Historic St. Louis Series - Kinloch

St. Louis is home to a rich history of Black American culture and community. One of the most prominent Black American neighborhoods in St. Louis was Kinloch. Established in 1855, Kinloch was home to many Black American families of modest means as well as successful business owners, professionals and political figures.

It was the first Black American city incorporated in Missouri and was located about 11 miles from downtown St. Louis. The founding of Kinloch was spurred by the discriminatory real estate practices in St. Louis in the mid-1800s. Many black residents were barred from purchasing in white owned neighborhoods, and instead were driven out to the rural areas.

Kinloch was a place for this excluded population to feel safe and find community. It was a successful and growing suburb with its own government, police department, fire department, banks, churches, schools, and other businesses. It is often credited with being the most successful Black American settlement in the United States at the time.

Home to the first Black American US post office, and first Black American golf course. Kinloch had a vibrant culture and a thriving economy. In its heyday, Kinloch had three African American owned banks, two McDonald’s franchises, two grocery stores, a theater, a roller-skating rink, several churches, a library, and a 95% Black American population. Around the turn of the 20th century, Kinloch was home to leading Black American entrepreneurs, scientists, lawyers, and professional baseball players. Unfortunately, due to a range of factors, including discriminatory policies such as urban renewal, Kinloch lost its place as a center of Black American business and culture. 

In the 1940s the military decided to expand its facilities and displace much of the population of Kinloch. Many of the residents moved to other Black American neighborhoods in the St. Louis area, while others left the state. The remains of this historic Black American community continue to be threatened by urban decay and eminent domain.  The destruction of Kinloch was a devastating blow to Black American life in St. Louis, but Kinloch still remains an important part of St. Louis' Black American history.