History, St. Charles County, Missouri Genealogy Trails

By 1760, French traders, trappers and missionaries had penetrated the Mississippi River Valley and established settlements as far south as the Missouri River in St. Charles County. Louis Blanchette, a French Canadian fur trader, established an active riverfront trading post on the Missouri River and named the area "Les Petites Cotes" or Little Hills. Except for a brief period when the area was deeded to Spain, the territory remained under French control until acquired by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

Sioux, Osage, and other Indian tribes were already here before the Europeans explored this area. These native Americans were drawn to the beautiful spring in Weldon Spring where an unlimited supply of pure, sparkling water flowed out of the rocky hillside.

In 1804, after the Louisiana Purchase, the name was changed from San Carlos to St. Charles.

After construction of Interstate 70 in the mid-1950’s population growth in St. Charles County accelerated due to convenient access to St. Louis.