About Brentwood

The City of Brentwood is a community of 8,200 residents, boasting a unique blend of quality residential neighborhoods and one of the most thriving business districts in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Located within minutes of downtown St. Louis, Brentwood is known as the “City of Warmth” because of its small-town charm and friendly atmosphere.

This city of just two square miles offers so much: high-quality housing; beautiful neighborhoods; ample parks and walking trails; top-notch city services; a vibrant business community; premium lodging, retail and dining opportunities; an exceptional school district; and a state-of-the-art Recreation Complex with meeting rooms, an indoor ice rink, sports leagues, and fitness and educational activities for all ages. 

Nestled in the heart of St. Louis County, Brentwood’s living options include single-family homes, condominium developments, and apartments. The city is home to a wide array of businesses, from one-person shops to large retailers including Target and Whole Foods.

In a 2023 Niche.com ranking of the best places to live in Missouri, Brentwood was ranked number 4. Niche.com rates locations’ overall quality using several key factors, including crime rates, quality of schools, housing trends, employment statistics, and access to amenities. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report selected Brentwood High School as one of the Best High Schools in the country. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education named Brentwood’s Mark Twain Elementary as a 2017 Gold Star School.

Brentwood is an outstanding community in which to live, work, shop and play.

Governance

The City of Brentwood operates with a City Administrator form of government. A mayor and eight-member Board of Aldermen serve as the city's legislative body. Each of the four city wards elects two alderpersons to serve two-year staggered terms. The Mayor appoints alderpersons and/or citizens to serve on various boards and commissions.

History of Brentwood

The City of Brentwood celebrated its Centennial in 2019. Brentwood’s rich history stretches back more than 200 years. In 1804, Louis J. Bompart arrived in the area and purchased 1,600 acres of land. Later, the Marshall family acquired property just west of that, and the Gay family bought land to the north – together completing the boundaries of what is now the City of Brentwood. 

Thomas Madden arrived in the early 1870s, purchasing 100 acres within the existing boundaries to establish his farm. The area continued to grow, attracting new families to the settlement. Madden was recognized as the entrepreneur of the community as he operated a rock quarry, tavern, barbershop, grocery store and blacksmith shop. His well-known presence in the town led to its original name, Maddenville.

Maddenville served as one of the original stops along the “Manchester Trail,” a westward route regularly traveled by prairie schooners and mail coaches in the late 1800s. While some of these travelers stayed in town for a short rest between stops, others chose to remain. The community continued to prosper, especially with the advent of rail service via the Missouri Pacific and the invention of the automobile.

In 1919, Maddenville residents discovered that neighboring Maplewood was preparing to annex their town. To avoid annexation and maintain a separate identity, residents officially incorporated as a village on December 15, 1919 – ultimately changing the name from Maddenville to Brentwood.