Pacific is located at 38°28'53" North, 90°45'0" West (38.481503, -90.750015)1. The city stradles the Franklin/St. Louis County lines less than 1 mile north of Jefferson County. 1/5 of the city sits in St. Louis County, however the area located in St. Louis County is almost all commercial, hosting 1/3 of the city's department stores, 1/3 of the city's restaurants, and a large number of the city's retail and service business. The St. Louis County portion of the city has about 20 residents. The St. Louis/ Franklin county line lies halfway on the blocks between Elm and Neosho streets. The historic Red Cedar Inn restuarant is located on the east end of the city along historic route 66. Saint Louis City is 30 miles northeast of Pacific and the communities comprising the Missouri Rhineland are 20 miles northwest of the city.
Pacific is bordered on the Southeast by the Pacific Palisades, Missouri Conservation area. Meramec River access, through the Pacific Palisades conservation area, is located 1 mile east of the city next to Eureka on the north side although another access point is located on the south bank of the river also. The majority Pacific Pallisades area itself, south of the river, is accessed 1 mile south of the city in Jefferson County.
The Union Pacific railroad, Burlington Frisco Railroad, Historic Route 66, Brush Creek, and Fox Creek run through the town. The Meramec river is located at the south of the city and large St. Peter Sandstone bluffs line the north end of the city. Fox and Brush creeks empty into the Meramac River east of Pacific just outside of Eureka. The historic Missouri Pacific train station, at the end of the First 38 mile division, is located in the old town center. Interstate 44 cuts through the northern section of the city while HWY 00, F, and N run through the eastern part of the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.1 km² (5.4 mi²). 14.0 km² (5.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.18% is water. 1.2 Miles of the city is located in St. Louis County. The city is located roughly 1 mile west from Eureka, the niegboring city to the east, and 5 miles east of Gray Summit .
Pacific is an interesting city because it has sprawled across Franklin and St. Louis counties. The city's sprawl has led to the original downtown buildings being preserved and has also led to no true modern downtown area.
Pacific has 4 distinct commercial areas; The Old Downtown Commerce area, the Eastern Commerce area, the Central Business Loop 44 Commerce area, and the Western Commerce area.
The Old Downtown Commerce Area is mostly located along First and St. Louis streets. The Historic downtown buildings, built in the late 1800's, have been fully or partially restored and new businesses have moved into the buildings. The local library and video store along with a series of bars and restaurants are located in this area. Pacific Foods, one of the two local grocery stores, is located across the street from the historic Royal Theater, which now houses Brengard Carpet and tile store.
The Eastern Commerce Area begins at Columbus Street and continues east into St. Louis County along Osage street. A series of strip malls built at various times and joined to each other forms a plaza area, which houses many businesses. Red Cedar Inn and Sheffield's restaurants are located in this area.
The Central Business Loop 44 Commerce area is located off of the Interstate 44 exit and entrance ramps and continues west along Osage street. Most of the city's fast food and gas stations are located in this area. This area also contains both of the city's hotels and the local bowling ally.
The Western Commerce Area is a series of small modern strip malls and plazas located from a vacant lot, which used to be Lazy Larry's Discount Store, ending at Pacific High School. The new city hall is located in this area as well as the new medical center. Most of the city's banks and car lots are located in this area. The city's other grocery store, Queens Market, and Pamida are located in the old Wal-Mart Plaza.
Most of the city's 50 Manufacturing and Industrial business are located in 3 areas; Saint Louis County (Eastern side), A series of industrial parks in the South Central portion of the city located behind City Park between South Denton and Hwy N, and along the far west end of the city around the High School and Cedars subdivision.
The city of Pacific has several subdivisions and residential areas most of which, except the old town areas, are separated geographically by wooded or commerce areas. Sidewalks do not connect most of the subdivisions or city areas. These areas include; North Old Town, South Old Town, The Hawthorne Subdivision, The Hogan subdivision, The Monroe Woods area, Osage Hills, Glen Forest Estates, Hidden Hills Estates, Silver Lake Estates, and the Thornton road area.
The old town area is split by the railroad into a North and South division. The entire old town area is quite historic with most of the homes built in the mid to late 1800's into the early 1900's. The homes in the south division are somewhat older and more modest than the north division. The northern area is rich in historic architecture mostly of residences of Folk Victorian, Victorian, Queen Anne Victorian, 1.5 - 2 story double pen house vernacular homes with high style influences, and French vernacular designs many retaining their tin roofs. The south section is ripe with German vernacular styles, one story double pen house types, upright and wing vernacular types, Folk Victorian, American Four Square, and the few Missouri shotgun style homes are located in this area. The northern area is lined with modern attached homes along its northernmost edge. Several trailer homes are located in the southern division.
The Cedars subdivision is mostly a double tear shaped subdivision of modest single-family ranch style homes built on .5 -1 acre lots. The subdivision was built in the late 1960's - early 1970's. The Cedar subdivision is located adjacent to the Pacific High School and Truman elementary school along the western edge of the city. A series of attached family homes were built across from the High School in the mid 1980's and a series of apartment complexes were built on Lisa Lane in the late 1990's.
Monroe Woods is an area north of interstate 44 composed of many apartments, condos, townhouses, and attached homes built in the late 1980's and 1990's. The largest apartment complex being Monroe Woods.
Osage Hills and Glen Forest Estates are modern luxury homes built along the northeast edge of Pacific while Silver Lake and Hidden Hills are modern luxury homes built on the southwestern edge of the city.
Pacific has 3 voting wards. Ward 1 is mostly the eastern portion of the city, which includes; most of the old city area, Osage Hills, Glen Forest estates, and the Monroe woods area. Ward 2 is mostly the center part of the city which includes; the southwest portion of the old city, the Hawthorn subdivision, and Hogan subdivision, and the Thornton road residential area. Ward 3 includes the Silver Lake, Hidden Hills, and Cedars subdivisions.
As of the census of 2000, there are 5,482 people, 2,166 households, and 1,431 families residing in the city. The population density is 390.5/km² (1,011.0/mi²). There are 2,343 housing units at an average density of 166.9/km² (432.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 94.35% White, 2.92% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,166 households out of which 33.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% are married couples living together, 15.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% are non-families. 28.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.48 and the average family size is 3.05.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $39,554, and the median income for a family is $44,545. Males have a median income of $32,813 versus $22,529 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,865. 14.7% of the population and 8.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 19.7% are under the age of 18 and 19.4% are 65 or older.
Pacific and its surrounding communities is served by the Meramec Valley R-III school system. The area is in the Saint Louis Community College district although many residents have prefered to attend the closer East Central College.
Geography
City layout
Commercial areas
Industrial areas
Residential areas
Voting wards
Brief history
Demographics
Schools and colleges
Local newspapers
Surrounding towns, cities, and communities
Local atractions, parks, and recreation
State parks
County parks
City parks
State conservation areas
Private conservation areas
Historical attractions
Wineries
Other attractions
External links