Benton Park West, St. Louis

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Benton Park West

| type = Neighborhood of St. Louis

| image_skyline = Bentonpark.jpg

| image_caption = Cherokee Street

| image_map = STL Neighborhood Map 30.PNG

| map_caption = Location (red) of Benton Park West within St. Louis

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_type2 = State

| subdivision_name2 = Missouri

| subdivision_type3 = City

| subdivision_name3 = St. Louis

| parts_type = Wards

| parts_style = para

| p1 = 9, 15, 20

| leader_title = Aldermen

| leader_name =

| population_total = 4,238

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_footnotes = {{Cite web|url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/research/documents/2020-census-neighborhood-results.cfm|title = 2020 Census Neighborhood Results}}

| area_total_sq_mi = 0.40

| area_footnotes =

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| postal_code_type = ZIP code(s)

| postal_code = Part of 63118

| area_code_type = Area code(s)

| area_code = 314

| website = [http://stlouis-mo.gov/neighborhoods/profile.cfm?neighborhood=Benton%20Park%20West stlouis-mo.gov]

}}

Benton Park West is a neighborhood located in South St. Louis City, Missouri, United States. The neighborhood is bounded by Jefferson Ave. on the east, Gravois Ave. (MO Route 30) on the north and west, and an irregular boundary consisting of Cherokee Street, S. Compton Ave., and Potomac St. to the south.[http://stlcin.missouri.org/nbr/neighprofile.cfm?neighnum=30 Neighborhood Data Profile for Benton Park West] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902162545/http://stlcin.missouri.org/nbr/neighprofile.cfm?neighnum=30 |date=September 2, 2009 }} The neighborhood is the conglomeration of two different neighborhoods in the 1970s, Compton Hill and Marquette-Cherokee. Parts of these two 1970s neighborhoods make up the current day Benton Park West. Marquette-Cherokee was bounded by Arsenal Street on the north, Bates Street on the south and Grand Boulevard on the west. Its eastern edge was the bank of the Mississippi River. Benton Park West has the highest percentage of Latino residents among St. Louis neighborhoods.

In 2005 Benton Park West was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the [https://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/05000115.pdf Gravois-Jefferson Streetcar Suburb National Historic District].

Demographics

In 2020 Benton Park West's racial makeup was 50.0% Black, 31.7% White, 1.9% Asian, 8.2% Two or More Races, and 7.7% Some Other Race. 13.2% of the neighborhood's population was of Hispanic or Latino origin.{{cite web |title=Neighborhood Census Data |url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/research/census/data/neighborhoods/index.cfm |website=City of St. Louis |access-date=26 January 2023}}

class="wikitable"

!Racial Composition

!2000

!2010

!2020

White

|30.4%

|28.0%

|31.7%

Black or African American

|59.1%

|59.6%

|50.0%

Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

|5.1%

|10.5%

|13.2%

Asian

|4.8%

|1.9%

Two or More Races

|2.9%

|5.2%

|8.2%

{{US Census population

|1990=5202

|2000=5428

|2010=4404

|2020=4238

|footnote=Sources:{{cite web |title=Benton Park West Neighborhood Statistics |url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/archive/census-1990/30.shtml |website=St Louis, MO |access-date=26 January 2023}}

}}

Arts and Culture

Benton Park West is home to many local art galleries and locally made stores, most of which are located on Cherokee Street. Home to the largest concentration of Hispanic owned restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, and other retail, Benton Park West is fortunate to have a diverse and celebrated community.

There are numerous street festivals held along Cherokee Street. [https://cincodemayostl.com Cinco de Mayo: A Cherokee Street Festival] is one of the largest. Organized by Cherokee Street Development League, the Cinco de Mayo festival hosts three stages of musics, food and beverage vendors along the street, and other activities. The People's Joy Parade is also a part of the Cinco de Mayo festival and is organized by C.A.M.P.{{Cite web|url=https://cincodemayostl.com/|title=Cherokee Street's Cinco de Mayo Festival|website=Cinco De Mayo Cherokee Street Festival}}

[http://www.indihopstl.com/ IndiHop] is a partnership between Cherokee Street and the Grove. It's independent neighborhoods celebrating independent breweries. Guests taste independent beers in various locations traveling between the neighborhoods.

The Mexican Independence Day celebration, [https://web.archive.org/web/20180511012929/https://www.fiestaspatriasstl.com/ Fiestaas Patrias STL], is held in September. Originally the festival was owned and managed by the Cherokee Street Latino Business Association, but was sold to Latinos in Axion STL who now manages the annual festival.

References

External links

[http://bentonparkwest.org/ Benton Park West] neighborhood website
[https://groups.google.com/group/bpw-talk/ Interactive List Serve for the neighborhood]
[https://cincodemayostl.com/ Cinco de Mayo: A Cherokee Street Festival]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20180511012929/https://www.fiestaspatriasstl.com/ Fiestas Patrias STL]
[http://www.indihopstl.com/ IndiHop STL]

Category:Neighborhoods in St. Louis

Benton Park West, St. Louis

Demographics

Arts and Culture

See also

References

External links