The History and Redevelopment of Kinloch, Missouri

Efforts underway to restore the historic Black community
Kinloch, located near St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Ferguson, was the first Black city incorporated in Missouri. A vibrant hub for the Black community, Kinloch saw its population grow significantly during the 1920s. Many Black families relocated to the area in the wake of the East St. Louis race riots of 1917, as well as during the Great Migration from the South. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the city was home to a thriving, tight-knit community, with countless small businesses and places of gathering.
A historically significant landmark within Kinloch was the Kinloch Airfield, where, in 1910, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first U.S. president to fly in an airplane. Notably, the plane flown was built by the Wright Brothers. The airfield would go on to play a pivotal role in the development of St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
However, in the 1980s, Kinloch lost a large amount of its property when the city of St. Louis began buying out land as part of a noise-abatement program due to the expansion St. Louis Lambert Airport. This process, along with other challenges, contributed to a decline in the city’s social and economic conditions. From 1980 to 2020, Kinloch saw a dramatic reduction in population, with its numbers shrinking by approximately 94%, from 4,455 residents to just 263, according to Census data.
Recently, there have been many efforts to revitalize the city. One of the areas of focus is a city wide clean up of the widespread illegal dumping. The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) is working in collaboration with the City of Kinloch, St. Louis Lambert Airport, St. Louis County, St. Louis City, Regional Business Council, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, elected officials, community members and other key stakeholders to fight against the copious amounts of waste accumulated from years of illegal dumping in Kinloch. Community-wide cleanups have been scheduled for 2025, with more projects in the works.
Along with clean-up efforts, St. Louis County Parks has committed to revamping the Kinloch Park, a place of community gathering. The County has successfully secured over $2.4 million in donations and grants. The project is on track to deliver a beautifully renovated park, with ongoing fundraising efforts aimed at closing the final funding gap
Image courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri