Difference between revisions of "Kirkwood, Missouri"

Revision as of 00:59, August 3, 2022

Kirkwood is a major city in south-central St. Louis County, Missouri, and an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis. It had a population of 27,540 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1853 and named for railroad engineer James P. Kirkwood, it claims to be the first planned suburb west of the Mississippi River.

History

Kirkwood had its origins in the organization of the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1849, chartered with the task of providing a rail line from St. Louis west across Missouri to the Pacific Ocean. As construction proceeded during the early 1850s, several St. Louis residents acquired land along its route, then about 14 miles from the city center, for the development of a suburban community. Reacting in part to the cholera epidemic and fire that had ravaged St. Louis in 1849, they intended it to be a healthful country retreat. The new town was platted in 1852, and by May 1853 had already come to bear the name of "Kirkwood," in honor of James Pugh Kirkwood, the railroad's chief engineer.^[1] The pastoral images evoked by the name were also likely a consideration.^[2]

As a planned suburb with hefty financial support from the start, Kirkwood flourished rapidly. In 1865, it was incorporated as a village (establishing its own school district that same year), and the setting aside of moderately large lots encouraged the building of stately homes and gardens. Industrial activity was discouraged, allowing the community to retain its character as a peaceful residential center. A new train station was built on the site of the original depot in 1893; constructed in Romanesque Revival style, it still stands and is today one of Kirkwood's most iconic structures.^[3] In 1899, with a population approaching 3,000, Kirkwood was incorporated as a fourth-class city; this status was upgraded to a third-class city in 1930 and finally to Home Rule in 1984.

The city's population peaked at close to 32,000 in the 1970 census before declining somewhat, as newer suburbs farther to the west became more popular. Since then its population has remained steady at about 27,000 or so.

Geography

Kirkwood's city center (focused on the intersection of Adams Avenue and U.S. Route 61) is about 12 miles southwest of downtown St. Louis. Most of the community lies between Manchester Road/Highway 100 to the north, Woodlawn Avenue to the east, Interstate 44 to the south, and Interstate 270 to the west (though its southwestern boundary extends as far as the Meramec River). Communities on which it borders include Crestwood, Des Peres, Glendale, and Oakland. Its official coordinates are 38°34′50″N 90°24′51″W.

With the exception of the Meramec River, on which it borders, Kirkwood contains no major bodies of water; water mostly drains into either the Meramec or the River Des Peres to the east. Local terrain is mostly flat, with the exception of some low hills west of Interstate 270. The city has a total area of 9.20 square miles, and an average elevation of 659 feet.^[4]

Demographics

At the 2010 census, Kirkwood had a total of 27,540 inhabitants, grouped into 11,894 households, with a population density of 2,994.8 people per square mile. This figure was practically unchanged from the 2000 census, when Kirkwood had a population of 27,324. 89.45% of the inhabitants were White, 7.00% were African-American, 0.13% were Native American, 1.43% were Asian, 0.02% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.42% were from some other race, and 1.55% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 1.84% of the population.

The median age in Kirkwood was 42.6 years, with 23.2% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 6.1% between 18 and 24 years old, 23.8% between 25 and 44, 29.9% between 45 and 64, and 17.1% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 46.0% male, 54.0% female.^[5]

According to the 2018 American Community Survey, Kirkwood had a median household income of $88,378, and a median family income of $120,943. The unemployment rate was 2.5%. The per capita income was $50,828. About 4.5% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 5.8% of those 65 years of age or older.^[6]

References