Wentzville, Missouri

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Wentzville, Missouri
—  City  —
Downtown Wentzville
Coordinates: 38°48′58″N 90°51′26″W / 38.81611°N 90.85722°W / 38.81611; -90.85722
Country United States
State Missouri
County St. Charles
Area
 - Total 14.4 sq mi (37.3 km2)
 - Land 14.4 sq mi (37.3 km2)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 623 ft (190 m)
Population (2009)
 - Total 28,768
 - Density 478.9/sq mi (184.9/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
FIPS code 29-78442[1]
GNIS feature ID 0756888[2]

Wentzville is a city located in western St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 28,768. The city's major employer is General Motors which has a full size van assembly plant located there. Site of the county fairgrounds, Wentzville annually hosts the St. Charles County Fair, St. Louis Pirate Festival and the Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire.

Contents

[edit] History

Wentzville was founded in 1855 as a depot on the Northern Missouri Railroad. It was named after Erasmus Livingston Wentz, a railroad engineer for the line. The land was obtained from William M. Allen, who laid out the town. Wentzville was not incorporated until 1872.

During the American Civil War, the city was the site of a series of skirmishes along the railroad from July 15 to July 17, 1861. Elements of the 2nd and 8th Missouri Infantry Regiments en route to Mexico, Missouri engaged Confederate guerrillas who threatened the railroad.

Wentzville is located at the intersection of I-70/US-40 and US-61. It is known as the "Crossroads of the Nation".

[edit] Geography

Wentzville is located at 38°48'58" North, 90°51'26" West (38.816010, -90.857198)[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.4 square miles (37.3 km²), of which 14.4 square miles (37.3 km²) of is land and 0.07% is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 13,931 people, 2,456 households, and 1,846 families residing in the city. The population density is 478.9 people per square mile (184.9/km²). There are 2,724 housing units at an average density of 189.2/sq mi (73.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 84.63% White, 12.02% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 2,456 households out of which 43.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% are married couples living together, 17.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% are non-families. 20.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.76 and the average family size is 3.20.

In the city the population is spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $47,232, and the median income for a family is $53,082. Males have a median income of $38,423 versus $25,852 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,039. 11.6% of the population and 10.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.1% of those under the age of 18 and 13.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

[edit] Schools

The Wentzville School District covers Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, Foristell and parts of O'Fallon.

The high-school mascot for Wentzville Holt high school is the Indian, and the high-school mascot for Wentzville Timberland high school is the Wolf.

Wentzville is also home to St. Patrick School, a semi-large Catholic school serving kindergarten through eighth grade.

[edit] Government

The government of Wentzville is that of a 4th class city. It consists of a city manager, a mayor, and six aldermen (two for each ward). City manager is a non-elected position, whereas the others are elected. Mayors and aldermen serve two-year terms.

The city is divided into three wards.

The current city manager is Andy McGown. The current mayor is Paul Lambi. Former aldermen include David Billing, Brian Brinkley, Eric Sherman, Bob Smith, David Hoekel and Greg Lippert.

[edit] Sports

Wentzville is home to the St. Louis Chill professional hockey team of the Midwest Hockey League. The Chill play their home games at Lindenwood Ice Arena in Wentzville.

[edit] Current professional teams

Club Sport Founded League Venue
St. Louis Chill Ice hockey 2008 Midwest Hockey League Lindenwood Ice Arena

[edit] Famous residents

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

[edit] External links