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Despite these advances, the towns in the floodplain area remained relatively obscure and rural in nature until the mid-20th century, when rapid suburbanization of west St. Louis County led to a population surge and commercial development. By the 1970s, numerous shopping establishments and other business complexes had appeared, and the desire to take advantage of potential tax revenue and establish suitable local services for the region--now coming to be collectively known as "Chesterfield"--led many community leaders to push for incorporation. After several years of campaigning for voters' support, they succeeded in having the city of Chesterfield established in 1988. At the 1990 census, Chesterfield had a population of about 38,000; since then, it has grown to approach the 50,000 mark.
Despite these advances, the towns in the floodplain area remained relatively obscure and rural in nature until the mid-20th century, when rapid suburbanization of west St. Louis County led to a population surge and commercial development. By the 1970s, numerous shopping establishments and other business complexes had appeared, and the desire to take advantage of potential tax revenue and establish suitable local services for the region--now coming to be collectively known as "Chesterfield"--led many community leaders to push for incorporation. After several years of campaigning for voters' support, they succeeded in having the city of Chesterfield established in 1988. At the 1990 census, Chesterfield had a population of about 38,000; since then, it has grown to approach the 50,000 mark.
During the Great Flood of 1993, the levees protecting Chesterfield from high water on the Missouri River came under intense stress. On July 30 that year, the Chesterfield Monarch levee failed, submerging most of the valley under 7-8 feet of water and forcing the closure of Highway 40.<ref>https://www.chesterfield.mo.us/flood-of-1993-video.html</ref> Despite the extensive water damage to many homes and businesses, the city quickly rebuilt, and since then the system of levees protecting Chesterfield has been extended and improved.
==Geography==
==Geography==
With this economic base, "white-collar" business professionals make up a large portion of the local workforce. Education and health care are also major employers, as are a variety of service industries. A 2013 report indicated that the largest individual employer in Chesterfield was St. Luke's Hospital (with 3,447 employees), followed by Parkway School District, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Delmar Gardens Enterprises, and RGA.<ref>https://www.chesterfield.mo.us/comp-annual-financial-report.html</ref>
With this economic base, "white-collar" business professionals make up a large portion of the local workforce. Education and health care are also major employers, as are a variety of service industries. A 2013 report indicated that the largest individual employer in Chesterfield was St. Luke's Hospital (with 3,447 employees), followed by Parkway School District, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Delmar Gardens Enterprises, and RGA.<ref>https://www.chesterfield.mo.us/comp-annual-financial-report.html</ref>
As of January 2021, the St. Louis County Assessor's Office reported a total valuation for the city of $2.27 billion. There were just over 2,000 licensed businesses in the city, generating some $57 million in sales tax revenue.<ref>https://www.chesterfield.mo.us/chesterfield-valley-economic-facts.html</ref>
==Education==
==Education==