Mar. 23, 2007 - Manchester_Those Little Town Blues

The statistics used here are from the 2000 Census, but I know this town has grown some. The population the was 19,161. The town is located in West St. Louis County. The median household income was: $64,381 and the home value: $144,300.

Now let me tell you this. This town (like Kirkwood, Ballwin, Ellisville & Wildwood) is finding it self growing! Builders are buying these smaller homes and larger lots, and choosing to put 2 or 3 homes on them. If the lots are smaller, then they put these larger homes that are SELLING for $500,000. or more. Amazing to see the smaller homes being dwarfed by the McMansions. It's the trend now. Watch for that median home value to jump!

Of course, the Aldermen are having a tough time as they struggle to give in to the builders and argue with the residents to keep the town as it was/is. They don't have the best reputation for following the rules on the books. Some like the power of their position and make the residents feel like no matter how small the matter, they will fight it or you will have to come back time and time again to meet some individual aldermans view of what should be done, when all he should have done was go by the book. Lots of frustration here, as well as in the other townships mentioned above.

Manchester City Hall is the Lyceum Building, which was built in 1894 and is seen on the National Register.

Manchester is center and located at highway 141 and Manchester Road. The first name was Hoardstown, named after a prominent landowner by the name of James Hoard. He died in 1825 and the town was renamed to Manchester.

There are a couple of old cemetaries here too, along with some of the old original buildings. The town is growing and there has been talk of joining Ballwin, Winchester & Manchester, to save on expenses. Maybe not such a bad idea, in my opinion.