Before 1989, the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood had been known by various names over the years. Originally, the area was known as Rock Spring, named for the large spring that was the principal source of the Mill Creek. Rock Spring drew a large crowd from the central city and became a resort where they could get away from the urban grind. The demographics of the area changed drastically, though, with the arrival of the Pacific Railway and the influx of industry that followed (www.stlouis.missouri.org). The construction of the Missouri Pacific railroad tracks and Manchester Road to Jefferson City in the 1850s made FPSE accessible.
However, Forest Park Southeast was developed primarily at the turn of the 20th century. The neighborhood was originally marketed as the city's first "subdivision" and was popular because of its convenient proximity to downtown and industry. Much of the housing development occurred prior to 1915 with infill activity occurring throughout the succeeding decades. Commercial development occurred primarily between 1930 and 1950.
The Neighborhood is bounded by Highway 64/40 on the north; Kingshighway Boulevard to the west; the Missouri Pacific Railroad Tracks on the south and Vandeventer Avenue to the east.