St. Charles, Missouri
The city was founded circa 1769 as Les Petites Côtes, or "The Little Hills" in French, by Louis Blanchette, a French-Canadian fur trader.[3] This former French area west of the Mississippi River was nominally ruled by Spain following France's defeat in the Seven Years' War.In 1804 the Lewis and Clark Expedition considered this settlement the last "civilized" stop before they headed upriver to explore the western territory that the United States acquired from France in the Louisiana Purchase.According to Hopewell's Legends of the Missouri and Mississippi, Blanchette met another French Canadian (Bernard Guillet) at this site in 1765.Blanchette, determined to settle there, asked if Guillet, who had become an honorary chief of a Dakota band, had chosen a name for it.Although the settlement was under Spanish jurisdiction, the settlers were primarily Native American and French Canadians who had migrated from northern territories.He served in this role until the United States government acquired control in 1804 following the Louisiana Purchase from France.With him were 40 men and three boats; they made final preparations for their major cross-country expedition, as they waited for Meriwether Lewis to arrive from St. Louis.Travelling under the guidance of Daniel M. Boone, he wrote extensive accounts of life in St. Charles County during his year there.He published these after returning to Germany in 1829, and his favorable impressions of the area led to the immigration of a number of Germans in 1833.In the post-World War II era, the federal government undertook a major program of interstate highway construction.A state highway marker is displayed with a logo and information regarding this claim, off Interstate 70 going westbound, to the right of the First Capitol Drive exit.[citation needed] St. Charles lies near the eastern end of the Katy Trail, a 225-mile (362 km) long state park that was adapted from railroad right-of-way.In 2007, St. Charles welcomed men's professional road bicycle racing riders and fans, as it served as the stage 5 final for the 2007 Tour of Missouri.[17] The Riverfront and Main Street area in the St. Charles Historic District is a central gathering place and focal point for the community.Each Saturday and Sunday, the costumed Legends characters and the Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps join the Santa Parade from Historic South Main Street to the site of the First Missouri State Capitol.The festival, named Riverfest, has been sponsored by the city of St. Charles and organized by a volunteer committee of local leaders.The Festival of the Little Hills is a historic St. Charles tradition that takes place every year in August, the third full weekend of the month.The festival is related to the Lewis & Clark expedition, with some participants wearing clothing from the era and re-enacting historic events.Missouri Tartan Day is a celebration of Scottish American heritage and culture held each spring, coinciding as closely as possible with April 6.The event features a parade with marching bagpipers from around the world and region, Scottish heavy athletics (caber toss, hammer throw, etc.The Fete de Glace is an ice-carving competition and demonstration held on North Main Street in mid-January.The Bluegrass Festival in Frontier Park on the big stage of Jaycee's pavilion is held early in September, featuring local and regional acts.The MOSAICS Fine Art Festival is also held on Historic Main Street each September to showcase local, regional and national artists.The RiverCity Rage professional indoor football team played in St. Charles from 2001 until 2005, and from 2007 to 2009 before suspending operations for 2010.Elected at-large for a four-year term, the mayor appoints the members of the various boards, commissions, and committees created by ordinance.These include Immanuel Lutheran (Pre-K to 8), Zion Lutheran (Pre-K to 8), St. Charles Borromeo, St. Peter's, St. Cletus (K–8), Academy of the Sacred Heart (founded by Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, and the site of her shrine), Duchesne High School (formerly named St. Peter High school), and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton-St. Robert Bellarmine (K–8).In 2006, it briefly attracted publicity when People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals staged a small protest against its unusual tuition fee policies: In an effort to help rural students pay for higher education, LU allowed families to sell livestock to the school.[33] A minimum of nine vintage PCC streetcars (not to be confused with cable cars), had been purchased from the San Francisco area by Whittaker Builders for use and spare parts.
MissouriCountySaint CharlesIncorporatedNamed forCharles BorromeoDan BorgmeyerDemonymTime zoneUTC−6UTC−5ZIP CodesArea codesFIPS codecounty seatSt. Charles County, Missouri2020 censusninth-most populous cityMissouri RiverSt. LouisLouis BlanchetteSeven Years' WarBoone's Lick RoadBoonslickLewis and Clark ExpeditionLouisiana PurchaseSaint Rose Philippine DuchesneNative AmericanDakotaUpper Louisianato SpainFrench and Indian WarsFranklinSanta Fe TrailCarlos de Hault de LassusDaniel BooneWilliam ClarkMeriwether LewisSt. Charles Rock RoadFirst Missouri State Capitol State Historic SiteJeffersonJefferson CityGottfried DudenSt. Charles CountyUnited States Census Bureauprecipitation2020 United States censusblack or African-AmericanAlaska NativePacific Islanderother racesHispanicLatinoAmerican Community Surveypoverty linecensuspopulation densityAfrican Americanper capita incomeAmeristar CasinosBoeingCity of St. Charles School DistrictLindenwood UniversityAT&T MissouriCoca-ColaNewbill-McElhiney HouseSt. Charles Historic DistrictKaty TrailInterstate 70Interstate 64Route 94road bicycle racing2007 Tour of MissouriSt. Charles Convention CenterFamily ArenadancingVictorian EraFirst Missouri State CapitolFourth of JulyJuly 4Declaration of ArbroathMissouri River OttersUnited Hockey LeagueSt. Louis AmbushRiverCity RageIndoor soccerSt. Louis VipersRoller hockeyNational Roller Hockey LeagueList of mayors of St. Charles, Missouricharter cityMissouri Constitutionsingle-member districtsSally FaithSt. Charles High SchoolSt. Charles WestDuchesne High SchoolFrancis HowellOrchard FarmFrancis Howell North High SchoolPeople for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsSt. Charles CollegeSt. Charles Community CollegeVatterott CollegeStreetcarSt. Charles Area TransitTrack gaugeInterstates 64heritage streetcarSt. CharlesPCC streetcarscable carsSan Francisco areaCody AscheZach BauerBrandon BolligLou BrockNational Baseball Hall of FameMark BuehrleRose Philippine DuchesneSociety of the Sacred HeartR. Budd DwyerPennsylvania State TreasurerJosh HarrellsonTim HawkinsMike Henneman