Bridgeton, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Bridgeton is a city in northwestern St. Louis County, Missouri
, serving as a suburb
and transport hub within Greater St. Louis. The population at the 2010 census was 11,550. Portions of Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport are within Bridgeton.
serves as the city's northwestern boundary. Bridgeton is centered at 38°45'26" North, 90°25'4" West (38.7573, -90.4179).
The area has long been influenced by its proximity to important local transportation routes, dating back to Native American
trails established by the Osage Nation
. Many of those trails served as the routes for the first roads in the area, such as Natural Bridge and the historic St. Charles Rock Road
, which date back to the days of Spanish
, French
, and early American
settlement. The influence continues today, with the recreational American Discovery Trail
passing through the area, and the intersection of I-70
and I-270 adding to air and rail access to make the area a good base for transportation-dependent industries.
According to the Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.2 square miles (39.4 km²), of which 14.6 square miles (37.8 km²) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), or 4.4%, is water.
s dates back to the days of the French Illinois Territory
. Étienne de Veniard de Bourgmont
traveled the area in 1724, on a trail which eventually became the main route between St. Louis and St. Charles.
The Spanish gained colonial control
in 1768; they remained in control until 1804, when the area was transferred to the Americans. In a 1799 census, the population of "Marais des Liards" was given as 337 whites and 42 slaves.
Bridgeton was first plat
ted in 1794, and named Marais des Liards (Cottonwood Swamp
). It was also known as Village à Robert, named after Robert Owen
, its founder, who had received a land grant from the Spanish government. In a Spanish census two years later it had a population (including slaves
) of 77 males and 47 females. As the area received more and more English
-speaking settlers, the village's name became Owen's Station.
Because of its location, including its proximity to a ferry
across the Missouri River
, it was a stop along the way from St. Louis to St. Charles. Meriwether Lewis
passed through on his way to meet what became known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition
. It was granted a state charter
in 1843; throughout the next few years it was a stop along the way for emigrants seeking the major trailheads to the Oregon
and Santa Fe
trails.
The Jesuits
, a Catholic religious order of priests and brothers, arrived in Bridgeton from St. Stanislaus Seminary
and St. Ferdinand Parish of Florissant, Missouri
. The order established St. Mary's Church
in 1851 as a mission
to serve area Catholics, which became a parish within its first year. The parish closed in 2001 due to the expansion of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
.
, to 16 square miles (41.4 km²). The decade included the founding of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, the chamber of commerce
for the Northwest St. Louis area, which includes Bridgeton.
This led into its period of greatest residential growth, the 1960s, during which nearly 8000 single-family homes were built. Denser development was strong during that decade as well, at nearly 2000 units. Unlike with single-family development, the multi-family development continued at about the same average pace during the 1970s and 1980s.
While residential construction nearly ended in the 1990s, that decade has seen significant growth in commercial development. Levee
-protected floodplain
s of the river, together with good access to interstate highways, rail, and the airport have translated into continued growth for Bridgeton and nearby communities, and a diversification of the city's tax base. Proximity to Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport proved to be a mixed blessing. Starting in 1995, an expansion plan for the airport, centered around a new runway plan called W-1W, was fought (unsuccessfully) by the city. The new runway led to the elimination of 2000 homes in the city, undoubtedly playing a significant role in the city's recent population decline.
of 2010 shows that the city's population continues to decline. In 1980 there were 18,445 people in the city, which declined to 17,779 in 1990, 15,550 in 2000, and 11,550 in 2010.
In 2000, the city included 6,251 households and 4,206 families. The population density
was 1,067.1 people per square mile (412.1/km²). There were 6,729 housing units at an average density of 461.8 per square mile (178.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.47% White, 9.05% African American, 2.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% Native American, 0.69% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 2.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,251 households in the city, with an average of 2.43 members. Of these households:
26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 2.95.
The median age of the city's residents was 40 years, distributed as follows:
For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,216; it was greater for families, at $57,797. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $28,175 for females. The per-capita income for the city was $23,955. 4.9% of the population and 3.2% of families lived below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.7% were under 18 and 6.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
is headquartered in Bridgeton. Trans States subsidiary GoJet Airlines
is also headquartered in Bridgeton.
operates the Bridgeton Trails Branch in Bridgeton. The city is served by the Pattonville School District
.
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
, serving as a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
and transport hub within Greater St. Louis. The population at the 2010 census was 11,550. Portions of Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport are within Bridgeton.
Location
The populated areas of the city are located between Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport and St. Charles. The Missouri RiverMissouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
serves as the city's northwestern boundary. Bridgeton is centered at 38°45'26" North, 90°25'4" West (38.7573, -90.4179).
The area has long been influenced by its proximity to important local transportation routes, dating back to Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
trails established by the Osage Nation
Osage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
. Many of those trails served as the routes for the first roads in the area, such as Natural Bridge and the historic St. Charles Rock Road
St. Charles Rock Road
St. Charles Rock Road is the current name of what was the first road to traverse present-day St. Louis County, Missouri between St. Louis and St. Charles. For most of its length it is also known as Route 180.-Route Description:...
, which date back to the days of Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and early American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
settlement. The influence continues today, with the recreational American Discovery Trail
American Discovery Trail
The American Discovery Trail is a coast-to-coast hiking and biking trail across the mid-tier of the United States. It starts on the Delmarva Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and ends on the northern California coast on the Pacific Ocean, and is signed on over of trail. This includes the doubled...
passing through the area, and the intersection of I-70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
and I-270 adding to air and rail access to make the area a good base for transportation-dependent industries.
According to the Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.2 square miles (39.4 km²), of which 14.6 square miles (37.8 km²) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), or 4.4%, is water.
Early history
Bridgeton has a long and uneven history. Its contact with and settlement by EuropeanEuropean ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
s dates back to the days of the French Illinois Territory
Illinois Territory
The Territory of Illinois was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 1, 1809, until December 3, 1818, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Illinois. The area was earlier known as "Illinois Country" while under...
. Étienne de Veniard de Bourgmont
Étienne de Veniard, Sieur de Bourgmont
Étienne de Veniard, Sieur de Bourgmont was a French explorer who documented his travels on the Missouri and Platte rivers in North America and made the first European maps of these areas. He wrote two accounts of his travels, which included descriptions of the Native American tribes he encountered...
traveled the area in 1724, on a trail which eventually became the main route between St. Louis and St. Charles.
The Spanish gained colonial control
Spanish colonization of the Americas
Colonial expansion under the Spanish Empire was initiated by the Spanish conquistadores and developed by the Monarchy of Spain through its administrators and missionaries. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions...
in 1768; they remained in control until 1804, when the area was transferred to the Americans. In a 1799 census, the population of "Marais des Liards" was given as 337 whites and 42 slaves.
Bridgeton was first plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in 1794, and named Marais des Liards (Cottonwood Swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
). It was also known as Village à Robert, named after Robert Owen
Robert Owen
Robert Owen was a Welsh social reformer and one of the founders of utopian socialism and the cooperative movement.Owen's philosophy was based on three intellectual pillars:...
, its founder, who had received a land grant from the Spanish government. In a Spanish census two years later it had a population (including slaves
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
) of 77 males and 47 females. As the area received more and more English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
-speaking settlers, the village's name became Owen's Station.
Because of its location, including its proximity to a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
across the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
, it was a stop along the way from St. Louis to St. Charles. Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark...
passed through on his way to meet what became known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
. It was granted a state charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
in 1843; throughout the next few years it was a stop along the way for emigrants seeking the major trailheads to the Oregon
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
and Santa Fe
Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
trails.
The Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, a Catholic religious order of priests and brothers, arrived in Bridgeton from St. Stanislaus Seminary
St. Stanislaus Seminary
St. Stanislaus Seminary is a former Society of Jesus seminary in Florissant, Missouri. It was the longest continuously operated Jesuit novitiate in the United States.-Working life:...
and St. Ferdinand Parish of Florissant, Missouri
Florissant, Missouri
Florissant is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in northern St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The city has a total population of 52,158 in 2010 census.-History:...
. The order established St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Parish, Bridgeton, Missouri
St. Mary's Parish in Bridgeton, Missouri was a Catholic parish located in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The parish was founded in 1851 and closed in 2001. It was founded by Jesuit priests from St. Ferdinand Parish in Florissant, Missouri. The parish's grade school, St. Mary's School, existed from...
in 1851 as a mission
Mission (station)
A religious mission or mission station is a location for missionary work.While primarily a Christian term, the concept of the religious "mission" is also used prominently by the Church of Scientology and their Scientology Missions International....
to serve area Catholics, which became a parish within its first year. The parish closed in 2001 due to the expansion of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is a Class B international airport serving Greater St. Louis. It is located approximately northwest of downtown St. Louis in unincorporated St. Louis County between Berkeley and Bridgeton. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state with 250 daily...
.
Modern history
By 1950, Bridgeton's population was 276, lower than it had been in the late 1790s and early 19th century. The city expanded in size during the decade, growing through annexationAnnexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
, to 16 square miles (41.4 km²). The decade included the founding of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, the chamber of commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
for the Northwest St. Louis area, which includes Bridgeton.
This led into its period of greatest residential growth, the 1960s, during which nearly 8000 single-family homes were built. Denser development was strong during that decade as well, at nearly 2000 units. Unlike with single-family development, the multi-family development continued at about the same average pace during the 1970s and 1980s.
While residential construction nearly ended in the 1990s, that decade has seen significant growth in commercial development. Levee
Levee
A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
-protected floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
s of the river, together with good access to interstate highways, rail, and the airport have translated into continued growth for Bridgeton and nearby communities, and a diversification of the city's tax base. Proximity to Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport proved to be a mixed blessing. Starting in 1995, an expansion plan for the airport, centered around a new runway plan called W-1W, was fought (unsuccessfully) by the city. The new runway led to the elimination of 2000 homes in the city, undoubtedly playing a significant role in the city's recent population decline.
Demographics
The censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010 shows that the city's population continues to decline. In 1980 there were 18,445 people in the city, which declined to 17,779 in 1990, 15,550 in 2000, and 11,550 in 2010.
In 2000, the city included 6,251 households and 4,206 families. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,067.1 people per square mile (412.1/km²). There were 6,729 housing units at an average density of 461.8 per square mile (178.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.47% White, 9.05% African American, 2.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% Native American, 0.69% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 2.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,251 households in the city, with an average of 2.43 members. Of these households:
- 27.9% had children under the age of 18,
- 52.3% were married couplesMarriageMarriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
co-habitating, - 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and
- 32.7% were not familyFamilyIn human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
-based.
26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 2.95.
The median age of the city's residents was 40 years, distributed as follows:
- 22.1% under the age of 18,
- 8.0% from 18 to 24,
- 27.9% from 25 to 44,
- 26.4% from 45 to 64, and
- 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older.
For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,216; it was greater for families, at $57,797. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $28,175 for females. The per-capita income for the city was $23,955. 4.9% of the population and 3.2% of families lived below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.7% were under 18 and 6.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Economy
Regional airline Trans States AirlinesTrans States Airlines
Trans States Airlines is the thirteenth largest American regional airline and is headquartered in Bridgeton, Missouri. It operates as United Express for United Airlines and US Airways Express for US Airways.- History :...
is headquartered in Bridgeton. Trans States subsidiary GoJet Airlines
GoJet Airlines
GoJet Airlines LLC is a company headquartered in Bridgeton, Missouri, United States and is wholly owned by Trans States Holdings with 570 employees. It operates commuter feeder services under the United Express name...
is also headquartered in Bridgeton.
Education
St. Louis County LibrarySt. Louis County Library
St. Louis County Library serves residents of St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. It is the busiest public library in Missouri, circulating nearly 12 million items in 2010. It consists of 20 branches, including the Headquarters branch, which is located at 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd in Ladue....
operates the Bridgeton Trails Branch in Bridgeton. The city is served by the Pattonville School District
Pattonville School District
Pattonville School District is a district in the suburbs of west-central St. Louis County. Pattonville consists of and it encompasses parts of the municipalities of Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, and St. Ann. Other portions are in unincorporated St. Louis County . The district is located near...
.