returning to Germany in 1829, and his favorable impressions of the area led to the immigration of a number of Germans in 1833. The first permanent German settler in the region was probably Louis Eversman, who had arrived with Duden but decided to stay.
In the post-World War II era, the federal government undertook a major program of interstate highway construction. St. Charles is where the first claimed interstate project was started in 1956. A state highway marker is displayed with a logo and information regarding this claim, off Interstate 70 going westbound, to the right of the First Capitol Drive exit. Kansas and Pennsylvania also claim to have had the first interstate project.
Geography St. Charles is located about 20 miles northwest of St. Louis. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate St. Charles has a Köppen humid subtropical climate, with warm and humid summers (eventual hot days) and cool winters (with short cold spells possible sometimes). Precipitation is mostly light to moderate, with occasional stormy weather. Spring is the wettest season on average.
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, St. Charles had a population of 70,493. The population density was 2,800.7 per square mile (1,081.3/km).
The median age was 38.8 years. 18.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.0 males age 18 and over.
99.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.1% lived in rural areas.
There were 29,863 households and 16,791 families in St. Charles, of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.1% were married-couple households, 20.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.9.
There were 31,744 housing units, of which 5.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 55,850 79.2% Black or African American 5,460 7.7% American Indian and Alaska Native 175 0.2% Asian 2,315 3.3% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 40 0.1% Some other race 1,925 2.7% Two or more races 4,728 6.7% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 3,969 5.6%
The 2016–2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $71,232 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,225) and the median family income was $90,211 (+/- $3,208). Males had a median income of $46,607 (+/- $2,598) versus $28,573 (+/- $5,404) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $37,734 (+/- $3,118). Approximately, 5.0% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under the age of 18 and 4.6% of those ages 65 or over.
2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 65,794 people, 26,715 households, and 16,128 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 28,590 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 87.5% White, 5.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2% of the population.
There were 26,715 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.90.
The median age in the city was 36.6 years. 19.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.9% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.
According to 2014, American Community Survey 5-year Estimates the median income for a household in the city was $56,622, and the median income for a family was $73,234. Males had a median income of $51,477 versus $40,311 females. The per capita income for the city was $29,645. 8.8% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 60,321 people, 24,210 households, and 15,324 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 25,283 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.28% White, 3.48% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.97% of the population.
There were 24,210 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,782, and the median income for a family was $60,175. Males had a median income of $40,827 versus $27,778 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,607. About 4.6% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy