University City dates to 1906, and 38% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 78% of U.S. towns · #48 of 247 in Missouri. What drives it
16 places in town are on the National Register, among them six historic districts with 1,269 buildings between them. Below: maps from 1933 on and the census since 1910.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, University City is more historic than 78% of U.S. towns, #48 of 247 in Missouri. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of University City’s overall grade.
Missouri towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Missouri town has 2.4 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so University City’s 371 sits above most of its state (98% of Missouri towns have fewer) while its 1,288 historic buildings outnumber those of 99% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikipedia alone; no second source gives 1906.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.8 points).
Founding year: Wikipedia (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about University City’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
In the late 19th century, the area that is now University City was primarily farms and small farming communities. In 1902, Edward Gardner Lewis purchased 85 acres just outside the city limits of St. Louis, northwest of Forest Park, where the St. Louis World’s Fair would be held two years later in 1904. Lewis was the publisher of Woman’s Magazine and Woman’s Farm Journal. The 85-acre area would be the headquarters for Lewis’s publishing company, as well the site for a model city, inspired by the City Beautiful movement.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of University City. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1933Clayton sheet · 1:24,000
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of University City.
People over time
University City, census by census
Peaked at 51,249 in 1960; 35,065 people lived here in 2020.
12 censuses, 1910–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on University City’s Wikipedia page.
Famous people
5 famous people were born in University City
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
In 1906, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1910 counted 2,417 people here.
How does University City rank for history?
University City is more historic than 78% of U.S. towns, #48 of 247 in Missouri. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in University City?
16 listings: 10 buildings and 6 historic districts with 1,269 contributing buildings. 1,288 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in University City?
38% of University City’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.8 points), against a typical 8.4% for a Missouri town; the median home was built in 1949.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (11), the National Register of Historic Places (16), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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