St. Charles County is a county in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 360,485, making it Missouri's third-most populous county. Its county seat is St. Charles. The county was organized October 1, 1812 and named for Saint Charles Borromeo, an Italian cardinal. The county executive is Steve Ehlmann, since January 2007.
St. Charles County is part of the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area and contains many of the city's northern suburbs.
The wealthiest county in Missouri, St. Charles County is one of the nation's fastest-growing counties. The county is also recognized as very conservative, ranking in the top 100 nationally, and many residents support gun culture.
St. Charles County includes an area of vineyards and wineries whose distinction has been nationally recognized. On its rural outer edge along the south-facing bluffs above the Missouri River is an area of numerous wineries, so that Missouri Route 94 is sometimes called the Missouri Weinstrasse. The area includes the Augusta AVA, designated in 1980 as the first American Viticultural Area by the federal government.
History
The County of St. Charles was originally called the District of St. Charles and had no definite limits until 1816 to 1818 when neighboring counties were formed. The borders of St. Charles are the same today as they were in 1818.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 593 square miles (1,540Â km2), of which 560 square miles (1,500Â km2) is land and 32 square miles (83Â km2) (5.4%) is water.
The highest elevation is 901 feet (275Â m) northwest of Augusta near Femme Osage Creek headwaters.
Adjacent counties
- Lincoln County (northwest)
- Calhoun County, Illinois (north)
- Jersey County, Illinois (northeast)
- Madison County, Illinois (east)
- St. Louis County (southeast)
- Franklin County (south)
- Warren County (west)
Major highways
- I-64 â€" Major freeway in the western portion of the county. Originally U.S. Route 40, the highway was upgraded to Interstate standards in the late 2000s. The highway was resigned as Interstate 64 from the Daniel Boone Bridge to Interstate 70 in Wentzville in 2009.
- I-70 â€" The major east-west thoroughfare in the county. It is mostly a six-lane freeway throughout most of the county but there are sections in St. Charles and St. Peters where the Interstate widens to 11 lanes of traffic.
- US-40
- US-61
- US-67
- Rte-79
- Rte-94
- Rte-364 â€" A freeway in the southern and central portions of the county that begins at Interstate 270 in western St. Louis County and ends at Interstate 64 in Lake St. Louis.
- Rte-370 â€" A six-lane freeway that connects Interstate 70 in St. Charles County and Interstate 270 in St. Louis County.
National protected area
- Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Demographics
As of 2010, there were 360,485 people, 132,906 households, and 77,060 families residing in the county. The population density was 643 people per square mile (1665/km²). There were 142,766 housing units at an average density of 73 persons/km² (188 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 91.3% White, 4.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.
There were 101,663 households out of which 40.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.20% were married couples living together, 9.20% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 24.20% were non-families. 19.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the county, the population was spread out with 29.00% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $71,458, and the median income for a family was $64,415. Males had a median income of $44,528 versus $29,405 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,592. 4.00% of the population and 2.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.90% are under the age of 18 and 5.10% are 65 or older.
St. Charles County, with an estimated population of 373,495, has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the country for decades, with 55% growth in the 1970s, 48% in the 1980s, 33% in the 1990s, and another 27% in the 2000s. The county features a cross-section of industry, as well as extensive retail and some agriculture. With the Missouri River on the south and east and the Mississippi River on the north, the county is bisected east to west by Interstate 70. St. Charles County has one small airport St. Charles County Smartt Airport ( St. Charles Airport closed in 2010 ) and two ferries that cross the Mississippi River.
Education
Public schools
- Fort Zumwalt R-II School District â€" O'Fallon
- Joseph L. Mudd Elementary School â€" (K-02) â€" O'Fallon
- St. Peters Elementary School â€" (K-02) â€" St. Peters
- Dardenne Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" O'Fallon
- Emge Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" O'Fallon
- Hawthorn Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" St. Peters
- Mid Rivers Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" St. Peters
- Mount Hope Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" O'Fallon
- Ostmann Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" O'Fallon
- Pheasant Point Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" O'Fallon
- Progress South Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" St. Peters
- Rock Creek Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" O'Fallon
- Twin Chimneys Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" O'Fallon
- Westhoff Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" O'Fallon
- Forest Park Elementary School â€" (03-05) â€" O'Fallon
- Lewis & Clark Elementary School â€" (03-05) â€" St. Peters
- Dr. Bernard J. DuBray Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" St. Peters
- Ft. Zumwalt North Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" O'Fallon
- Ft. Zumwalt South Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" St. Peters
- Ft. Zumwalt West Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" O'Fallon
- Ft. Zumwalt East High School â€" (09-12) â€" St. Peters
- Ft. Zumwalt North High School â€" (09-12) â€" O'Fallon
- Ft. Zumwalt South High School â€" (09-12) â€" St. Peters
- Ft. Zumwalt West High School â€" (09-12) â€" O'Fallon
- Francis Howell R-III School District â€" St. Peters
- Early Childhood Family Education Center â€" (PK) â€" St. Peters
- Early Childhood Family Education Center â€" (PK) â€" St. Peters
- Early Childhood Family Education Center â€" (PK) â€" Weldon Spring
- Becky-David Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" St. Peters
- Castlio Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" St. Peters
- Central Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" St. Peters
- Daniel Boone Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" New Melle
- Fairmount Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" St. Peters
- Harvest Ridge Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" St. Charles
- Henderson Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" St. Peters
- Independence Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" Weldon Spring
- John Weldon Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" Dardenne Prairie
- Warren Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" Cottleville
- Barnwell Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" St. Peters
- Bryan Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" Weldon Spring
- Francis Howell Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" Weldon Spring
- Hollenbeck Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" St. Peters
- Saeger Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" Cottleville
- Francis Howell Central High School â€" (09-12) â€" Cottleville
- Francis Howell North High School â€" (09-12) â€" St. Peters
- Francis Howell High School â€" (09-12) â€" Weldon Spring Heights
- Orchard Farm R-V School District â€" St. Charles
- Discovery Elementary School â€" (PK-02) â€" St. Charles
- Orchard Farm Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" St. Charles
- Orchard Farm Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" St. Charles
- Orchard Farm High School â€" (09-12) â€" St. Charles
- St. Charles R-VI School District â€" St. Charles
- Coverdell Elementary School â€" (K-04) â€" St. Charles
- George M. Null Elementary School â€" (K-04) â€" St. Charles
- Harris Elementary School â€" (K-04) â€" St. Charles
- Monroe Elementary School â€" (K-04) â€" St. Charles
- Lincoln Elementary School â€" (K-04) â€" St. Charles
- Jefferson Intermediate School â€" (05-06) â€" St. Charles
- Hardin Middle School â€" (07-08) â€" St. Charles
- St. Charles High School â€" (09-12) â€" St. Charles
- St. Charles West High School â€" (09-12) â€" St. Charles
- Wentzville R-IV School District â€" Wentzville
- Early Childhood Center â€" (PK) â€" Wentzville
- Heritage Primary School â€" (K-02) â€" Wentzville
- Boone Trail Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" Wentzville
- Crossroads Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" O'Fallon
- Duello Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" Lake St. Louis
- Discovery Ridge Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" Lake St. Louis
- Green Tree Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" Lake St. Louis
- Peine Ridge Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" Wentzville
- Prairie View Elementary School â€" (K-05) â€" O'Fallon
- Heritage Intermediate School â€" (03-05) â€" Wentzville
- Frontier Middle School â€" (06-08)â€" O'Fallon
- Wentzville Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" Wentzville
- Wentzville South Middle School â€" (06-08) â€" Wentzville
- Liberty High School â€" (09-12) â€" Lake St. Louis
- Emil E. Holt High School â€" (09-12) â€" Wentzville
- Timberland High School â€" (09-12) â€" Wentzville
Private schools
- Academy of the Sacred Heart â€" St. Charles â€" (PK-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- All Saints School â€" St. Peters â€" (K-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- Assumption Catholic Grade School â€" O'Fallon â€" (K-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- Campbell Montessori School â€" St. Charles â€" (NS-06) â€" Nonsectarian
- First Baptist Christian Academy â€" O'Fallon â€" (PK-07) â€" Nondenominational Christian
- Foristell Baptist Academy â€" Foristell â€" (K-09) â€" Baptist
- Hope Montessori Academy â€" Lake St. Louis â€" (PK-K) â€" Nonsectarian
- Immaculate Conception Catholic School â€" Dardenne Prairie â€" (K-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- Immanuel Lutheran School â€" St. Charles â€" (PK-08) â€" Lutheran
- Immanuel Lutheran School â€" Wentzville â€" (PK-08) â€" Lutheran
- Living Word Christian School District â€" O'Fallon and St. Petersâ€" (PK-12) â€" Nondenominational Christian
- Messiah Lutheran School â€" Weldon Spring â€" (PK-08) â€" Lutheran
- Mid Rivers Seventh-day Adventist School â€" St. Peters â€" (03-08) â€" Seventh-day Adventist
- St. Charles Borromeo â€" St. Charles â€" (K-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- St. Cletus School â€" St. Charles â€" (K-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- St. Elizabeth St. Robert Regional School â€" St. Charles â€" (PK-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- St. Joseph School â€" Cottleville â€" (K-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- St. Joseph School â€" Wentzville â€" (PK-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- St. Patrick Elementary School â€" Wentzville â€" (K-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- St. Paul Elementary School â€" St. Paul â€" (PK-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- St. Peter Catholic School â€" St. Charles â€" (PK-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- St. Theodore School â€" Wentzville â€" (K-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- Sts. Joachim & Ann School â€" St. Charles â€" (PK-08) â€" Roman Catholic
- Trinity Lutheran School â€" St. Charles â€" (01-08) â€" Lutheran
- Willott Road Christian Academy â€" St. Peters â€" (NS-09) â€" Baptist
- Zion Lutheran School â€" St. Charles â€" (PK-08) â€" Lutheran
- Living Word Christian School â€" O'Fallon â€" (06-08) â€" Nondenominational Christian
- Liberty Classical School â€" O'Fallon â€" (07-12) â€" Nondenominational Christian
- Living Word Christian High School â€" O'Fallonâ€" (09-12) â€" Nondenominational Christian
- Duchesne High Schoolâ€" St. Charlesâ€" (09-12)â€" Roman Catholic
- Lutheran High School of St. Charles County â€" St. Peters â€" (09-12) â€" Lutheran
- St. Dominic High School â€" O'Fallon â€" (09-12) â€" Roman Catholic
Alternative schools
- Boonslick State School â€" St. Peters â€" Special Education
- Fort Zumwalt Hope High School â€" O'Fallon â€" Other/Alternative School â€" (09-12)
- Francis Howell Union High School â€" St. Charles â€" Other/Alternative School â€" (09-12)
- Heritage Landing â€" St. Peters â€" Other/Alternative School â€" (06-12)
- Lewis & Clark Career Center â€" St. Charles â€" Vocational/Technical School â€" (09-12)
- Quest Day Treatment Center â€" St. Charles â€" Other/Alternative School â€" (06-12)
Higher education
- Lindenwood University â€" St. Charles
- St. Charles Community College â€" Cottleville
Public libraries
- Saint Charles City - County Public Library
Law and government
St. Charles County is governed by a county executive and a county council. The county council consists of seven members, each elected from various districts in the county. The county executive is elected by the entire county. The current executive is Steve Ehlmann. He was preceded by Joe Ortwerth, who was preceded by Gene Schwendemann, the first county executive of St. Charles County under the new form of government. The executive under the old form of county government was termed a "judge." The county had 258,525 registered voters as of March, 2016.
The St. Charles County Police Department operates under the authority of the St. Charles County government and is the largest law enforcement agency in St. Charles County.St. Charles County Police Department (SCCPD)
St. Charles County Ambulance District (SCCAD) is the largest district in Missouri, serving all of St. Charles County and its population of nearly 370,000.St. Charles County Ambulance District (SCCAD)
Politics
Local
The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in St. Charles County. Republicans hold all the elected positions in the county.
State
St. Charles County is divided into twelve legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.
- District 42 â€" Bart Korman (R-High Hill). Consists of Augusta, Defiance and part of New Melle.
- District 63 â€" Bryan Spencer (R-Wentzville). Consists of Wentzville, Foristell, and part of New Melle.
- District 64Â - Robert Cornejo (R-St. Peters). Consists of Flint Hill, Josephville, St. Paul, and parts of O'Fallon and St. Peters.
- District 65Â - Tom Hannegan (R-St. Charles). Consists of West Alton, Portage Des Sioux, and part of St. Charles.
- District 70Â - Mark Matthiesen (R-Maryland Heights). Consists of parts of St. Charles and Weldon Spring.
- District 102Â - Kurt Bahr (R-O'Fallon). Consists of Weldon Springs Heights, and parts of O'Fallon, Dardenne Prairie, New Melle, and Weldon Spring.
- District 103Â - John Wiemann (R-O'Fallon). Consists of Cottleville and parts of O'Fallon, St. Peters, and Weldon Spring.
- District 104 â€" Kathie Conway (R-St. Charles). Consists of part of St. Peters.
- District 105Â - Phil Christofanelli (R-St. Charles). Consists of parts of St. Charles and St. Peters.
- District 106 â€" Chrissy Sommer (R-St. Charles). Consists of parts of St. Charles and St. Peters.
- District 107 â€" Nick Schroer (R-O'Fallon). Consists of parts of Lake St. Louis, O’Fallon, and St. Peters.
- District 108 â€" Justin Hill (R-Lake St. Louis). Consists of parts of Lake St. Louis and Dardenne Prairie.
St. Charles County is divided into two districts in the Missouri Senate, both of which have elected Republicans.
- District 2 â€" Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis). Consists of the communities of Augusta, Dardenne Prairie, Flint Hill, Foristell, Josephville, Lake St. Louis, New Melle, O'Fallon, St. Paul, Weldon Spring Heights, and Wentzville.
- District 23 â€" Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring). Consists of Portage Des Sioux, St. Charles, St. Peters, Weldon Spring, and West Alton.
Federal
Part of St. Charles County is included in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District and is currently represented by Ann Wagner in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Most of St. Charles County is included in Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District and is currently represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2016 Missouri Presidential Primary results
Republican
Donald Trump won the most votes in St. Charles County, with 41.50 percent. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) came in second with 38.87 percent, Governor John Kasich (R-Ohio) placed third with 10.70 percent, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) was fourth with 7.10 percent.
Democratic
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) won the primary with 54.32 percent to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's 44.80 percent.
2012 Missouri Presidential Primary results
Republican
Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania) won the most votes in St. Charles County, with 56.29 percent. Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) came in second with 25.43 percent, and former U.S. Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas) was third with 12.69 percent.
Democratic
With incumbent President Barack Obama facing no serious opposition, few St. Charles County voters voted in the Democratic primary; Obama won 87.83 percent.
2008 Missouri Presidential Primary results
Republican
Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts) won the most votes in St. Charles County, with 37.72 percent. U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) came in second with 34.95 percent, former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) placed third with 21.83 percent, and U.S. Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas) was fourth with 3.83 percent.
Democratic
Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 23,611, than any candidate from either party in St. Charles County during the 2008 presidential primary.
Communities
Cities
Villages
- Josephville
- Weldon Spring Heights
Census-designated place
- Defiance
Other unincorporated places
See also
- List of counties in Missouri
- National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Charles County, Missouri
References
External links
- St. Charles County Government Website
- St. Charles City-County Library District
- St. Charles County Ambulance District
- Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce
- St. Charles County Jail Information
- Digitized 1930 Plat Book of St. Charles County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books