The City of Lake St. Louis is a planned community and suburb of greater St. Louis, situated around two lakes between Interstate 70 and Interstate 64 in western St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 16,707 as of the 2020 US Census. Lake St. Louis is from the city of St. Louis.

History

In January 1961, Ellis Ellerman and Ira Nathan began planning a private resort community, a popular concept in the 1960s in the St. Louis region. The vision was for a weekend resort with a lake large enough for recreation and a location close to St. Louis. Ellerman and Nathan hired engineers to begin the initial planning of the lake and community, and Nathan named the project "Lake St. Louis" in 1961.

Ellerman and Nathan formed Trails Lake Development Corp. in 1962, and by August 31 of that year, 10 lots had already been sold in the project, which was to feature a 625 lake (PD article 8–25–63). Ellerman and Nathan lacked adequate financing and business experience and soon found themselves in over their heads. They were soon joined by several other investors to keep the project afloat, including R. T. Crow. Financial troubles continued for Ellerman and Nathan, and The Healey Discount Corp., owned by Crow and three other investors, foreclosed on Trails Lake Development Corp. in June 1966.

R. T. Crow felt the location of "Lake St. Louis" (indicating a change of ownership and the "planned community" concept), between two major highways, I-70 and Rt. 61, and St. Louis's westward growth justified building a new town, not just the weekend community Ellerman and Nathan envisioned. He investigated the idea of new towns, visiting many in the east. In the end, Crow bought out the other three investors who were part of The Healey Discount Corp. and became the sole developer of the Lake St. Louis development. St. Charles County approved the preliminary plan for Lake St. Louis in April 1967. People who had purchased lots from the first developers were given credits for lots in the new project.

Lake St. Louis's first residents were the Neal family, who moved to an existing home on the property in January 1968. Gene Neal later became a vice president of one of Crow's companies, and his wife, Hazel, managed the Lake St. Louis Country Club. Their son Mike Neal played a boy in various fictional families in the development's television and print advertising, and was later a founding member of the community's water ski club.

By 1969, the Lake Ste. Louise, the 9-hole, 3-par golf course, tennis courts, clubhouse and pool were open. Construction on the dam for the Lake St. Louis, the larger of the two lakes in the community, began in 1968. It was completed in 1972, and Crow filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 1974—an action brought on in part by the energy crisis. Interstate highway speeds were reduced from , and the I-70 bridge over the Missouri River was closed partially while a second bridge was added. The combination of events suddenly made Lake St. Louis too far away from employment and retail centers.

With Crow out of the picture and a looming threat of annexation from O'Fallon on the east and Wentzville on the west, residents of the community's Harbor Town area petitioned St. Charles County Circuit Court for incorporation of the Town of Harbor Town. The Court granted the petition in June 1975, and with the incorporation's approval, the Circuit Court appointed a Board of Trustees: George Heidelbaugh, Charles Bailey, David Spitznagel, Betty Patton, and chairman Howard Haddock. In December 1975, the town boundaries expanded to include what was known as Phase A, the westernmost portion of the city. In 1976, a special census was conducted that counted 2,445 residents. Residents voted in 1977 to change the name to Lake St. Louis and become a 4th Class City under the Revised Statutes of Missouri. Haddock was elected as the first mayor of the city.

Community association The two lakes in Lake St. Louis are private, owned by the Lake St. Louis Community Association (LSLCA). The LSLCA was formed to maintain and administer Lake St. Louis's amenities and provide services for the recreation-oriented community. It is funded by an assessment on property in the LSLCA membership area. Originally all owners of property in the city were automatically members of the LSLCA, but as the city grew, the need to prevent lake overcrowding resulted in newer residential developments not having membership in the LSLCA. Since the lakes, a country club, marinas, and several park areas are the property of the community association, they are not available for use by non-members. This means that many residents of the city are not permitted to use the lakes.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Lake St. Louis had a population of 16,707, with 6,854 households and 4,819 families. The population density was 1,956.3 per square mile (755.3/km).

The median age was 44.3 years. 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,422 housing units, of which 7.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.7%. Among households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.7% were married-couple households, 14.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 2.9.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 14,343 85.9% Black or African American 724 4.3% American Indian and Alaska Native 62 0.4% Asian 406 2.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 7 0.0% Some other race 179 1.1% Two or more races 986 5.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 530 3.2%

Income and poverty The 2016–2020 five-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $100,122 (with a margin of error of $8,120) and the median family income was $117,276 (+/- $10,025). Males had a median income of $58,692 (+/- $8,029) versus $40,932 (+/- $11,727) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $51,264 (+/- $2,532). About 4.7% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.2% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 14,545 people, 5,816 households, and 4,213 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 6,197 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% White, 3.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 5,816 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.6% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 41.3 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 29% were from 45 to 64; and 16% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

2000 census Per the census of 2000, it is estimated there were 13,708 people, 3,923 households, and 3,005 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,133 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.60% White, 1.84% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.

There were 3,923 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $68,830, and the median income for a family was $80,700. Males had a median income of $57,201 versus $30,335 for females. The per capita income was $32,064. About 2.1% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over. Education The residents of all portions of Lake St. Louis are part of the Wentzville R-IV School District.

Green Tree Elementary School is in Lake St. Louis. Duello Elementary School is adjacent to the Lake St. Louis city limits.Compare to: - The City of Houston stated in 1996: "The U.S. Postal Service establishes ZIP codes and mailing addresses in order to maximize the efficiency of their system, not to recognize jurisdictional boundaries." A portion of Lake St. Louis is zoned to Lakeview Elementary School in Wentzville. : Elementary school zones (compare with city limits map) and Middle school/High school zones (preceding document establishes that middle school boundaries effective fall 2022 become the same as high school boundaries, and feeder patterns are named in the document)

Parts of Lake St. Louis are zoned to South Middle School and Timberland High School, Wentzville Middle School and Holt High School, and Frontier Middle School and Liberty High School.

Liberty High School is in O'Fallon but has a Lake St. Louis postal address. - The City of Houston stated in 1996: "The U.S. Postal Service establishes ZIP codes and mailing addresses in order to maximize the efficiency of their system, not to recognize jurisdictional boundaries."

Economy Top employers According to the Lake St. Louis Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, its top employers were:

# Employer # of Employees 1 SSM St. Joseph Hospital West9082 National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC)5533 Medical Transportation Management (MTM)5004 Walmart3535 Schnucks1456 Wentzville R-IV School District 1307 Lowe's1158 Von Maur989 City of Lake St. Louis949 American Poolplayers Association (APA)63

Commercial development