St. Peters, Missouri

St. Peters is a city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The 2010 census showed the city's population to be 52,575.

Interstate 70 passes through the city, providing a major transportation link. In 2008 St. Peters was named the 60th best place to live by Money magazine, putting it at the top in the state of Missouri. It also ranked number 60 again in 2010. The "Rec-Plex" in St. Peters is an award-winning recreation and fitness complex that underwent an $18.5 million expansion in 2007. The city also hosts the county's largest shopping center, Mid Rivers Mall, which plans a 120000 sqft expansion.

History
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the area that would become St. Peters was inhabited by Mississippian mound builders. The remains of a village were uncovered during the construction of I-70 in 1954 and a street near the site was later named Mound Drive after the mounds built by the villagers.

Throughout most of the twentieth century, St. Peters was a small farming town. As recently as 1970, St. Peters had a population of only 486. The population rapidly increased to 15,700 by 1980 and within the span of a decade the community changed from a small rural town to a more suburban community. The city continued its rapid growth through the 1980s and by 1990 had a population of 40,660. St. Peters population increased to an estimated 52,575 as of 2010. St.Peters celebrated its 50th year as a city in 2009, and marks its 100th year as a town in 2010, having become a town in 1910 and a city in 1959.

The city has a lot of veterans as residents, therefore many memorial locations have been set up. In front of City Hall there is a WWII fountain and flag display; along Willott Rd./Jungermann there is a Vietnam memorial containing over 1,000 bricks listing Missouri residents who died in the war and a Korean War monument as well. The City Hall memorial is the centerpiece for several veteran's ceremonies held throughout the year: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Geography
St. Peters is located at °N, °W (38.778893, -90.603131). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.2 sqmi, all of which is land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,381 people, 18,435 households, and 13,936 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,425.5 people per square mile (936.7/km²). There were 18,776 housing units at an average density of 886.3 per square mile (342.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.25% White, 2.80% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.

There were 18,435 households out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $57,898, and the median income for a family was $65,123. Males had a median income of $45,497 versus $30,295 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,792. About 1.5% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Citizens elect a mayor and eight aldermen (two for each of four wards) to govern the city. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen appoint individuals to the positions of City Collector, City Clerk, and City Treasurer. A Municipal Judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit, also known as the St. Peters Municipal Court, has a four-year term. A City Administrator also works closely with the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

The Board of Aldermen meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, except the months of November and December when one meeting is held each month on a date scheduled with the Mayor.

City elections are held in April of each year, per Missouri law for elected officials. Propositions may be voted upon at these elections, or others held in February, August or November.

Education
Three public high schools are within St. Peters city limits: Fort Zumwalt South High School with an enrollment of 1,700 students, Francis Howell North High School (2,100 students), and Fort Zumwalt East High School (1,100 students) which opened in 2007. Some high school students from St. Peters attend schools in surrounding communities such as Francis Howell Central High School in neighboring Cottleville, and Fort Zumwalt North and Fort Zumwalt West High Schools in O'Fallon. Other public schools in the city include Fairmount, Hawthorn, Lewis & Clark, Mid Rivers, Progress South, St. Peters, and Warren Elementary Schools; plus DuBray, and Fort Zumwalt South Middle Schools. The city limits also contain the private high school Lutheran High School of St Charles County.

Civic facilities
The St. Peters Rec-Plex, a 236000 sqft. family recreation and athletic training complex, is situated next to St. Peters City Hall. The Rec-Plex hosted the 2004 Olympic Diving Trials and is recognized as one of the USA's premiere diving facilities. St. Peters is home to Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, the county's second busiest after St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles. Barnes-Jewish serves a large portion of St. Charles County, Lincoln County, and Pike County. It is St. Charles Counties second largest hospital with 175 rooms. The Spencer Road Branch library within the St. Charles City-County Library District is in St. Peters. . It is the largest and busiest library in th St. Charles City-County Library District. The city's "Recycle City" opened in April 1997 and has the ability to recycle various types of material which is then sold to companies that use recycled goods in products. In 2007, Recycle City recycled 12,522,767 pounds of material.

Parks and Recreation
St. Peters has the most extensive park system in St. Charles county. The city has over 1000 acre of parks and trails. Outdoor amenities available to park users include: recreation trails, playgrounds, picnic shelters and pavilions, athletic fields, fishing ponds, and landscape areas.
 * Brookmount Park - A 5 acre park that offers a one-mile pedestrian trail and playground designed for toddlers and small children.
 * Brown Road Park - A 23 acre park that features three baseball diamonds, a football field, a picnic pavilion, a BMX track, and a playground
 * City Centre Park - A 78 acre park near City Hall that includes the following recreation amenities: three baseball diamonds, a soccer/football field, biking and hiking trails, an inclusive playground for kids, and a picnic pavilion with barbecue grills. The park also features a grass outdoor amphitheater for music and the performing arts.
 * Community Park - A 11 acre a new park in St. Peters offering soccer fields and baseball diamonds.
 * Country Creek Trail - A 6 acre quiet park running along Spencer Creek.
 * Covenant Park - A 7.5 acre park which includes a ball diamond, basketball court, two tennis courts, a playground, picnic tables, a barbecue grill and multipurpose trails.
 * Dardenne Park - A 3 acre park tucked away in a sheltered wooded corner next to Dardenne Creek, offering visitors with an expansive new playground, a paved pedestrian trail, and quick access to an 18-hole municipal golf course.
 * Glen Travis Park - A 12.5 acre scenic natural area where you observe wildlife.
 * St. Peters Golf & Recreation Center - A 145 acre park and golf course that offers tennis courts, a 13-acre fishing lake, a swimming pool, and 18 hole golf course.
 * 370 Lakeside Park - A 300 acre park that includes a 140-acre recreational lake with fishing and boating, including a canoe channel, family picnic areas, park pavilions, walking trails surrounding the lake, large playgrounds, an RV park, campgrounds for organized groups, a recreational beach, and a dog park. This is St. Peters' newest park, having opened on May 19, 2011. It hosts a Celebrate St. Peters festival in mid-September.
 * Laurel Park - A 47 acre park that offers a large playground, two ball diamonds, two soccer/football fields, two sand volleyball courts, a basketball court, four horseshoe pits, two picnic pavilions and a multipurpose trail system around the perimeter of the park. Laurel Park is also home to an outdoor swimming pool, two lakes and a roller hockey court.
 * Lone Wolff Park - An 8.5 acre quiet rural setting offering visitors a small pavilion and a competitive horse arena. The site is located adjacent to Brown Road Park and within easy walking distance of Old Town and Sports Center Parks.
 * Oak Creek - A 2.5 acre park which happens to be the smallest neighborhood park in the St. Peters park system. It provides nearby residents with a playground and several picnic tables in a pleasant, two-acre setting.
 * Old Town Park - An 8 acre park and St. Peters' first. More than 100 years old, this park is still a favorite of the community, offering two ball diamonds, four horseshoe pits, two pavilions and a playground. Old Town Park is also home to the annual St. Peters Olde Tyme Picnic.
 * Rabbit Run Park - A 110 acre park that include two ball diamonds, three football or soccer fields, a gazebo, and a full-service pavilion. The park currently only consist of 19 acres while another 90 acres is currently under construction.
 * Shady Springs Park - A 14 acre park that has three baseball diamonds, a soccer field, a large playground and a full service pavilion. Shady Springs also offers visitors a half-mile fitness trail that winds through a scenic wooded area on the north side of the park.
 * Spencer Creek Park - A 40 acre park that includes a ball diamond, basketball court, football/soccer field, two tennis courts, a playground, pavilion and extensive trail system offer a wide variety of recreation opportunities for park visitors.
 * Sports Center Park - A 21 acre park. Amenities include three ball diamonds, two soccer/football fields, a concession stand and a half-mile pedestrian trail that circles the perimeter of the park. This park is also home to the Sports Center Gymnasium. The Gymnasium is available for rental to residents needing an indoor facility for basketball, volleyball or soccer.
 * Trailwoods Park - A 3 acre park that provides residents of nearby subdivisions a peaceful neighborhood park for walking, relaxing, or observing wildlife. A short walking trail takes visitors around a small lake surrounded by mature trees. Ducks, squirrels, fish, and other aquatic life make this park a great site for anyone seeking a quiet time in a natural setting.
 * Woodlands Sports Park - A 93 acre park that offers 5 ball diamonds, eight soccer fields, a playground, two concession stands, and two fishing lakes. A number of large-scale baseball and soccer tournaments over the course of the year make Woodlands Sports Park one of the busiest parks in the City of St. Peters.