Pacific, Missouri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pacific, Missouri
City
City of Pacific
Downtown Pacific in August 2013
Location of Pacific, Missouri
Country	United States of America
State	Missouri
Counties	Franklin, St. Louis
Area
• Total	5.97 sq mi (15.46 km2)
• Land	5.96 sq mi (15.43 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	466 ft (142 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	7,002
• Estimate  (2019)	7,229
• Density	1,213.73/sq mi (468.61/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	63055, 63069
Area code(s)	636
FIPS code	29-55910
GNIS feature ID	0731630

Pacific (formerly Franklin) is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri in eastern Franklin County and extending to the east into southwest St. Louis County. The population was 7,002 at the 2010 census.

History

Pacific was platted in 1852 when the railroad was extended to that point. It was so named because here the new railroad started for the Pacific Ocean. A post office called Pacific has been in operation since 1854.

The Gustav Grauer Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Geography

Pacific is located at 38°28′53″N 90°45′0″W / 38.48139°N 90.75000°W / 38.48139; -90.75000 (38.481503, -90.750015). The city straddles the Franklin County/St. Louis County line, which lies halfway on the blocks between Elm and Neosho streets. St. Louis is 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Pacific, and the communities comprising the Missouri Rhineland are 20 miles (30 km) northwest of the city.

Pacific is bordered on the southeast by the Pacific Palisades Conservation Area. Access to the Meramec River, through the Pacific Palisades Conservation Area, is located east of the city next to Eureka on the north side. The majority of the Pacific Palisades Conservation Area is south of the river and can be accessed 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the city in Jefferson County.

Pacific's signature sandstone bluffs sit immediately next to historic Route 66.

Pacific's signature sandstone bluffs sit immediately next to historic Route 66.

The Union Pacific (formerly Missouri Pacific) railroad, BNSF Railway (formerly St. Louis San-Francisco) Railroad, historic Route 66, Brush Creek, and Fox Creek run through the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.93 square miles (15.36 km²), of which, 5.92 square miles (15.33 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water. 1.7 sq mi (4.4 km²) of the city is located in St. Louis County. The city is located directly west from Eureka and 5 miles (8 km) east of Gray Summit.

Commercial areas

Part of historic downtown Pacific

The Old Downtown Commerce Area is mostly located along First and St. Louis streets. The historic downtown buildings, built in the late 1800s, have been fully or partially restored, and new businesses have moved into the buildings.

Red Cedar Inn

The Red Cedar Inn, on the east end of town, was a meeting place for people around the country seeking out one of the oldest restaurants still standing on Route 66. The restaurant closed in 2007.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,002 people, 2,368 households, and 1,524 families living in the city. The population density was 1,182.8 inhabitants per square mile (456.7/km²). There were 2,645 housing units at an average density of 446.8 per square mile (172.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.4% White, 8.4% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population. The population total also includes the Missouri Eastern Correctional Facility which houses over 1,000 inmates.

There were 2,368 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.6% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the city was 35.9 years. 20% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 11.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 55.6% male and 44.4% female.

City parks and attractions

• Historic Downtown Pacific
• Blackburn Park Civil War Cannon
• Pacific City Park
• Pacific Youth Association Baseball and Softball Fields
• Liberty Field
• Limestone caves
• Trains
• Train Town USA

In popular culture

Pacific is mentioned in the 1980 dark fantasy novel The Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll. Considered a cult favorite, the novel is set in the environs of Pacific, in the fictional town of Galen.

• Historic maps of Pacific in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri

Education

Pacific and its surrounding communities are served by the Meramec Valley R-III school system and the St. Louis Community College district, and many residents attend nearby East Central College.

Elementary and secondary schools in the Meramec Valley School District:

• Coleman Elementary School
• Nike Elementary School
• Robertsville Elementary School
• Truman Elementary School
• Zitzman Elementary School
• Meramec Valley Early Childhood Center
• Meramec Valley Community School- formerly Pacific Middle School
• Riverbend Middle School (7th & 8th grades)
• Pacific High School

St. Bridget of Kildare School is the only parochial school in Pacific (PreK-8th grade).

Pacific has a public library, a branch of the Scenic Regional Library system.

See also

In Spanish: Pacific (Misuri) para niños