Fall of a Marginalized Community: The Great Flood of 1993

In the mid-1950s, a mobile home community was developed in St. Charles County, Missouri. As housing for employees of the nearby McDonnell Douglas was at a shortage, this provided an attractive option for people seeking to purchase their own homes. After a flood in 1973, the composition of the community began to shift from middle and working class to largely lower income residents. Following the 1986 flood, there was a mass exodus of many of the remaining property owners, and the mobile homes were sold to 'slumlords.' This brought increased poverty, drug use, and crime, as well as many new residents receiving subsidized rental vouchers. In the midst of this, three female residents began advocating for better conditions in the community including a summer meals program for the community's impoverished children. Services included lunch, health and dental care, and education on water and animal safety. Eventually, a food bank and thrift shop were added, both of which were housed in a local resident's home. In 1993, the community was destroyed by a great flood. In its aftermath, this close-knit community was relocated mostly outside of the St. Charles area. Despite their new living conditions being somewhat improved in comparison to their former community, many of these residents continue to seek the camaraderie that existed previously in St. Charles.