Florissant

About Florissant

Florissant is a thriving Missouri city located on Interstate 270, in the northern region of St. Louis County. It's considered a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, meaning that while it may not share a direct border, it still enjoys convenient proximity to the larger city. Florissant's population growth has slowed in recent decades, but it remains among the largest cities in the state.

The History of Florissant

It's difficult to pinpoint the date of the first settlements in Florissant, but historians do know that it's one of Missouri's oldest communities. The first civil government in the area was established in 1786 by the Spanish, overseeing about seven plantations and 40 to 50 people. French settlers later named the area Fleurissant, while the Spanish chose to call it St. Ferdinand.

Over the years, the community became a very traditional French village, with common fields and areas shared by its residents. Until the late 1800s, the community was mainly French-speaking, though some southern portions were home to German immigrants. When the first railroad to the area was built in 1878, the village didn't experience any notable growth, remaining a very small community of fewer than 1,000 people.

During the post-World War II housing boom, Alfred H. Mayer Co. and other major developers helped spur significant growth in Florissant. Open acreage and farmlands were converted to residential subdivisions, and the village gained about 18,000 new houses between 1947 and 1980. During the 1970s, Florissant's population peaked to 76,000, ranking it as the largest city in the county for some time.

Living in Florissant

Florissant has a community-oriented vibe with many of the same conveniences as a larger city. There's outdoor recreation in public parks and state parks nearby, including the Edward "Ted" and Pat Jones-Confluence Point State Park along the Mississippi River. Nestled on the banks of the Mississippi River, it's close to outdoor recreation like kayaking, fishing and boating. Plus, the city has several entertainment and dining options as well as everyday conveniences like grocery stores and fitness centers.

Living close to St. Louis, a major city in Missouri, means that big-city attractions like world-class dining, entertainment, sports and more are just a half-hour drive away. As one of St. Louis most outlying suburbs, Florissant does offer the benefit of less congestion and bustle than in suburbs closer to the city center. It's also a less-urban environment than inner-city St. Louis, offering a quieter, suburban way of life.

Florissant Schools

Students living in Florissant attend schools in Ferguson-Florissant School District, a joint district run by both cities. In addition to its elementary, middle and high schools, the district also operates a nationally recognized early education program and several extra programs for advanced students. There are several K-8 parochial schools in the city, as well as North County Christian School, serving grades preschool through 12.

Resources for Moving to Florissant

Here are a few handy resources to make your move to Florissant as easy as possible:

• Utilities: AmerenUE and Laclede Gas are the area's major energy suppliers. Missouri-American Water provides the area with its residential water service.
• Garbage and Recycling: Meridian Waster provides disposal cans and weekly collection services to all single-family homes in Florissant.
• Transportation: Florissant is part of the St. Louis Metro Transit network, which connects most of the communities in the St. Louis area.

Florissant Housing

Housing is affordable in Florissant compared to many other areas in the nation. Many homes are single-floor ranches with a two-car garage, but there are also larger, multi-story homes and new-construction homes for sale.