A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
St. Charles County | |
|---|---|
 St. Charles County Courthouse in St. Charles | |
 Flag | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Missouri | |
 Missouri's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 38°45′36″N 90°37′00″W / 38.76°N 90.6167°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Missouri |
| Founded | October 1, 1812 |
| Named for | Charles Borromeo |
| Seat | St. Charles |
| Largest city | O'Fallon |
| Government | |
| • County executive | Steve Ehlmann (R) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 593 sq mi (1,540 km2) |
| • Land | 560 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| • Water | 32 sq mi (80 km2) 5.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 405,262 |
| • Density | 680/sq mi (260/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 2nd, 3rd |
| Website | www |
St. Charles County is a county in the central eastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 405,262,[1] making it Missouri's third-most populous county. Its county seat is St. Charles.[2] The county was organized October 1, 1812, and named for Saint Charles Borromeo, an Italian cardinal.
St. Charles County is part of the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area and contains many of the city's northwestern suburbs. The wealthiest county in Missouri,[3] St. Charles County is one of the nation's fastest-growing counties.
St. Charles County includes a part of the Augusta AVA, an area of vineyards and wineries designated by the federal government in 1980 as the first American Viticultural Area.[4] The county's rural outer edge along the south-facing bluffs above the Missouri River, is also part of the broader Missouri Rhineland.
History
The County of St. Charles was originally called the District of St. Charles and had no definite limits until 1816 to 1818 when neighboring counties were formed.[5] The borders of St. Charles are the same today as they were in 1818.[6]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 593 square miles (1,540 km2), of which 560 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 32 square miles (83 km2) (5.4%) is water.[8]
The highest elevation is 901 feet (275 m) northwest of Augusta near Femme Osage Creek headwaters.[9]
Adjacent counties
- Lincoln County (northwest)
- Calhoun County, Illinois (north)
- Jersey County, Illinois (northeast)
- Madison County, Illinois (east)
- St. Louis County (southeast)
- Franklin County (south)
- Warren County (west)
Major highways
I-64 – Major freeway in the western portion of the county. Originally U.S. Route 40, the highway was upgraded to Interstate standards in the late 2000s. The highway was re-signed as Interstate 64 from the Daniel Boone Bridge to Interstate 70 in Wentzville in 2009.
I-70 – The major east–west thoroughfare in the county. It is mostly a six-lane freeway in the county, but there are sections in St. Charles and St. Peters where the Interstate widens to 11 lanes of traffic.
Interstate 70 Business
US-40
US-61
US-67
Rte-79
Rte-94
Rte-364 – A freeway in the southern and central portions of the county that begins at Interstate 270 in western St. Louis County and ends at Interstate 64 in Lake St. Louis.
Rte-370 – A six-lane freeway that connects Interstate 70 in St. Charles County and Interstate 270 in St. Louis County.
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National protected area
Climate
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Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 3,505 | — | |
| 1820 | 3,970 | 13.3% | |
| 1830 | 4,320 | 8.8% | |
| 1840 | 7,911 | 83.1% | |
| 1850 | 11,454 | 44.8% | |
| 1860 | 16,523 | 44.3% | |
| 1870 | 21,304 | 28.9% | |
| 1880 | 23,065 | 8.3% | |
| 1890 | 22,977 | −0.4% | |
| 1900 | 24,474 | 6.5% | |
| 1910 | 24,695 | 0.9% | |
| 1920 | 22,828 | −7.6% | |
| 1930 | 24,354 | 6.7% | |
| 1940 | 25,562 | 5.0% | |
| 1950 | 29,834 | 16.7% | |
| 1960 | 52,970 | 77.5% | |
| 1970 | 92,954 | 75.5% | |
| 1980 | 144,107 | 55.0% | |
| 1990 | 212,907 | 47.7% | |
| 2000 | 283,883 | 33.3% | |
| 2010 | 360,485 | 27.0% | |
| 2020 | 405,262 | 12.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[15] | |||
As of 2020, there were 405,262 people and 150,668 households residing in the county. The population density was 643 inhabitants per square mile (248/km2). There were 161,144 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 83.8% White, 5.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 6.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino made up 4.0% of the population.[16]
There were 101,663 households, out of which 40.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.20% were married couples living together, 9.20% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 24.20% were non-families. 19.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the county, the population was spread out in age, with 29.00% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $71,458, and the median income for a family was $64,415. Males had a median income of $44,528 versus $29,405 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,592. 4.00% of the population and 2.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.90% are under the age of 18 and 5.10% are 65 or older.
St. Charles County has had one of the fastest-growing populations in the state for many decades, with 55% growth in the 1970s, 48% in the 1980s, 33% in the 1990s, and another 27% in the 2000s. The county sits at a cross-section of industry, as well as extensive retail and some agriculture. With the Missouri River on the south and east and the Mississippi River on the north, the county is bisected east to west by Interstate 70. After St. Charles Airport closed in 2010, the county has one remaining small airport, St. Charles County Smartt Airport. Two ferries cross the Mississippi River from St. Charles County.
| Racial composition | 2010[17] | 2018[18] |
|---|---|---|
| White | 91.3% | 89.9% |
| —Non-Hispanic | 89.1% | 86.9% |
| Black or African American | 4.4% | 5.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 2.9% | 3.4% |
| Asian | 2.3% | 2.7% |
| Two or More Races | 1.6% | 2.0% |