O'Fallon

O'Fallon, Missouri
—  City  —
Seal
Motto: Tradition with Vision
Location in the state of Missouri
Coordinates: 38°47′04″N 90°42′29″W / 38.78444°N 90.70806°W / 38.78444; -90.70806Coordinates: 38°47′04″N 90°42′29″W / 38.78444°N 90.70806°W / 38.78444; -90.70806
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	St. Charles
Metro	Greater St. Louis
First Settled	1856
Incorporated	September 25, 1912
Government[1]
• Type	Mayor-council government
• Mayor	Bill Hennessy
• City Council	List Bill Gardner (Ward 1) Rick Lucas (Ward 1) Rose Mack (Ward 2) Jim Pepper (Ward 2) John Haman (Ward 3) Dan Haney (Ward 3) Bob Howell (Ward 4) Jeff Schwentker (Ward 4) Mark Perkins (Ward 5) Mike Pheney (Ward 5)
Area[2]
• Total	22.47 sq mi (58.2 km2)
• Land	22.46 sq mi (58.2 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation[3]	541 ft (165 m)
Population (2010)[4]
• Total	79,329
• Density	2,982.15/sq mi (1,151.56/km2)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	63366, 63368
Area code(s)	636
FIPS code	29-54074[2]
GNIS feature ID	0756460[5]
Website	http://www.ofallon.mo.us/

O'Fallon ( /oʊˈfælən/) is an exurban city along Interstate 70 and Interstate 64 between Lake St. Louis and St. Peters in Saint Charles County, Missouri. It is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census O'Fallon had a population of 79,329, making the city the largest municipality in St. Charles County and seventh largest in the state of Missouri.^[4][2] In 2006 Money Magazine named O'Fallon as one of its "Best 100 Places to Live." (39 out of 100)^[6] Money Magazine also ranked O'Fallon 68 out of 100 in 2008 ^[7] and 26 out of 100 in 2010. ^[8]

As noted above, O'Fallon, along with its namesake in St. Clair County, Illinois is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. This makes O'Fallon (along with the two Troys in Illinois and Missouri) one of the few pairs of like-named municipalities to be part of the same MSA.

History

After the War of 1812, there was a westward flow of migration through the present-day St. Charles County on the Booneslick Trail (later part of Interstate 70). During the 1830s, many German settlers came to the O'Fallon area inspired by Gottfried Duden's Republic of the Western States of North America. The report was based on his account of living in St. Charles.

O'Fallon's history as a city started in the 1850s. Arnold Krekel was a German immigrant who held a number of offices, including U.S. District Court Judge and Missouri state legislator. He founded a German-language newspaper and invested in the North Missouri Railroad, among other activities. Krekel's younger brother Nicholas built the first house in O'Fallon and is considered by many to be the "founder" of O'Fallon. The younger Krekel was the town's first Postmaster, station agent, and operated the first general merchandise store inside his home. The City purchased this historic house in 2008 with plans for restoration after which it will be open to the public.

In 1854, Judge Krekel granted the North Missouri Railroad permission to build a depot on his property along with a right-of-way on his "Krekel Addition". In 1856, Judge Krekel named the depot O'Fallon Station after his friend John O'Fallon, the railroad's president and a noted philanthropist. In 1860, the "Krekel Addition" was renamed O'Fallon, and in 1912, it was incorporated.

For many years, O'Fallon was a quiet, small community in central St. Charles County. In the early 1980s suburban development accelerated and a population boom began. The population for O'Fallon rose to 18,698 by 1990, and was more than 70,000 residents by 2006.^[2]

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there are 46,169 people in the city, organized into 15,389 households and 12,603 families. The population density is 2,054.9 people per square mile (793.3/km²). There are 15,920 housing units at an average density of 708.6 per square mile (273.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 95.32% Caucasian, 2.24% African American, 0.74% Asian, 0.23% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 1.45% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 15,389 households out of which 50.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.8% are married couples living together, 8.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% are non-families. 14.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.98 and the average family size is 3.30.

In the city the population is spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 38.8% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $60,179, and the median income for a family is $64,627. Males have a median income of $45,295 versus $29,129 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,774. 3.3% of the population and 2.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 6.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Economy

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2009)

O'Fallon is home to MasterCard's Global Technology and Operations center, where MasterCard's credit-card transactions are settled. Attracting that center cost the city, county, and state:^{[citation needed]}

• $27.4 million in highway improvements;^{[citation needed]}
• $10 million in tax credits funded through the state, and an additional $1.2 million in business facility tax credits;^{[citation needed]}
• $3 million in state job-training programs for its employees;^{[citation needed]}
• Refinanced loans and community development grants worth more than $1.6 million; and^{[citation needed]}
• A $785,000 rate discount on electricity service from Ameren.^{[citation needed]}

Venture Stores^[9] was headquartered and maintained a distribution center in O'Fallon, until its dissolution. The buildings are now occupied by True Manufacturing.

Shell Oil Company announced on February 27, 2012 it will close its regional distribution center here by the end of 2012, costing more than a dozen jobs. ^[10]

Sports

O'Fallon is the home of the River City Rascals independent Frontier League baseball team. The Rascals play at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, which was built in 1999. It is located on Tom Ginnever Boulevard and T.R. Hughes Boulevard near downtown.

Parks and recreation

• Civic Park - A 20 acres (81,000 m²) park featuring Alligator's Creek Aquatic Center and Civic Hall.
• Dames Park - A 59 acres (240,000 m²) sports park with three football fields and a fitness course.
• Fort Zumwalt Park - A 47.5 acres (192,000 m²) park featuring a fishing lake, playgrounds and historic Fort Zumwalt.
• Knaust Park - A 6 acres (24,000 m²) park with a playground and walking path.
• O'Fallon Sports Park - A 95 acres (380,000 m²) soccer complex with 12 fields playgrounds and concessions. Also home to the Renaud Spirit Center.
• Ozzie Smith Sports Complex - A 76 acres (310,000 m²) baseball/softball complex with seven diamonds and the St. Charles Co. Amateur Sports Hall of Fame. Adjacent to the T.R. Hughes Ballpark.
• Westhoff Park - A 65 acres (260,000 m²) park featuring baseball diamonds, sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, basketball courts, tennis and handball courts, and a skate park.

Climate

Government

O'Fallon operates under a charter form of government. In 2010 the current four wards were redistricted and a new, fifth ward was created. The current mayor is William "Bill" Hennessy. The current (February, 2012) City Council members are: Bill Gardner, Rick Lucas, Rose Mack, Jim Pepper, John Haman, Rick Batelle, Jeff Schwentker, Bob Howell, Michael Snowden, and Mike Pheney. The City Administrator is Keith Riesberg.

Laws

Proposition S

On April 5, 2011, 72% of O'Fallon voters approved of Proposition S, the "Smoke-Free O'Fallon" Ordinance. The Ordinance became a law and went into effect on June 16, 2011. Under the new law, there is a ban on smoking in all places of employment and at indoor public events. Some examples of places of employment that are under the smoking ban include libraries, schools, bars, restaurants, stores, manufacturers and private clubs who either have employees or host public events. In edition to the smoking ban at places of employment, there should also be proper “No Smoking” signs posted at every entrance of places of employment, and no ashtray should be in the smoke free areas at places of employment. There are some exclusions in the Ordinance including: private homes, 20% of hotel and motel rooms, outdoor events, and outdoor spaces more than 3 ft. away from doorways, windows, and ventilation systems. ^[12]

Education

Satellite campuses of Webster University and Lindenwood University are located in O'Fallon. For public schools, O'Fallon is served mostly by the Fort Zumwalt School District, and the westernmost part is served by the Wentzville R-IV School District. The south to southeastern part of the city is served by the Francis Howell R-III School District. St. Dominic High School is a private Catholic school located in O'Fallon, as is Christian High School, a non-denominational Christian secondary school.

Infrastructure

Fire Protection is mostly provided by the O'Fallon Fire Protection District which in 2007 became the first Internationally Accredited Fire Agency in the State of Missouri. The award was made by the Center for Public Safety Excellence's Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). The CFAI has approved accreditation status for only 120 fire agencies world wide.

The Southern portion of the City is served by the Wentzville Fire Protection district.

See also

Missouri portal

• The Megan Meier suicide controversy involves residents of O'Fallon and nearby Dardenne Prairie.

References

External links

• City of O'Fallon
• St. Charles City-County Library District
• O'Fallon MO Police Scanner Live Online
• Historic maps of O'Fallon in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri

v t e Greater St. Louis Illinois Missouri United States of America Topics Culture Crime Economy Education History Parks Transportation Central city St. Louis Largest cities (over 20,000 in 2000) Affton CDP Alton Ballwin Belleville Chesterfield Collinsville East St. Louis Edwardsville Ferguson Florissant Granite City Hazelwood Kirkwood Maryland Heights Mehlville CDP Oakville CDP O'Fallon, Illinois O'Fallon, Missouri Saint Charles St. Peters Spanish Lake CDP University City Webster Groves Wildwood Largest towns and villages (over 10,000 in 2000) Arnold Bellefontaine Neighbors Berkeley Bridgeton Cahokia Clayton Concord CDP Crestwood Creve Coeur Fairview Heights Farmington Festus Glen Carbon Godfrey Jennings Lake St. Louis Lemay CDP Manchester Overland St. Ann Swansea Town and Country Washington Wentzville Wood River Missouri Counties Franklin Jefferson Lincoln St. Charles Saint Francois St. Louis City St. Louis County Warren Washington Illinois Counties Bond Calhoun Clinton Jersey Macoupin Madison Monroe St. Clair Subregions Metro East Westplex

v t e Municipalities and communities of St. Charles County, Missouri, United States County seat: Saint Charles Cities Augusta Cottleville Dardenne Prairie Flint Hill Foristell‡ Lake St. Louis New Melle O'Fallon Portage Des Sioux St. Charles St. Peters St. Paul Weldon Spring Wentzville West Alton Villages Josephville Weldon Spring Heights Townships Blanchette Boone Cottleville Dardenne Friedens Frontier Harvester Lindenwood O'Fallon Rivers St. Peters Spencer Creek Wentzville Zumbehl Unincorporated communities Defiance Harvester Matson Nona Orchard Farm Seeburger Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v t e  State of Missouri Jefferson City (capital) Topics Government Delegations Geography Transportation History People Visitor Attractions Society Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Regions Bootheel Crowley's Ridge Dissected Till Plains Four State Area Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor Honey Lands Lead Belt Lincoln Hills Little Dixie Loess Hills Mid-Missouri Mississippi Embayment Missouri Rhineland Northern Plains Osage Plains Ozark Plateau Platte Purchase Pony Express St. Francois Mountains Westplex Metro areas Columbia Jefferson City Joplin Kansas City Springfield St. Joseph St. Louis Largest cities Kansas City St. Louis Springfield Independence Columbia Lee's Summit O'Fallon St. Joseph St. Charles St. Peters Blue Springs Florissant Joplin Chesterfield Jefferson City Cape Girardeau Wildwood University City Ballwin Raytown Liberty Wentzville Kirkwood Maryland Heights Hazelwood Counties and independent cities Adair Andrew Atchison Audrain Barry Barton Bates Benton Bollinger Boone Buchanan Butler Caldwell Callaway Camden Cape Girardeau Carroll Carter Cass Cedar Chariton Christian Clark Clay Clinton Cole Cooper Crawford Dade Dallas Daviess DeKalb Dent Douglas Dunklin Franklin Gasconade Gentry Greene Grundy Harrison Henry Hickory Holt Howard Howell Iron Jackson Jasper Jefferson Johnson Knox Laclede Lafayette Lawrence Lewis Lincoln Linn Livingston Macon Madison Maries Marion McDonald Mercer Miller Mississippi Moniteau Monroe Montgomery Morgan New Madrid Newton Nodaway Oregon Osage Ozark Pemiscot Perry Pettis Phelps Pike Platte Polk Pulaski Putnam Ralls Randolph Ray Reynolds Ripley St. Charles St. Clair St. Francois St. Louis (City) St. Louis (County) Ste. Genevieve Saline Schuyler Scotland Scott Shannon Shelby Stoddard Stone Sullivan Taney Texas Vernon Warren Washington Wayne Webster Worth Wright