Wentzville, Missouri Public Records

Wentzville is a rapidly growing city in Saint Charles County, Missouri, located approximately 35 miles west of Saint Louis along Interstate 70. With a population as noted in the city's own history documentation, Wentzville has been among the fastest-growing cities in Missouri for much of the past two decades, transforming from a small agricultural town into a substantial suburban community within the Saint Louis metropolitan area. Saint Charles County is one of the most populous and fastest-growing counties in Missouri, with a population to 416,659 in 2023-2024 estimates, representing a growth of 348 percent from 1970's population. This explosive growth reflects the westward expansion of Saint Louis's suburbs along the I-70 and I-64 corridors. From 1970 to 2023, the county's growth far outpaced that of neighboring Saint Louis County, which grew only 3.72 percent during the same period. Wentzville traces its origins to the 1850s when the North Missouri Railroad was constructed through the area. The city was named for Erasmus Livingston Wentz, a civil engineer who worked on the railroad. The community developed as a small agricultural service center and railroad junction, with tobacco farming being particularly important in the early decades. For most of its history, Wentzville remained a small town, reaching only a few thousand residents through the mid-20th century. The dramatic transformation of Wentzville began in the 1980s and accelerated through the 1990s and 2000s as suburban sprawl from Saint Louis extended westward along the I-70 corridor. General Motors has operated a major assembly plant in Wentzville since 1983, employing thousands of workers and establishing a significant industrial foundation for the community. The availability of land, good transportation access, lower housing costs than the eastern suburbs, and the proximity to Saint Louis employment centers attracted residential development that continues today. Saint Charles County government and courts are headquartered in Saint Charles, the county seat. The Recorder of Deeds, County Assessor, Collector of Revenue, and other county offices maintain public records for Wentzville and all county communities, accessible under Missouri's Sunshine Law (RSMo Chapter 610). Wentzville's own city government handles municipal services including planning, public works, and local law enforcement through the Wentzville Police Department.