Fenton, Missouri

Coordinates: 38°31′39″N 90°26′55″W / 38.52750°N 90.44861°W / 38.52750; -90.44861
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Fenton, Missouri
FIPS code
29-23950
GNIS feature ID2394757[2]
Websitefentonmo.org
Bicycle party resting in Fenton, Missouri, September 12, 1897

Fenton is a city in

2020 census
.

History

Due to its proximity to fertile land and the Meramec River, the Fenton area has been inhabited for over 900 years. The earliest proof of ancient dwellers was excavated from the "Fenton Mounds", two conical earthen burial mounds located near the southwestern border of Fenton. Diagnostic pottery shards from the mounds indicate they date from the Mississippian times, A.D. 1050 - 1400.[3] In 2001, the mounds were leveled, by developer Gary Grewe, for construction of a Walmart Supercenter.[4]

The Fenton territory was occupied by Native Americans and early settlers in the 1770s. William Lindsay Long founded the city of Fenton on March 23, 1818. The original eight-square-block area is now referred to as "Old Towne Fenton". The city remained unincorporated for the next 130 years. Garrett Hitzert was the city's first mayor after incorporation in 1948, and his leadership helped build the foundation that much of the city's ongoing prosperity has been based on. He conceived of Fenton's expansive commercial business and industrial district that is a centerpiece of the city's fiscal success.[5]

Geography

Fenton is located approximately two miles south of

I-44 along the west bank of the Meramec River. The intersection of Missouri routes 30 and 141 lies just to the west.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.38 square miles (16.52 km2), of which 6.05 square miles (15.67 km2) is land and 0.33 square miles (0.85 km2) is water.[7]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1900160
19101727.5%
1920146−15.1%
193023762.3%
1940171−27.8%
195020721.1%
19601,059411.6%
19702,275114.8%
19802,4176.2%
19903,34638.4%
20004,36030.3%
20104,022−7.8%
20203,989−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
2011 estimate

2010 census

As of the

Latino
of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 1,549 households, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 46.7 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19% were from 25 to 44; 37.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 census

As of the

Latino
of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 1,587 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $74,708, and the median income for a family was $80,536. Males had a median income of $56,425 versus $34,514 for females. The

poverty line
, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Major corporations in the city include Tacony Corporation and Nooter Eriksen Corporation (makers of industrial equipment), Sachs Electric, UniGroup (owners of United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit, Wolff Shoe, Maritz, Fabick Caterpillar, and 8th Avenue Food & Provisions. Retail Technology Group, a major national point-of-sale supplier, is based in Fenton. Fenton contains a large industrial park and a newly developed logistics park located on the former Chrysler Assembly site.[citation needed]

Chrysler

The former

Edward Jones Dome did not materialize.[9] In 2014 a local St. Louis real estate developer purchased the empty 300-acre lot to develop 240 acres of offices, businesses, and industrial buildings, with the remaining 60 acres primarily designated for retail use.[10]

Athletics

The immediate Fenton area is home to some of the most prestigious youth soccer clubs in the nation. The

competition takes place in Fenton.

Parks

Fenton is called the "City of Parks" owing to its extensive park and recreation system. The City has seven fully developed parks on 350-plus acres, including soccer fields, ball diamonds, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds, fishing ponds, and approximately three miles of bike/pedestrian paths through the City. The parks include: Fenton City Park, Bud Weil Memorial Park, Fenton Meramec Greenway, Olde Towne Plaza Riverside Park, Valiant Park, and Westside Park. Plans are being developed for the former Fabick property in the heart of the City. These plans include trails and some passive uses.[11]

Heroes Memorial

In the spring of 2004 the Mayor of Fenton, Dennis J. Hancock, and the members of the Park Board (Board Chair Glen Scholle and members Jeff Bodi, Charles Jahneke, Mike Lucas, Steve Covault, Gregg Cleveland, Diana Biras and Nannette Clark) determined that their city should build a memorial to the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. It was also determined that the memorial would honor police, firefighters, EMS personnel, and all veterans.

Education

The City of Fenton is served by the

Lindbergh school districts. Rockwood Summit High School is located in Fenton and is the primary high school for area students. One private school, St. Paul Catholic School, is located in Fenton.[12] Two others, Our Savior Lutheran School and Heritage Classical Christian Academy, are located adjacent to the city limits. The Meramec Valley Branch of the St. Louis County Library system is in Fenton,[13] although a new, larger facility is open just outside the city limits.[14]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fenton, Missouri
  3. ^ "2008 Bioarchaeological Analysis of the Fenton Mounds," Wescott, Daniel J., Missouri Archaeologist 68[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Grave Losses: Lax laws and uncaring bureaucrats cause Missouri to erase another prehistoric mound" Batz, Jeannette. Riverfront Times. October 31, 2001
  5. ^ "A Brief History of Fenton." Fenton Historical Society.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  7. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  8. ^ Hunn, David (July 23, 2012). "A new stadium for the St. Louis Rams?". Stltoday. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  9. ^ "Plans set for new development on Fenton Chrysler plant". FOX2now.com. June 25, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  10. ^ "Fenton Area Chamber of Commerce - Parks Department". www.fentonmochamber.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  11. ^ "St. Paul Catholic School". Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  12. ^ "Meramec Valley Branch Archived 2009-08-26 at the Wayback Machine." St. Louis County Library. Retrieved on August 18, 2009.
  13. ^ "Meramec Valley Branch - St Louis County Library". Retrieved December 6, 2018.

External links