St. Louis County is divided into 90 municipalities, ranging in size from villages with a few dozen people to cities with more than 40,000 residents. Within the county, there are more than 50 police departments, about 80 municipal courts, and 52,000 pages of local government ordinances. For the most part, St. Louis is segregated between the North City, with lower median incomes and a higher proportion of Black residents, and South City, with higher median incomes and more white residents.
Here are a few of the municipalities referenced in Until the Flood.
Ferguson:
A majority-Black city with a mostly white police force and city government. In 2014, its population was 68% Black and 33% white and its median household income was $46,612. Of the 53 officers in the Ferguson Police Department in 2014, the year Michael Brown was shot, three were Black and 50 were white. Michael Brown lived in Ferguson, so do Until the Flood characters Louisa, Hassan, and Paul.
Lemay:
In 2014, Lemay’s population was 96% white and 4% Black. Its median household income was $49,846. Lemay is home to Until the Flood character Rusty.
University City:
University City, or U. City, is named for Washington University, and is a significantly more integrated community than most of St. Louis’s municipalities. In 2014 its population was 57% white, 39% Black, 4% Latino or Hispanic, and 4% Asian. Its median household income of $77,350. It is home to character Connie.
Tower Grove South:
A neighborhood inside the city of St. Louis. In 2014, its population was 85% white and 13% Black. Its median household income is $60,414. Tower Grove South is home to characters Dougray and Edna.
Crestwood:
Crestwood is the South City municipality where Darren Wilson, the white police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown, lived. In 2014, its population was 93.5% white and 4% African American, with a median household income of $83,576.
Demographic statistics are pulled from the United States’ Census Bureau website.