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Industrial City, Missouri

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Former community in Buchanan County, Missouri

39°48′48″N 94°49′57″W / 39.8132°N 94.8324°W / 39.8132; -94.8324

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

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

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. 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".

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. Alongside the development of factories in the area, the investors planned to extend the streetcar service from Krug Park towards the industrial site. Costs for the single line extension were estimated at US$12,000, and it was officially opened on October 1, 1908.

While investors had managed to secure public transport for the settlement, there were still no businesses present in the area by July 1910. That month it was suggested that the Speciality Shoe Machinery Co. would build its factory there, 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.

Green Valley residential development

A 1911 advertisement for Green Valley

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". 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. In September 1915, construction began on the Green Valley School building at a cost of around US$6,500.

The Community Presbyterian Church, c. 1929

In January 1916, the first Sunday school service was held at Hurst Hall in Industrial City. 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. Around that time, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had built the Fifth Church within the settlement.

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. Later that year, the Growers' State Bank opened within the town.

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. Plans were made to construct a new school building with six rooms, a multipurpose auditorium-gymnasium, a stage and shower baths. The US$40,000 construction project was finished in early 1926 and the school's former building was demolished that year. It was later renamed after United States Army officer John J. Pershing, retaining the name Pershing Elementary School in the modern day.

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. Development on Blackwell Road, connecting the east and west Savannah roads through Industrial City, began later that year. The project faced delays over the winter, but resumed the following summer.

In as early as 1930, there were calls to extend the St. Joseph city limits to incorporate its various suburbs including Industrial City.

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

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 km) during the 1970s. During the 1920s, the town's western section was accessed by a bridge traversing the stream, but the bridge was destroyed by floodwaters in 1929.

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

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. In 1958, Industrial City had a population of between 1,200 and 1,500 people.

References

  1. ^ "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. ^ "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. "Box Social and Music". St. Joseph News-Press. March 10, 1925. p. 6. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  16. "Gets on Postal Map". St. Joseph News-Press. March 19, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  17. "New Bank Open Today". St. Joseph News-Press. May 1, 1924. p. 6. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  18. "School Condition Survey Meeting at Green Valley". St. Joseph Gazette. February 20, 1925. p. 3. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  19. "To Let Contract for Green Valley School". St. Joseph Gazette. August 20, 1925. p. 8. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  20. "Local Brevities". St. Joseph News-Press. March 27, 1926. p. 6. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  21. "New Teachers Hired by Board". St. Joseph Gazette. August 12, 1930. p. 2. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  22. "School History". Pershing Elementary School. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  23. "Two Miles of Mains". St. Joseph News-Press. April 17, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  24. "Road Grading Contract". St. Joseph News-Press. October 1, 1926. p. 2. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  25. "Asks Why Grading of Road is Halted". St. Joseph News-Press. February 25, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  26. "Road Grading Resumed". St. Joseph News-Press. June 7, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  27. "Prestige is Added by Reason of the Increased Census". St. Joseph News-Press. July 1, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  28. ^ Slater, Frederich W. (April 13, 1958). "Part of St. Joseph Soon". St. Joseph News-Press. 9C. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  29. "Industrial City Flooded". St. Joseph News-Press. June 3, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  30. "Flood Threat Still Exists in Area of Blacksnake Creek". St. Joseph Gazette. July 14, 1971. p. 3. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  31. "Ask New Bridge". St. Joseph Gazette. May 6, 1930. p. 3. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  32. "Industrial City Gains". St. Joseph News-Press. April 21, 1930. p. 2. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
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