Ballwin is a city located in St. Louis County, Missouri. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 31,283. It was named by Money Magazine in 2005 as 64th on the list of the 100 best cities in America.
Ballwin is located at 38°35'41" North, 90°32'54" West (38.594820, -90.548420).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.2 km2 (8.9 mi2). 23.2 km2 (8.9 mi2) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 31,283 people, 11,797 households, and 8,942 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,349.5/km2 (3,494.6/mi2). There are 12,062 housing units at an average density of 520.4/km2 (1,347.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 93.39% White, 1.50% African American, 0.22% Native American, 3.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 1.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 11,797 households out of which 37.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.6% are married couples living together, 8.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% are non-families. 20.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.65 and the average family size is 3.09.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $66,458, and the median income for a family is $77,021. Males have a median income of $56,056 versus $32,202 for females. The per capita income for the city is $29,520. 3.2% of the population and 2.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.1% of those under the age of 18 and 3.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Ballwin is a unique name for a City. In fact, it is the only City in the United States with its spelling (BALLWIN, NOT BALDWIN). The City was founded by John Ball, son of James Ball and Mary Bray Ball of Virginia and Kentucky. His father, James, who came to America from Dublin, Ireland, served in the 4th and 8th Virginia Regiments during the Revolutionary War. Because of his military service, he was given a military land warrant and moved to this new land in Kentucky after the war. Reportedly, James was a friend of Daniel Boone.
Around 1797 or 1798 John Ball moved to the West St. Louis County area, possibly at the same time as the Daniel Boone party moved to and settled in the St. Charles, Warren County areas. Records now preserved in Jefferson City show the transfer of title of about 400 acres of land along Grande Glaize Creek to John Ball in February, 1800. This is the first official record of John Ball in the West County area.
Since John Ball's property claim was derived originally from a Spanish land grant, and was land that was at the time under Spanish rule, the Louisiana Purchase raised doubts about property ownership. It took several hearings and appeals and ten years for John Ball to clear his claim to the land that would eventually become the town of Ballwin.
In 1826, Missouri moved its capital to Jefferson City. Soon there was a need for an overland mail route between St. Louis and the new capital. As luck would have it, this new road was established along a route that passed by John Ball's property. After the road (known at times as Jefferson Road) Market Road and Manchester Road became established; John Ball decided to capitalize on the accessibility it provided for his property, and laid out a town.
The town was originally recorded as "Ballshow", but two days later, on February 9, 1837, Ball amended the recorded plat to be named Ballwin. No one knows for sure why the name was changed, but one of John Ball's great grandsons says it was the result of a rivalry with neighboring Manchester. John Ball saw great things ahead for his new town and was confident that it would "win out" in reputation and growth over its older and more prominent neighbor, two miles to the east. Hence the "win" was incorporated into the name.
In the years that followed, Ballwin has grown from the town John Ball knew with only a few homes and businesses, to a small village of 750 people when it was incorporated on December 29, 1950, to a thriving City of 27,000 today. John Ball's vision of Ballwin as a leading City in the West County area has been realized.
Source:
BallwinMissouri.com
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