The City of Hazelwood was originally incorporated as the Village of Hazelwood, on September 7, 1949. However, this area of the Florissant Valley has a proud and rich heritage dating back to Indian settlements in 4000 B.C. French explorers were the first to venture into the area in the late 1600's, with the French being the first to settle in the region and the Spanish settlers in the late 1700's. In 1797 a wagon train of American settlers made their way to the area from Virginia, Kentucky and the Deep South.

When industry and business began locating in the valley, the city of Florissant tried to annex what is now Hazelwood. However, a group of determined farmers did not want that to happen and banded together in 1944 to fight the annexation. Although the "battle" seemed a mismatch, the farmers won and on September 26, 1949, The Village of Hazelwood Board of Trustees met for the first time in the Elm Grove Schoolhouse now known as the little red schoolhouse.

Hazelwood has grown substantially since then and an election for Home Rule by Charter was held and passed overwhelmingly in October 1969.

Today, we are one of the largest cities in St. Louis County and home to nearly 27,000 residents and more than 800 businesses, including 12 Fortune 500 companies, six Fortune 1,000 companies and 10 corporate headquarters.

The City of Hazelwood is a Home rule Charter City, governed by a Council/Manager form of government, with an elected mayor and eight council members representing eight wards. The City Manager is the administrative officer.

External Vision Statement

Effectively Providing Valuable Services

It is the City of Hazelwood's External Vision that we provide valuable services for those who live, work and visit our Community, and that we, our residents and businesses, work together as a strong unit.

The City's Services and Actions Will:

Be performed as quickly as possible without compromising the City's commitment to providing a high quality of service.
Be innovative and proactive to creatively meet and anticipate the City's needs in the most effective way possible.
Be performed in a manner that represents the City's care for and value of the many diverse individuals who compose our Community.
Be communicated to those on our City so that they may be educated, aware and have an understanding of what our city does and how it works.
Not detract from the safe, healthy and enjoyable City we strive to build and enhance.

Internal Vision Statement

Working Together and Growing Together

It is the City of Hazelwood's Vision that it provide it's employees a united and cooperative atmosphere conducive to each individual's growth and needs.

To Achieve This We Must:

Communicate and cooperate vertically and horizontally to develop an atmosphere conducive to involving ourselves in the City's activities. This includes being approachable, being open to change, and recognizing and utilizing each individual's diverse talents.
Provide ourselves with the knowledge, resources and time to do our jobs well while fostering an atmosphere of trust, mutual respect and support where proper recognition is given when deserved.
Provide an atmosphere for job satisfaction, security, excellent benefits, job enrichment and personal growth in which we keep current in our professions.
Develop and maintain a pleasant City environment workplace.
Take pride in our work and believe that our work is important so that we may develop and maintain our self-esteem.
Maintain a consistency in our standards.
Strive to safely provide efficient, effective and professional service.