Wentzville, Missouri

Wentzville, Missouri
City

Old Downtown Wentzville

Location of Wentzville
Coordinates: 38°48′58″N 90°51′26″W / 38.81611°N 90.85722°WCoordinates: 38°48′58″N 90°51′26″W / 38.81611°N 90.85722°W
Country United States
State Missouri
County St. Charles County
Founded 1855
Government
 • Mayor Nick Guccione
Area[1]
 • Total 19.98 sq mi (51.75 km2)
 • Land 19.96 sq mi (51.70 km2)
 • Water 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation 623 ft (190 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 29,070
 • Estimate (2013[3]) 32,509
 • Density 1,456.4/sq mi (562.3/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 63385
Area code(s) 636
FIPS code 29-78442
GNIS feature ID 0756888[4]
Website wentzvillemo.org

Wentzville is a city located in western St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 29,070.[5] The city's major employer is General Motors which has a full size van assembly plant located there. As the site of the county fairgrounds, Wentzville hosts the annual St. Charles County Fair, St. Louis Pirate Festival and the Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire.

History

Wentzville was founded in 1855[6] as a depot on the Northern Missouri Railroad. It was named after Erasmus Livingston Wentz, a railroad engineer for the line. The land was obtained from William M. Allen, who laid out the town. Wentzville was not incorporated until 1872.

During the American Civil War, the city was the site of a series of skirmishes along the railroad from July 15 to 17, 1861. Elements of the 2nd and 8th Missouri Infantry Regiments en route to Mexico, Missouri engaged Confederate guerrillas who threatened the railroad.

Wentzville is located at the intersection of Interstate 70, U.S. 61 and Interstate 64. It is known as the "Crossroads of the Nation".

The city is also the namesake of George Thorogood's song "Back to Wentzville" from his album, Bad to the Bone.

Geography

Wentzville is located at 38°48'58" North, 90°51'26" West (38.816010, −90.857198).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.98 square miles (51.75 km2), of which, 19.96 square miles (51.70 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[1]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880541—
1890457−15.5%
190051913.6%
19105393.9%
1920514−4.6%
193059616.0%
194075226.2%
19501,22763.2%
19602,742123.5%
19703,22317.5%
19803,193−0.9%
19905,08859.3%
20006,89635.5%
201029,070321.5%
Est. 201332,50911.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
2013 Estimate[9]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 29,070 people, 9,767 households, and 7,852 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,456.4 inhabitants per square mile (562.3/km2). There were 10,305 housing units at an average density of 516.3 per square mile (199.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.9% White, 6.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.

There were 9,767 households of which 51.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 19.6% were non-families. 15.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.31.

The median age in the city was 31.2 years. 33.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 33.7% were from 25 to 44; 19% were from 45 to 64; and 7.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,931 people, 2,456 households, and 1,846 families residing in the city. The population density is 478.9 people per square mile (184.9/km²). There are 2,724 housing units at an average density of 189.2 per square mile (73.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 84.63% White, 12.02% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, 2.06% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 2,456 households out of which 43.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% are married couples living together, 17.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% are non-families. 20.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.76 and the average family size is 3.20.

In the city the population is spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $47,232, and the median income for a family is $53,082. Males have a median income of $38,423 versus $25,852 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,039. 11.6% of the population and 10.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.1% of those under the age of 18 and 13.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Schools

The Wentzville R-IV School District covers Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, Foristell, Dardenne Prairie and parts of O'Fallon.[10]

The high-school mascot for Wentzville Holt High School is the Indian, and the high-school mascot for Wentzville Timberland High School is the Wolf. A third high school called Wentzville Liberty High School opened in August 2013, and its school mascot is the Eagle.

Wentzville is also home to St. Patrick School, a semi-large Catholic school serving kindergarten through eighth grade.

Lindenwood University has a satellite campus located in the building that was formerly home to the Southern Air Restaurant, which after many years as a popular stop for travelers between St. Louis and Columbia, Missouri was last owned by Chuck Berry.

Government

The government of Wentzville consists of a mayor, six aldermen (two for each ward) and a city administrator. City Administrator is a non-elected position, whereas the others are elected. Mayors serve four-year terms and aldermen serve two-year terms.http://z2codes.sullivanpublications.com/sullivan/Z2Browser2.html?showset=wentzvilleset The city is divided into three wards.

Source: City of Wentzville, Missouri website: http://www.wentzvillemo.org http://www.wentzvillemo.org/municipal-code.aspx

Source: Section 105.020 General Election of the Wentzville Municipal Code http://z2codes.sullivanpublications.com/sullivan/Z2Browser2.html?showset=wentzvilleset

Source: Wentzville, Missouri City Administrator website page: http://www.wentzvillemo.org/city-administrator--interior.aspx

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
  4. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ http://data.news-leader.com/census-embed/MO/cities/?sort_by=pop2010
  6. ↑ Eaton, David Wolfe (1918). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 357.
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Communities We Serve". Wentzville R-IV School District. Retrieved October 20, 2013.

External links

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