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Florissant, Missouri
City of Florissant
Florissant City Hall sign, April 2013
Florissant City Hall sign, April 2013
Flag of Florissant, Missouri
Flag
Official seal of Florissant, Missouri
Seal
Location of Florissant, Missouri
Location of Florissant, Missouri
Country United States
State Missouri
County St. Louis
Founded 1785
Area
 • 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
581 ft (177 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 52,533
 • 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
GNIS feature ID 0756063
Website http://www.florissantmo.com/

Florissant 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 the 2020 United States census, the city had a total population of 52,533, making it the 12th-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 there were 40 people and seven plantations in Florissant at the time of the 1787 census. The village, called "Fleurissant," or "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. 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). The first train line to the area was constructed in 1878 – an extension of the line which went from St. Louis City to Normandy. The last train to Florissant ran on November 14, 1931.

Following World War II, Florissant went from a small village community to a large suburban center, as developers such as Alfred H. Mayer Co. and others began building subdivisions on what was formerly farmland and empty acreage. Approximately 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.

James J. Eagan was mayor of Florissant for 37 years from 1963 until his death on November 2, 2000. He was re-elected into office 9 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. The civic center off Parker Road is named the James J. Eagan Community Center in his memory.

In 2012, Florissant was ranked 76 in the top 100 list of Money Magazine's Best Places to Live – America's Best Small Cities. Other recent reports have Florissant ranked as the #1 Best Small City to Retire To in America and the 2nd Safest City in Missouri.

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) is land and 0.31 square miles (0.80 km2) is water.

Demographics

Florissant (36680425770)
View down a street in Florissant, April 2013
Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 817
1890 769 −5.9%
1900 752 −2.2%
1910 765 1.7%
1920 682 −10.8%
1930 1,039 52.3%
1940 1,369 31.8%
1950 3,737 173.0%
1960 38,166 921.3%
1970 65,908 72.7%
1980 55,372 −16.0%
1990 51,206 −7.5%
2000 50,497 −1.4%
2010 52,158 3.3%
2020 52,533 0.7%
2020 Census

2010 census

At the 2010 census, 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.

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 North Technical High School 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.

Private

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

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.

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. Lindenwood University has its offsite North County Campus located in the former Our Lady of Fatima School. Missouri School of Barbering and Hairstyling-St Louis is also located in Florissant.

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.

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Bob Wiesler, former Major League Baseball player
  • Bill Wilkerson, sportscaster, radio host (KMOX)
  • Devin Williams, professional baseball pitcher
  • Clint Zweifel, former State Treasurer of Missouri

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Florissant (Misuri) para niños

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