Arnold is the largest city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was estimated at 20,413 in 2005.
Geography
Arnold is located at 38°25′58″N 90°22′10″W / 38.43278°N 90.36944°W / 38.43278; -90.36944 (38.432753, -90.369393)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30.0 km²), of which, 11.2 square miles (29.1 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (2.85%) is water.
History
Arnold was incorporated in 1972, and is named after George Arnold, the city's first postmaster. Four communities merged with Arnold, and their old names still have some currency: Beck (named after local farmer Emmanual Beck), Flamm City, Maxville (named after Max Stengel, first business owner), and Ten Brook (named after landowner John Ten Brook).[citation needed]
The first European settler in Arnold was Jean Baptiste Gamache, who operated a ferry boat across the Meramec River in exchange for 1050 arpents of land granted by the King of Spain. This ferry was on the King's Trace or El Camino Real, (royal road), from St. Louis, Missouri, to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. This road became known as Telegraph after 1850, after the first telegraph lines in the state were put along it.[citation needed]
Arnold was the focal point over the eminent domain issue in Missouri. [4] In January 2004, the City of Arnold announced that THF Realty had approached them regarding developing a section of Arnold known as the Triangle,[5] an area bordered by Route 141, Interstate 55, and Church Road in the city limits. The city voted in favor of the Triangle Development project proceeding on September 16, 2005.
According to an agreement with THF, Arnold would acquire the properties in the triangle and would be reimbursed its costs by THF. Arnold offered the property owners a buy-out, and most accepted. Some businesses were promised relocation [5] either in the new development or elsewhere in the city. Others were not given this option. Some refused the offer, and the city moved to condemn the dissenting properties. One such hold out was Homer R. Tourkakis, the owner of a dental practice on the corner of the triangle formed by Route 141 and Interstate 55.
Tourkakis's refusal to sell put the entire development in jeopardy. Arnold had a contract with THF to acquire the entire Triangle on THF's behalf. If Arnold failed, THF could walk away. Tourkakis claims that THF never made a fair-market offer. THF claims they offered to rebuild his practice elsewhere and purchase his property for $600,000. Tourkakis's property was declared blighted, and Arnold sought to seize it under eminent domain. Tourkakis fought these proceedings in the Jefferson County courts. Arnold and THF argued that although incorporated cities aren't explicitly granted the use of eminent domain does not imply they are denied it. The judge ruled that because Arnold is a third-class city, under Missouri law, it cannot use eminent domain to seize properties.[4]
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 19,965 people, 7,550 households, and 5,564 families residing in the city. The population density was 685.2/km² (1,775.0/mi²). There were 7,913 housing units at an average density of 271.6/km² (703.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.91% White, 0.30% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 7,550 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,188, and the median income for a family was $53,664. Males had a median income of $37,972 versus $27,222 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,378. About 3.0% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Public Services
Arnold City Hall is located at 2101 Jeffco Blvd and their phone number is 636-296-2100
Fox High School (Missouri C-6 School District) is the only High School located in Arnold, MO.
Comtrea Community Mental Health Center is located at 21 Municipal Drive; phone number 636-296-6206. It provides general family counseling, access to low-cost alcohol and other drug treatment residential and outpatient services for adults and children.
Honorable Distinction
According to Money Magazine, Arnold was ranked the 12th (or 13th) best and most affordable city to live in the United States [3]. Former Mayor Mark Powell commented in a public conference: "Arnold is a wonderful place to live, filled with great people, and that is what makes it so appealing, and our hard work has now been validated and recognized by an independent nationally recognized source" [4].
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b [1]Case Summary for January 17, 2008
- ^ a b [2]Homer Tourkakis: Victim of Eminent Domain Abuse
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