Florissant, Missouri

Florissant, Missouri
City
City of Florissant
Florissant City Hall sign, April 2013
Flag Seal
Location of Florissant, Missouri
Coordinates: 38°47′52″N 90°19′32″W / 38.79778°N 90.32556°W / 38.79778; -90.32556Coordinates: 38°47′52″N 90°19′32″W / 38.79778°N 90.32556°W / 38.79778; -90.32556
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	St. Louis
Founded	1785
Government
• Mayor	Tim Lowery
• City Council	show List Andrew Harris (Ward 1) Paul Manganelli (Ward 2) Joe Eagan (Ward 3) Jeff Caputa (Ward 4) Keith Schildroth (Ward 5) Patrick Mulcahy (Ward 6) Jackie Pagano (Ward 7) Robert Parson, Jr. (Ward 8) Tommy Siam (Ward 9)[1]
Area [2]
• Total	12.86 sq mi (33.31 km2)
• Land	12.55 sq mi (32.51 km2)
• Water	0.31 sq mi (0.80 km2)
Elevation	574 ft (175 m)
Population  (2010)[3]
• Total	52,158
• Estimate  (2019)[4]	50,952
• Density	4,059.60/sq mi (1,567.42/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	63031, 63032, 63033, 63034
Area code(s)	314
FIPS code	29-24778[5]
GNIS feature ID	0756063[6]
Website	http://www.florissantmo.com/

Florissant (/ˈflɒrɪsənt/ (listen)) is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, within Greater St. Louis. It is a middle class, second-ring northern suburb of St. Louis. Based on 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a total population of 50,952, making it the 13th-largest city in Missouri and the largest municipality in St. Louis County.

History[]

The exact date the first settlers went to the Valley of Florissant is unknown, but it is one of the oldest settlements in the state of Missouri. Some historians believe it was settled about the same time as St. Louis. The first civil government was formed in 1786. Spanish archives in Havana reveal 40 people and seven plantations were in Florissant at the time of the 1787 census. The village, called "Fleurissant", meaning "Blooming" in English, by its French settlers and "St. Ferdinand" by its Spanish rulers, was a typical French village with its commons and common fields.^[7] Originally a separate town, and now an inner suburb of St. Louis, the community was centered on (and frequently called after) the parish of St. Ferdinand. As late as 1889, the town was predominantly French-speaking (while the southern portion of the metropolis was populated by German-speakers).^[8] The first train line to the area was constructed in 1878—an extension of the line which went from St. Louis City to Normandy.^[9] The last train to Florissant ran on November 14, 1931.^[9]

Following World War II, Florissant went from a small village community to a large suburban center, as developers such as Alfred H. Mayer Co. began building subdivisions on what was formerly farmland and empty acreage. Around 18,000 houses were built between 1947 and 1980, and the population swelled to its peak of about 76,000 in the mid-1970s, making it the largest city in St. Louis County.^[9]

James J. Eagan was the first mayor of Florissant after a charter amendment created the position. He ultimately served 37 years from 1963 until his death on November 2, 2000, being re-elected into office nine times, and became one of the longest-serving mayors of any city in the United States. In his final year, he was awarded the title of Best Politician in St. Louis by the Riverfront Times.^[10] The civic center off Parker Road is named the James J. Eagan Community Center in his memory.

In 2012, Florissant was ranked 76 in Money magazine's top-100 list of Best Places to Live – America's Best Small Cities.^[11] In 2014, Florissant ranked as the #1 Best Small City to Retire To in America^[12] and the second-safest city in Missouri.^[13]

The heart of Old Town Florissant is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the St. Ferdinand Central Historic District.^[14] The boundaries of the district are roughly rue St. Francois, rue St. Ferdinand, and rue St. Denis, and Lafayette Street. The City of St. Ferdinand Multiple Resource Area (MRA), located in the oldest section of the present city of Florissant, encompasses approximately 156 city blocks and encloses the approximate area of the City of St. Ferdinand, as Florissant was known from 1857 to 1939.^[15] This MRA comprises 124 historically significant properties ranging in date from 1790 to 1940. The historic Old St. Ferdinand Shrine is located on the western end of Old Town. The Shrine and Historic Site consists of four historic buildings on their original locations: the 1819 convent, 1821 church, 1840 rectory, and 1888 schoolhouse. It is listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places and is a U.S. Historic District.

Geography[]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.87 square miles (33.33 km²), of which 12.56 square miles (32.53 km²) are land and 0.31 square mile (0.80 km²) is covered by water.^[16]

Demographics[]

View down a street in Florissant, April 2013

2010 census[]

At the 2010 census,^[3] there were 52,158 people, 21,247 households and 13,800 families living in the city. The population density was 4,152.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,603.4/km²). There were 22,632 housing units at an average density of 1,801.9 per square mile (695.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.3% White, 36.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 21,247 households, of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.0% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the city was 38 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

2000 census[]

At the 2000 census,^[5] there were 50,497 people, 20,399 households and 13,687 families living in the city. The population density was 4,442.4 per square mile (1,714.8/km²). There were 21,027 housing units at an average density of 1,849.8 per square mile (714.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.66% White, 10.51% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.49% of the population.

There were 20,399 households, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.01.

24.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median household income was $44,462 and the median family income was $52,195. Males had a median income of $37,434 compared with $27,247 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,622. About 2.7% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education[]

Public[]

Florissant is covered by the Hazelwood and Ferguson-Florissant public school districts. McCluer North High School and McCluer High School of the Ferguson-Florissant School District, and ^[17] are high schools in Florissant. Hazelwood Central is the only high school in Florissant belonging to the Hazelwood School District. Hazelwood Northwest Middle School and several elementary schools are also within the municipal limits.^[18][19]

Private[]

North County Christian School is a pre-school to grade 12 Christian school that is theologically associated with the Church of the Nazarene.^[20][21]

There are several kindergarten through 8th-grade parochial schools in Florissant. These include Atonement Lutheran School, Sacred Heart, St. Ferdinand, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and Saint Norbert.^[22]

Higher education[]

Florissant has a theological college, an extension campus, and a barber college. Saint Louis Christian College is a private, four-year, undergraduate institution that is theologically and ecclesiastically associated with the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ.^[23] Lindenwood University has its offsite North County Campus located in the former Our Lady of Fatima School.^[24] Missouri School of Barbering and Hairstyling-St Louis is also located in Florissant.^[25]

St. Louis Community College–Florissant Valley and University of Missouri–St. Louis are located in close proximity to the city.

Public libraries[]

St. Louis County Library operates the Florissant Valley Branch in Florissant.^[26]

Health care[]

Florissant is home to Northwest HealthCare, an outpatient subsidiary of Christian Hospital. Services include: emergency department, sleep lab, bone density testing, mammography, ultrasound and MRI.^[27] A satellite facility of the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center that is under construction on the campus is scheduled to open in late 2019.^[28]

Notable people[]

• Kate Capshaw, actress, wife of Steven Spielberg
• Gwen Berry, athlete awarded gold for the hammer event, Pan American Games 2019 in Lima,Peru
• Cedric the Entertainer, comedian and actor
• Chingy, rapper
• Bob Christian, NFL running back
• Pierre-Jean De Smet, Catholic priest and missionary
• Rose Philippine Duchesne, Catholic nun and missionary declared a saint in 1988
• Dennis Edwards, singer (The Contours, The Temptations)
• Shandi Finnessey, Miss Missouri USA 2004, Miss USA 2004, co-host of Lingo and PlayMania
• Ryan Howard, Major League Baseball player
• Jeremy Lucido, photographer
• Kathleen Madigan, comedian
• Kyle McClellan, Major League Baseball player
• Michael McDonald, singer-songwriter; formerly of the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan
• Rita Meyer, All-American Girls Professional Baseball player
• Vinegar Bend Mizell, lived here during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals^[29]
• Al Nipper, former Major League Baseball player
• Barry Orton, former professional wrestler
• "Cowboy" Bob Orton Jr, wrestler, WWE Hall of Fame
• Randy Orton, WWE wrestler
• Neil Rackers, NFL football player
• Bobby Rhine, Major League Soccer player
• Kerry Robinson, former Major League Baseball player
• Kimora Lee Simmons, retired supermodel, head of design for Baby Phat
• Hal R. Smith, lived here during his time with the Cardinals^[29]
• Mike Sorber, Major League Soccer player
• John A. Stormer, pseudo-conservative polemicist, author of None Dare Call It Treason
• Perry Van der Beck, soccer player and coach, North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League, former U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year
• Ira Vandever, quarterback for the Stuttgart Scorpions in the German Football League
• Dick Weber, Hall of Fame bowler
• Pete Weber, Hall of Fame bowler
• Bill Wilkerson, sportscaster, radio host (KMOX)
• Bob Wiesler, former Major League Baseball player
• Clint Zweifel, former State Treasurer of Missouri

References[]

Further reading[]

• Garraghan, Gilbert J. (1923). Saint Ferdinand de Florissant: the story of an ancient parish. Chicago: Loyola Univ. Press.

External links[]

• Official site of the City of Florissant
• Historic Florissant