Industrial City, Missouri

Last updated
Industrial City
Town
Industrial City aerial photograph, 1933.jpg
Industrial City in 1933
Industrial City, Missouri
USA Missouri location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Industrial City
Location within the state of Missouri
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Industrial City
Industrial City (the United States)
Coordinates: 39°48′48″N94°49′57″W / 39.8132°N 94.8324°W / 39.8132; -94.8324
Founded1907
Official naming1924
Merged into St. Joseph, Missouri 1958
Population
 (1930)
 • Total
1,209

Industrial City, also referred to as Green Valley, is a former community in Buchanan County, Missouri, now part of St. Joseph.

Contents

Originally planned as a factory site in the 1900s, Industrial City received little attention from manufacturing companies and was instead developed as a residential area known as Green Valley. The settlement continued to grow with the construction of a school, post office, bank and multiple churches. In 1958, it officially became a neighbourhood of St. Joseph.

History

A 1907 map showing the planned location of the Industrial City 1907 Industrial City map.jpg
A 1907 map showing the planned location of the Industrial City

In 1907, a group of ten prominent businessmen from St. Joseph announced plans to create a large industrial suburb northeast of Krug Park beyond the city's borders. [1] Located between the road from St. Joseph to Savannah and the Chicago Great Western Railway, the planned factory area was given the name "The Industrial City". [1]

The plans continued with the election of officers for the newly-formed Industrial Development Company in June 1907, following its purchase of 200 acres of land at the site. [2] [3] Alongside the development of factories in the area, the investors planned to extend the streetcar service from Krug Park towards the industrial site. [3] Costs for the single line extension were estimated at US$ 12,000, [4] and it was officially opened on October 1, 1908. [5]

While investors had managed to secure public transport for the settlement, there were still no businesses present in the area by July 1910. [6] That month it was suggested that the Speciality Shoe Machinery Co. would build its factory there, [7] but those plans fell apart due to the lack of accessible gas, water or power contracts within the site. Similar plans fell apart with a foundry company, which relocated to St. Joseph instead. [8]

Green Valley residential development

Following the lack of success with industrialisation, the Green Valley Investment Company purchased the Industrial Development Company's 146-acre holdings in April 1911, with the intention of creating a large residential site named "Green Valley". [9] By September 1912, it was estimated that there were 150 children living within the settlement and local residents had begun petitioning for a new school. [10] In September 1915, construction began on the Green Valley School building at a cost of around US$ 6,500. [11] [12]

The Community Presbyterian Church, c. 1929 Community Presbyterian Church at Industrial City, c.1929.jpg
The Community Presbyterian Church, c. 1929

In January 1916, the first Sunday school service was held at Hurst Hall in Industrial City. [13] In October 1922, construction began on the Community Presbyterian Church, a hollow tile building on the junction of Savannah Road and the road towards the Buchanan County Infirmary (Blackwell Road). [14] [15] Around that time, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had built the Fifth Church within the settlement. [16]

In March 1924, the settlement was given its own post office and local businessman F. L. Taulman was named postmaster. With the establishment of the post office, the town officially became known as Industrial City: it dropped the alternative name of "Green Valley" due to the existence of other settlements named Green Valley and Grain Valley. [17] Later that year, the Growers' State Bank opened within the town. [18]

Development of infrastructure

During the 1920s, the population of Industrial City continued to climb and put pressure on local infrastructure. By February 1925, Green Valley School had a total of 80 children enrolled across four grades and was transporting another 40 children to a nearby school. [19] Plans were made to construct a new school building with six rooms, a multipurpose auditorium-gymnasium, a stage and shower baths. [20] The US$ 40,000 construction project was finished in early 1926 and the school's former building was demolished that year. [21] It was later renamed after United States Army officer John J. Pershing, [22] retaining the name Pershing Elementary School in the modern day. [23]

In April 1926, plans were announced by the St. Joseph Water Company to construct water mains underneath the town to connect St. Joseph to the nearby country club. [24] Development on Blackwell Road, connecting the east and west Savannah roads through Industrial City, began later that year. [25] The project faced delays over the winter, [26] but resumed the following summer. [27] In 1931, the completion of a new route near the St. Joseph Country Club gave the town better access to U.S. Route 71. [28]

In as early as 1930, there were calls to extend the St. Joseph city limits to incorporate its various suburbs including Industrial City. [29] An article in The St. Joseph Observer suggested that the city might eventually annex the nearby settlements of Agency, De Kalb, Rushville and Industrial City. [30]

In 1958, Industrial City ceased to exist as its own settlement and became a neighbourhood of St. Joseph. [31]

Geography

Industrial City was located near Blacksnake Creek, a tributary of the Missouri River, which flowed naturally through the Blacksnake sewer. The river is prone to flooding and had a flood plain of 8.2 square miles (21 km2) during the 1970s. [32] [33] During the 1920s, the town's western section was accessed by a bridge traversing Blacksnake Creek, but the bridge was destroyed by floodwaters in 1929. [34]

From 1931 onwards, a rock quarry was located directly to the south of the town near Chicago Great Western Railway tracks. [35]

During the 1950s, its two residential areas were separated by the railway. [31]

Population

According to the 1930 United States census, Industrial City had a population of 1209 people. Residents stated that the population ten years prior was around 250 people. [36] In 1958, Industrial City had a population of between 1,200 and 1,500 people. [31]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Wayne, Indiana</span> City in Indiana

Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is 18 miles (29 km) west of the Ohio border and 50 miles (80 km) south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 census, making it the second-most populous city in Indiana after Indianapolis, and the 83rd-most populous city in the United States. It is the principal city of the Fort Wayne metropolitan area, consisting of Allen and Whitley counties which had an estimated population of 423,038 as of 2021. Fort Wayne is the cultural and economic center of northeastern Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taunton, Massachusetts</span> City in Massachusetts, United States

Taunton is a city and county seat of Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. Taunton is situated on the Taunton River, which winds its way through the city on its way to Mount Hope Bay, 10 miles (16 km) to the south. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 59,408. Shaunna O'Connell is the mayor of Taunton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lacey, Washington</span> City in Washington, United States

Lacey is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Olympia with a population of 53,526 at the 2020 census, making it the 24th most populous city in Washington. Lacey is located along Interstate 5 between Olympia and the Nisqually River, which marks the border with Pierce County and Joint Base Lewis–McChord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleaford</span> Town and civil parish in England

Sleaford is a market town and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. On the edge of the Fenlands, it is 11 miles north-east of Grantham, 16 mi (26 km) west of Boston, and 17 mi (27 km) south of Lincoln. It is the largest settlement in North Kesteven with a population of 19,807 in 2021. Centred on the former parish of New Sleaford, the modern boundaries and urban area include Quarrington to the south-west, Holdingham to the north-west and Old Sleaford to the east. The town is bypassed by the A17 and the A15 roads, which link it to Lincoln, Newark, Peterborough, Grantham, Boston and King's Lynn. Sleaford railway station is on the Nottingham to Skegness and Peterborough to Lincoln lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maitland, New South Wales</span> City in New South Wales, Australia

Maitland is a city in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately 166 kilometres (103 mi) by road north of Sydney and 35 km (22 mi) north-west of Newcastle. It is on the New England Highway approximately 17 km (11 mi) from its origin at Hexham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrexham</span> City in north-east Wales

Wrexham is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the county of Denbighshire, and later the county of Clwyd in 1974, it has been the principal settlement of Wrexham County Borough since 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thornaby-on-Tees</span> Town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Thornaby-on-Tees, commonly referred to as Thornaby, is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire and falls under Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, England. The parish had a population of 24,741 at the 2011 census, in the Teesside built-up area. It is located on the south bank of the River Tees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Abercrombie</span> English town planner (1879–1957)

Sir Leslie Patrick Abercrombie was an English architect, urban designer and town planner. Abercrombie was an academic during most of his career, and prepared one city plan and several regional studies prior to the Second World War. He came to prominence in the 1940s for his urban plans of the cities of Plymouth, Hull, Bath, Bournemouth, Hong Kong, Addis Ababa, Cyprus, Edinburgh, Clyde Valley and Greater London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wirt C. Rowland</span> American architect

Wirt Clinton Rowland was an American architect best known for his work in Detroit, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henderson, New Zealand</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Henderson is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west of Auckland city centre, and two kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the Whau River, a southwestern arm of the Waitematā Harbour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opawa</span> Suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand

Opawa is an inner residential suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located approximately 3.5 kilometres south-east of the city centre. Prior to European settlement, much of the area consisted of marshlands and mixed-use vegetation. By the 1850s, the area was sparsely populated by settlers and became a dairying locality, with many of the early settlers being farmers and people of English descent. Opawa had little development in its early years as it transitioned into a residential suburb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pershing Middle School (Houston)</span> Middle school in Houston, Texas

John J. Pershing Middle School is a middle school in Houston, Texas, United States. It is located in the Braeswood Place neighborhood, near the Texas Medical Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meredith P. Snyder</span> American politician and mayor (1859–1937)

Meredith Pinxton Snyder was a California property owner and businessman who was mayor of Los Angeles on three occasions from 1896 through 1921, and was also on the California Industrial Accident Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairfield City Council</span> Local government area in New South Wales, Australia

The Fairfield City Council is a local government area in the west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The council was first incorporated as the "Municipal District of Smithfield and Fairfield" on 8 December 1888, and the council's name was changed to the "Municipality of Fairfield" in 1920, before being proclaimed a city in 1979. The City of Fairfield comprises an area of 102 square kilometres (39 sq mi) and as of the 2021 census had a population of 208,475. The mayor of the City of Fairfield is Cr. Frank Carbone, the first popularly-elected independent mayor of Fairfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">News-Press & Gazette Company</span> American media company

The News-Press & Gazette Company (NPG) is a media company based in St. Joseph, Missouri, wholly owned and operated by the Bradley family. It is presided by Brian Bradley and David R. Bradley, with Hank Bradley (retired), Eric Bradley, and Kit Bradley serving on its board of directors. All are descendants of family patriarch Henry D. Bradley and his son, David Bradley Sr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham</span> City in West Midlands, England

Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in Britain – commonly referred to as the second city of the United Kingdom – with a population of 1.158 million in the city proper. Birmingham borders the Black Country to its west and, together with the city of Wolverhampton and towns including Dudley and Solihull, forms the West Midlands conurbation. The royal town of Sutton Coldfield is incorporated within the city limits to the northeast. The urban area has a population of 2.6 million and the wider metropolitan area has a population of 4.3 million, the largest outside London in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rototuna</span> Suburb of Hamilton, New Zealand

Rototuna is a suburb in northern Hamilton, New Zealand, east of Flagstaff. It is one of the newest and fastest-growing suburbs in Hamilton, along with neighbouring Huntington and Flagstaff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ripley, Queensland</span> Suburb of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

Ripley is a suburb in the City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Ripley had a population of 4,288 people.

John J. Pershing High School is a four-year public high school in Detroit, Michigan. It is in Conant Gardens in proximity to the residential areas and also serves Krainz Woods. Pershing was governed by the Education Achievement Authority (EAA), which oversees failing schools, from 2011 until 2017, when all schools were transferred back to Detroit Public Schools Community District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Bernard Cox</span> British architect

Major George Bernard Cox FRIBA was a British architect and co-founder with Arthur Harrison of Harrison and Cox. He primarily designed Roman Catholic churches.

References

  1. 1 2 "Gigantic Industrial City Assured St. Joseph Project; 160 Acre Tract Optioned". St. Joseph Gazette. May 12, 1907. p. 1. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Officers Named by Promoters of Industrial City". St. Joseph Gazette. June 29, 1907. p. 1. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Plat Making for Industrial City". St. Joseph Gazette. July 13, 1907. p. 1. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  4. ↑ "To Open Line Work". St. Joseph Gazette. December 15, 1907. p. 13. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  5. ↑ "North End Extension to be Opened Today". St. Joseph Gazette. October 1, 1908. p. 2. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Industrial City to Take on Life?". St. Joseph Gazette. July 1, 1910. p. 2. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Local Building Notes". St. Joseph Gazette. July 5, 1910. p. 10. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Foundry Company Will Move Here". St. Joseph News-Press. March 25, 1911. p. 1. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  9. ↑ "For Suburban Homes". St. Joseph News-Press. April 19, 1911. p. 13. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Industrial City Wants a School". St. Joseph Gazette. September 17, 1912. p. 4. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Better Schools for North End". St. Joseph Gazette. September 10, 1915. p. 8. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  12. ↑ "2 New Schools to be City's Finest". St. Joseph Gazette. November 16, 1915. p. 2. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  13. ↑ "New Sunday School". St. Joseph News-Press. January 15, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Cornerstone is Laid". St. Joseph News-Press. October 23, 1922. p. 7. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Who We Are". Community Presbyterian Church. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Box Social and Music". St. Joseph News-Press. March 10, 1925. p. 6. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Gets on Postal Map". St. Joseph News-Press. March 19, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  18. ↑ "New Bank Open Today". St. Joseph News-Press. May 1, 1924. p. 6. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  19. ↑ "School Condition Survey Meeting at Green Valley". St. Joseph Gazette. February 20, 1925. p. 3. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  20. ↑ "To Let Contract for Green Valley School". St. Joseph Gazette. August 20, 1925. p. 8. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Local Brevities". St. Joseph News-Press. March 27, 1926. p. 6. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  22. ↑ "New Teachers Hired by Board". St. Joseph Gazette. August 12, 1930. p. 2. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  23. ↑ "School History". Pershing Elementary School. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Two Miles of Mains". St. Joseph News-Press. April 17, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Road Grading Contract". St. Joseph News-Press. October 1, 1926. p. 2. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Asks Why Grading of Road is Halted". St. Joseph News-Press. February 25, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Road Grading Resumed". St. Joseph News-Press. June 7, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Complete Link in Road System". St. Joseph Gazette. October 17, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Prestige is Added by Reason of the Increased Census". St. Joseph News-Press. July 1, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Who Knows?". The St. Joseph Observer. November 6, 1930. p. 2. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  31. 1 2 3 Slater, Frederich W. (April 13, 1958). "Part of St. Joseph Soon". St. Joseph News-Press. 9C. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Industrial City Flooded". St. Joseph News-Press. June 3, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Flood Threat Still Exists in Area of Blacksnake Creek". St. Joseph Gazette. July 14, 1971. p. 3. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Ask New Bridge". St. Joseph Gazette. May 6, 1930. p. 3. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Opens a New Quarry". St. Joseph News-Press. May 12, 1931. p. 6. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Industrial City Gains". St. Joseph News-Press. April 21, 1930. p. 2. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.