St. Charles County, Missouri


St. Charles County is in the central eastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 360,485, making it Missouri's third-most populous county. Its county seat is St. Charles. The county was organized October 1, 1812 and named for Saint Charles Borromeo, an Italian cardinal. The county executive is Steve Ehlmann, since January 2007.
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, St. Charles County is one of the nation's fastest-growing counties.
St. Charles County includes an area of vineyards and wineries whose distinction has been nationally recognized. On its rural outer edge along the south-facing bluffs above the Missouri River is an area of numerous wineries, so that Missouri Route 94 is sometimes called the Missouri Weinstrasse. The area includes the Augusta AVA, designated in 1980 as the first American Viticultural Area by the federal government.

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. The borders of St. Charles are the same today as they were in 1818.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
The highest elevation is northwest of Augusta near Femme Osage Creek headwaters.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

As of 2010, there were 360,485 people, 132,906 households, and 77,060 families residing in the county. The population density was 643 people per square mile. There were 142,766 housing units at an average density of 73 persons/km². The racial makeup of the county was 91.3% White, 4.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino made up 2.5% of the population.
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 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, with an estimated population of 373,495, has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the country for decades, with 55% growth in the 1970s, 48% in the 1980s, 33% in the 1990s, and another 27% in the 2000s. The county features 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. St. Charles County has one small airport St. Charles County Smartt Airport and two ferries that cross the Mississippi River.
Racial composition20102018
White91.3%89.9%
—Non-Hispanic89.1%86.9%
Black or African American4.4%5.1%
Hispanic or Latino 2.9%3.4%
Asian2.3%2.7%
Two or More Races1.6%2.0%

Education

Public schools

----
----
----
----

Alternative schools

St. Charles County is governed by a county executive and a county council. The county council consists of seven members, each elected from various districts in the county. The county executive is elected by the entire county. The current executive is Steve Ehlmann. He was preceded by Joe Ortwerth, who was preceded by Gene Schwendemann, the first county executive of St. Charles County under the new form of government. The executive under the old form of county government was termed a "judge." The county had 258,525 registered voters as of March 2016.
The St. Charles County Police Department operates under the authority of the St. Charles County government and is the largest law enforcement agency in St. Charles County.
St. Charles County Ambulance District is the largest district in Missouri, serving all of St. Charles County and its population of nearly 370,000.

Politics

Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in St. Charles County. Republicans hold all the elected positions in the county.
PositionIncumbentParty
AssessorScott ShipmanRepublican
CollectorMichelle McBrideRepublican
Council Member – District 1Joe CroninRepublican
Council Member – District 2Joseph BrazilRepublican
Council Member – District 3Michael ElamRepublican
Council Member – District 4David HammondRepublican
Council Member – District 5Terry HollanderRepublican
Council Member – District 6Mike KlinghammerRepublican
Council Member – District 7John WhiteRepublican
County ExecutiveSteve EhlmannRepublican
Director of ElectionsRich ChrismerRepublican
Prosecuting AttorneyTim LohmarRepublican
RecorderBarbara J. HallRepublican
SheriffScott LewisRepublican

State

St. Charles County is divided among twelve legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all but one of which are held by Republicans.
St. Charles County is divided into two districts in the Missouri Senate, both of which have elected Republicans.
Missouri is represented in the U.S. Senate by Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, whose most recent election results from the county are included here.
Part of St. Charles County is included in Missouri's 2nd Congressional District and is currently represented by Ann Wagner in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Most of St. Charles County is included in Missouri's 3rd Congressional District and is currently represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer in the U.S. House of Representatives.

2016 Missouri presidential primary results

Republican
Donald Trump won the most votes in St. Charles County, with 41.50 percent. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz came in second with 38.87 percent, Governor John Kasich placed third with 10.70 percent, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio was fourth with 7.10 percent.
Democratic
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders won the primary with 54.32 percent to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's 44.80 percent.

2012 Missouri presidential primary results

Republican
Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum won the most votes in St. Charles County, with 56.29 percent. Former Governor Mitt Romney came in second with 25.43 percent, and former U.S. Representative Ron Paul was third with 12.69 percent.
Democratic
With incumbent President Barack Obama facing no serious opposition, few St. Charles County voters voted in the Democratic primary; Obama won 87.83 percent.

2008 Missouri presidential primary results

Republican
Former Governor Mitt Romney won the most votes in St. Charles County, with 37.72 percent. U.S. Senator John McCain came in second with 34.95 percent, former Governor Mike Huckabee placed third with 21.83 percent, and U.S. Representative Ron Paul was fourth with 3.83 percent.
Democratic
Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton received more votes, a total of 23,611, than any candidate from either party in St. Charles County during the 2008 presidential primary.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Subregions

Westplex

Westplex is an area within St. Charles County in east-central Missouri to the west of St. Louis County.
The Westplex is part of St. Charles County that used to be called "The Golden Triangle". The "triangle" was formed by I-70 to the north, Missouri Route 94 to the southeast, and I-64 to the southwest. Since almost all of the growth in St. Charles County was within this triangle it was dubbed the "Golden" area of St. Charles county, hence, Golden Triangle. Today the Westplex is made up of St. Charles, St. Peters, Weldon Spring, Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, O’Fallon, Lake St. Louis, Wentzville and St. Paul.