Legend has it that before the Civil War, a young lieutenant named Robert E. Lee, who was stationed in St. Louis with the Army Corps of Engineers, came upon land that today is known as Richmond Heights. He was struck by its beauty and remarked how much it reminded him of the city of Richmond in his home state of Virginia. "Heights" was added later because the land is among the highest in St. Louis County.

Local history buffs link the city’s development with a large piece of property once owned by Frederick Neisen, a wealthy St. Louis real estate man. He purchased property from Arman Francois Robert, the Count of Giverville of the Cabanne family. In 1892, Neisen built a "mansion" at what is now Dale and Bellevue Avenues. Several other families joined him there over the next decade.

The 1904 World’s Fair attracted a developer named John Rankin Dyer, who bought 120 acres south of Neisen’s property. Together, they built many more homes.

Richmond Heights was officially incorporated on December 29, 1913, with a population of 500.

Among the prominent people who have called Richmond Heights their home are aviator Charles Lindbergh; engineer Leif Sverdrup; rock ‘n’ roller Chuck Berry; sportscaster Jack Buck; and sculptor Ernest Trova.

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