Ferguson, Missouri

Ferguson, Missouri
City
City of Ferguson

Ferguson's Church Street in 2012, the Wildwood House in 2012, the Ferguson Municipal Library in 2014, and the Ferguson City Hall in 2012.

Ferguson's Church Street in 2012, the Wildwood House in 2012, the Ferguson Municipal Library in 2014, and the Ferguson City Hall in 2012.

Flag
Seal
Etymology: William B. Ferguson
Nickname(s): "Community of Choice"
Motto: "Proud Past. Promising Future!"

Location within St. Louis County (left) and Missouri (right)
Coordinates: 38°44′39″N 90°18′19″W / 38.74417°N 90.30528°W / 38.74417; -90.30528Coordinates: 38°44′39″N 90°18′19″W / 38.74417°N 90.30528°W / 38.74417; -90.30528[1]
Country United States of America
State Missouri
County St. Louis
Incorporated 1894
Government
 • Mayor James W. Knowles III
 • Mayor Pro Tem Keith Kallstrom
 • City manager De'Carlon Seewood[2]
Area[3]
 • Total 6.20 sq mi (16.06 km2)
 • Land 6.19 sq mi (16.03 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation[1] 502 ft (153 m)
Population (2010)[4]
 • Total 21,203
 • Estimate (2013)[5] 21,111
 • Density 3,400/sq mi (1,300/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 63135
Area code 314
FIPS code 29-23986[1]
GNIS feature ID 0756046[1]
Website City of Ferguson

Ferguson is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States.[1] It is part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. The population was 21,203 at the 2010 census.[6]

History

What is now the city of Ferguson was founded in 1855 when William B. Ferguson deeded 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land to the Wabash Railroad in exchange for a new depot and naming rights.[7][8] The settlement that sprang up around the depot was called Ferguson Station.[9] Ferguson was the first railroad station connected directly to St. Louis.[10] The station is a focal point of the city's history and is depicted on the city flag, designed in 1994.[11][12]

Ferguson's first schoolhouse was built in 1878. Ferguson was incorporated as a city in 1894.[13]

Emerson Electric moved its headquarters to Ferguson during the 20th century.[9]

On August 9, 2014, an 18-year-old black man, Michael Brown, was fatally shot by Darren Wilson, a white policeman with the Ferguson Police Department.[14][15] The incident sparked protests and acts of vandalism in Ferguson as well as widespread calls for an investigation into the incident.[16] On August 10, after a day of vigils, there were looting of businesses, vandalism of vehicles, and violent clashes between protestors and police.[17][18][19] On August 18, soldiers from the Missouri National Guard arrived in Ferguson at the request of the Governor of Missouri Jay Nixon, who also ended midnight to 5:00 a.m. curfews that had been imposed.[20] On November 24, a grand jury decided that it would not indict Wilson in the shooting death of Brown.[21] Following the announcement of the grand jury's decision, there were peaceful protests as well as rioting.[22][23]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.20 square miles (16.06 km2), of which 6.19 square miles (16.03 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[3]

Climate

Ferguson has a humid subtropical-continental climate. Winters are cold, while summers are hot and humid. The record high is 115 °F, and the record low is −19 °F.

Climate data for Ferguson, MO
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 77
(25)		 85
(29)		 92
(33)		 93
(34)		 98
(37)		 105
(41)		 115
(46)		 110
(43)		 104
(40)		 94
(34)		 86
(30)		 79
(26)		 115
(46)
Average high °F (°C) 38
(3)		 44
(7)		 55
(13)		 67
(19)		 76
(24)		 85
(29)		 90
(32)		 88
(31)		 80
(27)		 68
(20)		 54
(12)		 42
(6)		 66
(19)
Average low °F (°C) 21
(−6)		 27
(−3)		 36
(2)		 47
(8)		 57
(14)		 66
(19)		 71
(22)		 69
(21)		 60
(16)		 48
(9)		 37
(3)		 26
(−3)		 47
(8)
Record low °F (°C) −19
(−28)		 −18
(−28)		 −5
(−21)		 20
(−7)		 31
(−1)		 43
(6)		 51
(11)		 47
(8)		 32
(0)		 21
(−6)		 1
(−17)		 −16
(−27)		 −19
(−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.14
(54.4)		 2.28
(57.9)		 3.60
(91.4)		 3.69
(93.7)		 4.11
(104.4)		 3.76
(95.5)		 3.00
(76.2)		 2.98
(75.7)		 2.96
(75.2)		 2.76
(70.1)		 3.71
(94.2)		 2.86
(72.6)		 37.85
(961.3)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.40
(18.8)		 4.80
(12.19)		 3.30
(8.38)		 0.60
(1.52)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1.50
(3.81)		 4.90
(12.45)		 22.90
(58.17)
Source: http://www.intellicast.com/Local/History.aspx?location=USMO0981

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880185—
1890750305.4%
19001,01535.3%
19101,65863.3%
19201,87413.0%
19303,798102.7%
19405,72450.7%
195011,573102.2%
196022,14991.4%
197028,75929.8%
198024,740−14.0%
199022,286−9.9%
200022,4060.5%
201021,203−5.4%
Est. 201421,086[24]−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[25]

The population of Ferguson grew rapidly during the late nineteenth century. In 1880 the population of the then Ferguson Station was 185 people. By 1890 the population was recorded as being 750 and only four years later it had increased to 1200.[26] The population of Ferguson continued to grow rapidly during the first six decades of the twentieth century, from 1,015 people in 1900 to 22,149 people in 1960, an average growth rate of 5% per year. Since 1960 the population has remained nearly constant.

The ethnic composition of Ferguson has shifted, however. In 1970, 99% of the population of Ferguson was white and 1% Black. In 1980, the proportion of White residents went down to 85%, whereas the proportion of Black rose to 14%. In 1990, residents of Ferguson who were identified in the U.S. Census as white comprised 73.8% of the total, while those identified as black made up 25.1%.[27] (The remainder, 1.1%, identified with other racial categories.) In the 2000 census, 44.7% were white and 52.4% were African-American, now the majority ethnicity.[28]

A recent investigation found that the Ferguson Police Department had outstanding arrest warrants for more than two thirds of the citizens, mostly for trivial offenses.[29]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census,[4] there were 21,203 people, 8,192 households, and 5,500 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,425.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,322.6/km2). There were 9,105 housing units at an average density of 1,470.9 per square mile (567.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 67.4% Black, 29.3% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 8,192 households of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.6% were married couples living together, 31.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.9% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the city was 33.1 years. 28.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.2% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.8% male and 55.2% female.

Religion

There are 19 Christian denomination churches in Ferguson.[30]

Economy

The city is home to the headquarters of Emerson Electric.[31][32]

Government

A train rolls past the former Wabash station (now an ice cream parlor) in Ferguson.

The Mayor of Ferguson is directly elected for a three-year term.[33] The Ferguson city council is composed of six members.[34]

James Knowles III was elected mayor for a 3-year term in April 2011 and ran unopposed in April 2014.[35] Voter turnout in the April 2014 mayoral election was approximately 12%.[34][35]

The Ferguson Police Department is involved with the following public programs: Business Watch, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), D.A.R.E. Program, Neighborhood Watch, School Resource Officers, Riot Patrol. On March 4, 2015, the Ferguson Police Department was faulted by the United States Department of Justice for civil rights violations. According to the New York Times, the Ferguson Police Department was found responsible for "routinely violating the constitutional rights of its black residents". The Department of Justice argued that the Ferguson Police Department and the City of Ferguson relied on these unconstitutional practices in order to balance the city's budget through racially motivated excessive fines and punishments.[36] On Wednesday, March 11, 2015, in an online news article by Reuters featured on the MSN U.S. news page, it was announced, using information from CNN and Fox News, that Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson has stated he is willing to resign, likely later that day (though no timeframe was confirmed) if he can get assurances (according to CNN) that the Ferguson Police Department will be left in place and will not be dissolved; Fox News said he was not pushed out or fired. His resignation followed City Manager John Shaw who resigned March 10, and Municipal Judge Ronald Brockmeyer who resigned March 9. Shaw had ultimate oversight over the Police Department and other city departments, as he was, by his office, the most powerful civic official in Ferguson, and was somewhat criticized for not doing enough to ameliorate the situation. The week before, three Ferguson Police Department employees were fired for offensive emails mentioned in the Justice Department report.[37]

The Ferguson Fire Department has two fire stations that are staffed 24 hours a day. House #1 has a pumper truck and a rescue truck, while House #2 has a pump and ladder vehicle and a reserve pumper truck.

Education

St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley, which has about 8,000 students, is located in Ferguson.

The following public schools, all part of the Ferguson-Florissant School District, are located within the city of Ferguson:

The following private schools are located within the city of Ferguson:

Ferguson is also home to the Challenger Learning Center – St. Louis, which provides a space education program.

The Ferguson Municipal Public Library is one of several independent community libraries in St. Louis County and is a member of the Municipal Library Consortium of St. Louis County.

Notable people

This list may include persons born in the community, past residents, and current residents.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Feature Detail Report for: Ferguson". Geographic Names Information System. Washington, D.C: U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Ferguson council chooses city manager". Lee Enterprises. November 2015.
  3. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  4. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  5. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-08-16.
  6. ↑ "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Ferguson city, Missouri". U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder 2. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  7. ↑ Fox, Tim (1995). Where We Live: A Guide to St. Louis Communities. Missouri History Museum. p. 186. ISBN 978-1-883982-12-6.
  8. ↑ Bryan, William Smith; Rose, Robert; Elwang, William Wilson (1876). A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri: With Numerous Sketches, Anecdotes, Adventures, Etc., Relating to Early Days in Missouri. Also the Lives of Daniel Boone and the Celebrated Indian Chief Black Hawk, with Numerous Biographies and Histories of Primitive Institutions. Lucas brothers. p. 167.
  9. 1 2 "City History". City of Ferguson. Retrieved 25 November 2014. The city boomed during the post-World War II era. Commuter trains were replaced by automobile traffic. Plentiful employment was provided by new industries, including the relocated headquarters of Emerson Electric Company. Scores of new homes were built and the city's population continued to expand. In 1954, Ferguson became a charter city, one of the first in St. Louis County to adopt the council-manager form of government.
  10. ↑ Montesi, Al; Deposki, Richard (2002). St. Louis Union Station. Arcadia Publishing. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-7385-1983-8.
  11. ↑ Shapiro, Mary. "Oh, so proudly we hail". stltoday.com.
  12. ↑ "Ferguson, Missouri (U.S.)". crwflags.com.
  13. ↑ "Ferguson Missouri". AboutStLouis.com. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "Ferguson Chief Names Darren Wilson as Cop Who Shot Michael Brown". NBCNews.com. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  15. ↑ Berman, Mark; Lowery, Wesley (15 August 2014). "Ferguson police call Michael Brown a robbery suspect, identify Darren Wilson as officer who shot him". Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  16. ↑ Lind, Dara (12 August 2014). "Outrage in Ferguson after police shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown". Vox Media. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  17. ↑ Yang, John (August 10, 2014). "Looting Erupts After Vigil for Slain Missouri Teen Michael Brown". NBC News. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  18. ↑ Fantz, Ashley; Howell, George (August 11, 2014). "Protesters fill streets after Michael Brown shooting". CNN. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  19. ↑ Scher Zagier, Alan. "Police, protesters again clash outside St. Louis". Star-telegram.com (Ft. Worth). Associated Press. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  20. ↑ Davey, Monica; Eligon, John; Blinder, Alan (August 19, 2014). "National Guard Troops Fail to Quell Unrest in Ferguson". New York Times. Retrieved August 19, 2014. In a news conference on Monday, family members and Dr. Baden said that the autopsy he had performed confirmed witness accounts that Mr. Brown was trying to surrender when he was killed.
  21. ↑ Alcindor, Yamiche; Welch, William M. (24 November 2014). "No indictment in Ferguson case". USA Today. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  22. ↑ Moni Basu, Holly Yan and Dana Ford, CNN (November 24, 2014). "Ferguson: Fires and chaos erupts after no indictment - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  23. ↑ Darcy, Oliver (25 November 2014). "61 Arrested, At Least a Dozen Buildings Set Aflame Following Ferguson Grand Jury Decision". The Blaze. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  24. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  25. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  26. ↑ American Educational History Journal.
  27. ↑ "Bureau of Census, 1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics, Missouri" (PDF). Census.gov. p. 56. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  28. ↑ Daniel Fowler (July 28, 2015). "With Racial Segregation Declining Between Neighborhoods, Segregation Now Taking New Form" (News release). asanet.org. American Sociological Association. Retrieved August 4, 2015. The racial composition of Ferguson went from about 25 percent black to 67 percent black in a 20 year period.
  29. ↑ "Supreme Court without Scalia divided over giving police more leeway to stop people". latimes.com. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  30. ↑ "Churches in Ferguson Missouri - ChurchFinder.com". Church Finder.
  31. ↑ "A closer look at Ferguson, Missouri, the St. Louis suburb where Michael Brown was killed". Fox News. Associated Press. November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  32. ↑ Snyder, Benjamin (August 18, 2014). "Amid unrest, it's business as usual for Ferguson's Emerson Electric". Fortune. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  33. ↑ Howard, Shannon (2014-04-06). "Election Day brings new leadership to NoCo". NOCO. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  34. 1 2 Vega, Tanzina (2014-08-14). "Deep Tensions Rise to Surface After Ferguson Shooting". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  35. 1 2 "St. Louis County Election Results April 2014". stlouisco.com. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  36. ↑ Apuzzo, Matt (3 March 2015). "Ferguson Police Routinely Violate Rights of Blacks, Justice Dept. Finds". New York Times. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  37. ↑ "Ferguson police chief resigns after scathing Justice Dept. report". msn.com.
  38. ↑ Levins, Harry (2001-04-03). "Air Force General, a Missourian, may be in line to become next Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff". St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Lee Enterprises). p. A3 – via HighBeam Research. He is Gen. Ralph E. 'Ed' Eberhart, a native of Nevada, Mo., who grew up in Ferguson and graduated from McCluer in 1964.
  39. 1 2 Leonard, Mary Delach (August 15, 2014). "This Is Ferguson: Residents And Business Owners Tell Us About Their City". St Louis Public Radio. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  40. ↑ Lefton, Brad (17 June 1997). "Sentoryu from Sen-to-Ru-I-Su Our Town's Henry Miller Is a Really Big Man as Sumo Wrestler in Japan". St Louis Post-Dispatch (MO). Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  41. ↑ Johnson, Kevin C. (July 23, 2010). "Michael McDonald one of several Ferguson honorees". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  42. ↑ Nagus, Chris (July 9, 2014). "Catrina McGhaw: St. Louis woman finds out on TV she's renting serial killer Maury Travis' home". KMOV. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  43. ↑ Heintjes, Tom (August 12, 2013). "When the Bungles Mixed It Up with Their Neighbors on the Battlegrounds of Sunken Heights" (13). Hogan's Alley.
  44. ↑ "MUTIGERS.COM Tyron Woodley Bio – Official Athletic Site Official Athletic Site – Wrestling". Mutigers.com. Retrieved 1 December 2014.

External links

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