The History of twin oaks

Twin Oaks, arguably one of St. Louis County’s best kept secrets, is a small Village of approximately 362 residents. Its .27 square miles of streets are nestled between Manchester to its northeast, Valley Park to its south and unincorporated St. Louis County to its west, at the intersection of Big Bend Road and Highway 141.

Why is the area called Twin Oaks? Well supposedly, there were 2 oak trees near the intersection of Crescent Road and Crescent Avenue at the southwest end of the Village, which stood prominently, hence the name “Twin Oaks”.

Alma Niere, who was born in 1925 at a home on Crescent Avenue and still lives in the community, is the daughter of James Stoker. Stoker had a vegetable farm then and there were others at the time with a lot of acreage and they didn’t want there to be more taxes. In 1938, Valley Park was interested in taking in the area and these residents did not want the extra taxes, so James Stoker and his neighbors organized and created the “Village of Twin Oaks” in 1938. In order to pay for street improvements, the residents would hold fish fries to collect the money and then do the work themselves.

The earliest neighborhood within the community started in the late 1950’s and consisted of approximately 30 homes developed on Quinette Street, First Street, Ann Avenue and Meramec Station Road, which local residents respectively call “Old Town”. By the end of the 1960’s, 15 more homes were built on Boly Lane and Crescent Avenue. With the completion of Interstate 44 in 1972, a new phase of development was seen. The Birnamwood Condominiums Complex was built in 1976 consisting of 78 units along Birnamwood Trails Drive and Autumn Leaf Drive. By the end of 1983, approximately 43 single-family homes were built on Golden Oak Court and Autumn Leaf Drive. Then from 1983 to 2000, additional homes were added on Woodland Oaks Drive and Boly Lane.

In the 1980’s the Village annexed commercial property at the northeast and northwest corners of the intersection at Big Bend and old Highway 141. The State Highway Department purchased 10 homes for the widening and relocation of Highway 141, reducing the population. The oldest retail development is Big Bend Square, which opened in 1978. In the 1990’s, Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church was constructed just west of Big Bend Square.

In the early 1990’s, Twin Oaks acquired about 9 acres off Ann Avenue adjacent to Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church to create a “pedestrian park”. In 1994, the park opened with amenities including a pavilion, gazebo, playground, restrooms, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, lake and walking path. The Village sponsors a variety of annual events to include movie nights, family fun days, Easter egg hunts, dances and a fireworks display.

Commercial businesses are plentiful for such a small community to include 2 grocery stores, drug store, sit-down and fast-food establishments and a variety of service businesses such as banking, dental, construction, tutoring, framing, personalized monogramming, hair/nail care, dry cleaning and tax preparation.

Twin Oaks is a great place to live, work and raise a family with its combination of a small-town feel, suburban amenities and high level of services.

City Government

Twin Oaks is a Village comprised of a 5-member Board of Trustees, one of which who is elected to serve as Chairman by the respective Board members. It is a non-partisan legislative policy-making body, who each hold staggered 2 year terms.

The Village Administrator/Clerk is responsible for the day to day operation of the Village and to carry out all the Board of Trustees’ policies, directives and ordinances. This position is appointed, serving at the pleasure of the Chairman and Board of Trustees.

Board of Trustee Meetings are held in the Village office at 1190 Meramec Station Road, Suite 204 of the First Bank Building, Twin Oaks, Missouri, 63021, the first and third Wednesday of the month, beginning at 7:00pm. All Board meetings are open to the public and we encourage our residents to attend.

Statistics

Most of the information listed below is taken from the 2000 census.
Date Incorporated:                            May, 1938
Size:                                                    .27 square miles
Population:                                         362
Single or 2-Family Homes:             94
Multi-family Units:                              78
Police Services:                                 St. Louis County (contracted)
Fire Services:                                     Valley Park (63088) and West County Fire Protection District (63021)
School District:                                   Valley Park
Median Age:                                        46
Sales Tax Rate:                                  7.575%
Residential Tax Rate:                        0.0%
Commercial Tax Rate:                      0.0%
 

Schools  

All residents of Twin Oaks live in the Valley Park School District (K- 12)
One Main Street
Valley Park, Missouri 63088
Phone: 636-923-3690
Fax: 636-861-1002
Website: www.vp.K12.mo.us

Private Schools in the Area include:
Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Valley Park (Preschool - 8)
12 Ann Avenue
Valley Park, Missouri 63088
Phone: 636-225-3824
Fax: 636-225-6969
Website: www.sacredheartvp.org

Twin Oaks Christian School (Preschool - 8)
1230 Big Bend Road
Twin Oaks, Missouri 63021
Phone: 636-861-1901
Fax: 636-861-2084
Website: www.twinoakschristianschool.org

Taxes and Revenue Sources

Taxes included in all sales within the Village include:

• Sales Tax (1%)
• Capital Improvements Tax (0.5%)
• Stormwater and Local Park Tax (.50%)
• Additional Sales Tax (.25%)

Sources of Revenue for the Village include:

• Utility Gross Receipt Taxes
• Sales Taxes
• Intergovernmental Revenue
• Licensing and Permits
• State, Federal and Local Grants
• Miscellaneous Revenue

Emplyoment: