Webster Groves, MO

Webster Groves developed as five railroad-side communities rather than around a single original town center. Webster, Old Orchard, Webster Park, Tuxedo Park, and Selma merged in 1896 to provide unified city services, leaving several business districts and neighborhood names on today's map. The city lies about ten miles southwest of downtown St. Louis, and Webster University's main campus sits between the Old Webster and Old Orchard districts. Population stood at 24,010 in the 2020 census and an estimated 23,450 in July 2025. That dispersed geography gives local community activity several centers. The city's annual arts calendar includes the Webster Arts Fair at Eden Theological Seminary on the first weekend of June, the Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival in September, and summer concerts and movies at Gazebo Park in Old Orchard. Webster University extends the calendar with galleries, student music and theater, a film series, and other performances; many university arts events are open to the public.

Blackburn Park provides nearly 36 acres of ballfields, tennis and pickleball courts, playgrounds, walking paths, pavilions, and a bird sanctuary. The Benny Gordon Recreation Center adds a gym, fitness center, ice rink, aquatic center, action park, and reservable gathering rooms. Its name records an important local history: Gordon, a resident and business owner, challenged the whites-only rule at Memorial Pool, which opened to residents regardless of race in 1953. The Webster Groves Public Library on East Lockwood stays open into the evening Monday through Thursday and maintains a current calendar for children, teens, and adults. Business districts, campus venues, parks, the recreation complex, and library therefore share the work that one conventional downtown might perform elsewhere.