As America Approaches 250: Maryville hit growth spurt following development
A view of Anderson Hospital during the 1980s (file photo)
By Kathy Turner • Much like Glen Carbon’s size seemed to double with the addition of Cottonwood Station, Maryville hit a growth spurt with a different type of development; it took off with the construction of Anderson Hospital.
Thoughts of building a hospital in the region started as far back as 1920 when Anna Cook offered land to build a hospital in Collinsville. The city, however, was unable to finance the project, so the idea died.
In the 1940s, the idea again came up when Collinsville proposed a tax levy to build and support a hospital. The levy did not pass. But an Edwardsville non-profit decided to donate a 10-acre site and the plans were again underway.
By the late 1940s, it was obvious that the fund drive for the building was not going to achieve its goal. Again, the idea to build a hospital fell by the wayside.
Edwardsville leaders resurrected the idea in the 1960s and tried again to receive approval of a tax-supported project. At the same time, Collinsville was looking into a hospital tied to St. Mary’s in East St. Louis. A site was secured but it did not have the support needed.
Collinsville and Edwardsville finally decided to join forces and set up a steering committee made up of residents from the two cities along with Maryville, Troy, Hamel, Glen Carbon and Caseyville. After many meetings with agencies that helped with hospital construction the group merged with another organization for a proposal.
A fund-raising campaign was started with a professional fundraising firm to help reach the $1 million goal in 1971. Finally, in 1972 more than $1.774 million had been raised. Construction began in April of 1974, and the hospital opened its doors in Maryville in 1977.
With the hospital came many new businesses, including physicians’ offices, dentists, labs, pharmacies and other practices affiliated with the hospital. And, as a result, people started moving into the open grounds surrounding Maryville. Some were affiliated with the hospital. Some were residents who liked the offerings of the medical facilities.
In 1960, the U.S. Census recorded Maryville’s population as 675. In 2020, the population was more than 8,200. In 2024, it was 8,352. Anderson Hospital has also grown and is currently expanding its emergency department again, this time named in the honor of Ralph Korte for his years of support of the hospital.
[Information taken from Anderson Hospital website and newspaper archives]
