Hazelwood is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 25,523 as of 2006[1].
Hazelwood, a northern suburb of St. Louis, is located north of St. Louis International Airport for air travel and is also situated on Interstates 270 and 170, as well as the much traveled Lindbergh Boulevard and Highway 370. This convenience factor has attributed to Hazelwood's growth in the past years. The "shoppertainment" venue, St. Louis Mills has attracted visitors, shoppers and those looking for fun since 2004. New to the Hazelwood area is Cabela's, who opened their first retail venue in Missouri in 2007. Along with St. Louis Mills and Cabela's, Hazelwood boosts many other recreational and interesting sites. The City houses 17 beautiful parks, and hosts many events and activities throughout the year, including an adult easter egg hunt, 4th of July fireworks display, Hazelwood Harvestfest and many other community activities.
Hazelwood is located at 38°46'44" North, 90°21'59" West (38.778750, -90.366464).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.6 km2 (16.8 mi2). 41.1 km2 (15.9 mi2) of it is land and 2.4 km2 (0.9 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 5.59% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 26,206 people, 10,954 households, and 6,714 families residing in the city. The population density is 637.2/km2 (1,649.9/mi2). There are 11,433 housing units at an average density of 278.0/km2 (719.8/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 80.24% White, 16.04% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 1.60% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 10,954 households out of which 29.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% are married couples living together, 12.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% are non-families. 32.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.38 and the average family size is 3.05.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $45,110, and the median income for a family is $52,656. Males have a median income of $40,031 versus $27,871 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,311. 6.3% of the population and 4.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Hazelwood's colorful history began in 1673 with the discovery of the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers by French explorers Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette. LaSalle, another French explorer claimed the area for France and named it "Louisiana" after King Louis XIV .In 1762, the land was sold by the French to Spain. The Spanish government offered large land grants to pioneers. Settlers from Charlottesville, Virginia populated the Spanish owned territory, now known as the City of Hazelwood, in 1797 to farm its rich soils.
The Spanish government returned the land to France in 1800. It was sold by Napoleon to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Missouri, at the time a slave state, became the 24th state of the Union in 1821.
As legend has it, in 1828, Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky was in St. Louis on a campaign visit. During his stay, he was invited by Major Richard Graham to spend several days at his farm. Upon his arrival, Senator Clay looked out over the orchards and well-tended fields and exclaimed to his host, "Ah Sir, this so much reminds me of Hazelwood, my Kentucky estates!" The story continues that after Senator Clay's departure, Major Graham called his own land Hazelwood Farms, for which Hazelwood Avenue eventually was named. In later years the title would influence the selection of a name for the Village.
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, almost no state was as divided as the State of Missouri. Nearly all of the settlers owned slaves in this area, 80 percent of the citizens were Pro-Southern in their sympathies. Some of the citizens' homes were confiscated by Union Forces. Homes were divided and people were thrown into prison.
After the Civil War, property and many of the homes confiscated by the Union Forces were returned to the people by President Lincoln. There was once again much farming, fur trading and horse breeding in the area.
The years between the Civil War and the beginning of our modern era were peaceful and profitable times for Hazelwood area residents. By the end of 1947, six hundred acres (2.4 km2) of land were occupied by a new $8 Million dollar Ford Motor Company assembly plant and an extensive Wabash Transit Company industrial development.
By 1944, Florissant was 158 years old, and had no plans for further growth. In 1948, an ordinance was approved by the Florissant City Council to annex the adjacent industrial properties and farmland contiguous to them. Area farmers upset by the ordinance joined forces to form the Florissant Valley Protective Association and fight the annexation.
After two years of legal maneuvering before three courts, the Association was victorious. In 1948, the Association' s attorney advised them to petition the court for permission to incorporate its area into a village. There were 55 registered voters in the area and 53, all farmers, signed the petition. The petition was filed with the court, which ruled that it now took precedence over the Florissant ordinance of annexation.
The Association's petition to incorporate the area into a village was accepted by the St. Louis County Court in 1949. The legend of Hazelwood Farms had been remembered by the petitioners, and there came into being the Village of Hazelwood.
In 1953 a municipal building was constructed at 9140 Pershall Road. This building served as the Hazelwood Village Hall and also housed the Police and Fire Departments.
Between 1950 and 1960, the population of the Village of Hazelwood grew from 336 residents to 6,045. A trend toward development had begun. Farmlands were parceled into subdivisions and numerous business and industrial concerns were attracted to this growing community served by air, rail and highway transportation. In the 1950s, the Metropolitan Sewer District was formed, alleviating sanitary and storm water sewer problems. Large shopping centers began to replace individual grocery, department and convenience stores in strategic population centers. Village Square, the first modern shopping center, came to Hazelwood in 1958. In 1957, the Hazelwood industrial complex ranked 13th in population among all St. Louis County municipalities.
By 1969 the population of Hazelwood had grown large enough to be considered for city status. Such a change in government structure would give Hazelwood greatly expanded powers and authority.
Hazelwood citizens elected 13 Freeholders to serve as a Charter Commission to draft a charter, which would serve as Hazelwood's constitution. The proposed charter was submitted to the voters, and overwhelmingly adopted on October 14, 1969, making Hazelwood a Constitutional Charter City, effective April 7, 1970, when the first mayor and six ward council members took office. Under Hazelwood's Charter, a City Manager is the administrative officer for the City.
Through several annexations, the City of Hazelwood has increased its population from 14,082 in 1970 to 26,829 in 1997. The population increase and greater demand of municipal services has caused City Hall to move several times from a location on Pershall Road to Lindbergh Boulevard, and finally to its current location at 415 Elm Grove Lane in June of 1984.
Always progressive, Hazelwood was the first City in St. Louis County to make cable television available to its residents in 1979.
A quilt depicting the City's history is on display in City Hall.
The City of Hazelwood offers much to be desired in a community. Because of the tremendous amount of industry and commercial development in Hazelwood, the City has a good tax base and the tax rate is very low. The numerous businesses and industries also provide employment for residents. Hazelwood offers shopping centers, complete banking services, doctors, restaurants, motels, churches of many denominations, and AAA rated school districts.
Source:
HazelwoodMissouri.com
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