Olivette, Missouri


Olivette is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 7,737 at the 2010 census.

History

Olivette was settled in the mid-19th century as a small farming community along an old Indian trail originally called the Bonhomme Road. Olive Road is a ridge road and at one time served as a de facto boundary for housing segregation in outer St. Louis.
Olivette was incorporated in 1930 by combining the communities of Central, Tower Hill, Olive, and Stratmann. It was once called Central due to its centralized location along the Central Plank Road. In fact, Price Road and Olive Boulevard intersect at the exact midpoint between the Port of St. Louis on the Mississippi River and Howell's Landing on the Missouri River. Central became the best stop for wagons to restock on their journey between the two stops. Olivette is home to the first brick schoolhouse in St. Louis County at the corner of Price and Old Bonhomme. For the past 150 years, a schoolhouse has occupied this corner. Logos High School sits here now. Olivette is one of the communities in the county that still maintains its own municipal fire department as well as police department.

Geography

Olivette is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land. It is one of the highest points in St. Louis County, so the city of St. Louis built the Stacy Park water reservoir there in 1926.
Key roads through Olivette include Missouri Route 340, Price Road, Dielman Road, Old Bonhomme Road and Interstate 170.
Olivette's neighbors include Overland and unincorporated St. Louis County to the north, Creve Coeur to the west, Ladue to the south, and University City to the east. Olivette sits immediately east of the world headquarters for The Monsanto Company.

Demographics

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 7,737 people, 3,068 households, and 2,216 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 3,275 housing units at an average density of. The racial makup of the city was 60.9% White, 23.9% African American, 0.2% Native American, 10.7% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3%.
Of the 3,068 households 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.8% were non-families. 24.1% of households were one person and 10.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.
The median age was 41.8 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.7% were from 25 to 44; 29.4% were from 45 to 64; and 16.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 7,438 people, 3,096 households, and 2,173 families living in the city. The population density was 2,667.5 people per square mile. There were 3,231 housing units at an average density of 1,158.7 per square mile. The racial makup of the city was 70.38% White, 21.90% African American, 0.08% Native American, 5.00% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57%.
Of the 3,096 households 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 25.8% of households were one person and 10.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.91.
The age distribution was 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.
The median household income was $57,669 and the median family income was $67,569. Males had a median income of $49,853 versus $35,278 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,379. About 3.6% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 0.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The public Ladue School District serves all of Olivette. Old Bonhomme Elementary School is located within the city limits. Private schools located within the city include Logos High School, Epstein Hebrew Academy, and Immanuel Lutheran School.
Central Elementary School was part of the Ladue School District until the building was sold to the Logos school in 1983. Dielman Elementary school closed down and was replaced with homes. Grandview Elementary was open from 1962–1972. Hilltop Elementary was open from 1961–1972. Old Bonhomme Elementary is still open.

Notable people