Looking Back: Twenty-Five Years Ago

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society    
 

     The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen were discussing some major issues in 1995. Included were the possible purchase of the Golden Strings Theater for a new City Hall, Police Department and Community Center; the possible purchase of the Valley Hills Golf Course on R. D. Mize Road, possible discussion of a water park swim center and other water facilities; and possible construction of a solid waste disposal plant.
     In 1995, Grain Valley had a population of 2,733 up from 1,890 in the 1990 census, an increase of 44% in the last five years. At the time O’Fallon, Missouri (near St. Louis) claimed to be the fastest growing city in the state with a 41 % increase. That is when Grain Valley realized they were growing!
     In 1994, overall building permits showed  $7.1 million in new residential and commercial construction. But through July 31, 1995, permits already totaled $7.7 million.
     Construction included $3.5 million for converting the Grain Valley Middle School into the first phase of Grain Valley High School which at the time had less than 400 students. And 1995 was when the first Casey’s General Store was built at a cost of $350,000.
     Some other happening in Grain Valley 25 years ago included:
     The Police Department received “Special Mention” for the decals on their police car from a contest sponsored by Law and Order magazine and the 3-M Company.
     After months of “talks” Grain Valley rejected a jail being built in our community.
     State Bank of Missouri purchased 9.8 acres of land from the Grain Valley School District at a cost of $230,000.  
     This allowed for construction of a new bank on land that was previously use by the school for their central office (In the old Armstrong Home), football stadium and bus garage.
     The following fall, Moody Murry Field was dedicated at the site of the new high school on Eagles’ Parkway.
     By 2000, the population had grown to just over 5,160 and by the 2010 census the population had reached 12,854.