Ladue is a wealthy inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in central St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 8,645.

Ladue has the highest median household income of any city in Missouri with a population over 1,000, as well as one of the highest median incomes for any city in the United States. The city is a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.

It is home to a number of prestigious country, golf and social clubs, including, St. Louis Country Club, The Bogey Club, Deer Creek Club, The Log Cabin Club and Old Warson Country Club.

Geography

Ladue is located at (38.636889, -90.381722) .

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.2 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,645 people, 3,414 households, and 2,598 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,006.2 people per square mile (388.6/km²). There were 3,557 housing units at an average density of 414.0/sq mi (159.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.83% White, 0.88% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

Ladue is Missouri's best educated city, proportionately, with 74.5% of adult residents (25 and older) holding an associate degree or higher, and 71.8% of adults possessing a baccalaureate degree or higher (2000 Census).

There were 3,414 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.6% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 16.9% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $141,720, and the median income for a family was $179,328. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $51,678 for females. The per capita income for the city was $89,623. About 1.4% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

The home ownership rate (owner-occupied housing units to total units) is 91.6%.

Education

The Ladue School District serves Ladue.

Ladue is home to two of the St. Louis area's most prestigious private high schools, Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School and the John Burroughs School.

The Headquarters Branch of the St. Louis County Library is located in Ladue.

Controversies

In the early 1990s the city tried to force a woman to take down a yard sign stating "Say No to the War in the Persian Gulf, Call Congress Now" as it violated a city law. The ACLU sued arguing that the right to place the sign was protected by the 1st Amendment. The ensuing legal battle went to the United States Supreme Court which ruled, in City of Ladue v. Gilleo, that the right to place the sign was protected by the Constitution. [18766]

Ladue has a history of ousting families who violate housing ordinances. In 1985 the city won a case against a straight couple--E. Terrence Jones and Joan Kelly Horn--who lived together for four years and who each brought children from a previous relationship. Ladue officials had told them they should marry or leave their home. The Missouri court of appeals sided with the city, stating, "There is a governmental interest in marriage and in preserving the integrity of the biological or legal family." The ordinace stands as of 2009.

References

1. " Headquarters." St. Louis County Library. Retrieved on August 18, 2009.
2. " Ladue city, Missouri." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on August 18, 2009.

External links