Although Shrewsbury was officially platted in 1889, the city wasn’t incorporated until 1913. In that same year, a concerned resident by the name of Joseph Burge organized the Shrewsbury Improvement Association and the city’s sanitation system was established.

The ensuing years saw much development for the city. In 1938, land was acquired for a new city hall, replacing the original 1912 hall. Shrewsbury’s new firehouse was dedicated in 1947. Also during this period, the Shrewsbury Garden Club was founded for the purpose of maintaining the flowers and trees in the city. In the 1960s and ’70s, city parks, Interstate 44 and a municipal pool were constructed. More development came in the 1980s and ’90s when homes, condominiums, shopping areas, apartments and the new City Center were built.

Shrewsbury residents have endless advantages, including access to high-quality parks and recreation areas, award-winning education and proximity to an exciting big city. The Shrewsbury Parks and Recreation Department maintains four beautiful parks: Wehner Park, Brinkop Park, Hartry Park and Ackfeld Park. Wehner is the largest at 31.8 acres and contains three ball fields, one soccer field, two playgrounds, two tennis courts and two pavilions. Brinkop is just west of the Nottingham and Laurella intersection and boasts a new playground and walking trail. Hartry and Ackfeld parks have multi-purpose courts and playgrounds.

Students in Shrewsbury are served by the excellent Webster Groves School District. The district’s Board of Education was named Missouri’s Outstanding Board of Education for 2003 by the Missouri School Boards’s Association. A school board must contribute in the areas of community engagement, student achievement, local board initiatives, achievement of district goals and district accreditation to be considered for this award. The Webster Groves School District includes ten elementary and high schools. For post-secondary education, the city of Shrewsbury is close to prestigious Washington University, St. Louis Community College, Saint Louis University, University of Missouri – St. Louis and Webster University.

The nearby city of St. Louis, home to the Cardinals, the Blues and the Rams, is also home to thrilling nightlife, delicious cuisine and stimulating culture. Whether you’re looking for hot clubs, sports bars or riverboat gaming, St. Louis is your town. Oh, and don’t forget the music: there are more working blues musicians in St. Louis than any other place in the world. Food is also no problem in this city: St. Louis is famous for its “thousand one-of-a-kind restaurants.” In terms of culture, the city has a never-ending supply of museums, art galleries, theaters and wineries.

Shrewsbury residents have the satisfaction of living a traditional small town life while taking advantage of all the opportunities of one of America’s greatest big cities.