The area that became Wildwood had a long and rich history before the City's incorporation on September 1, 1995. This history begins with the earliest of settlers, nomadic Native Americans, who lived near the major streams and rivers, to some of the first settlers, whom many of the area's streets and roadways are named after them till this day. 

The City's Historic Preservation Commission has compiled concise descriptions of these historic areas that ultimately formed, and defined, much of the character of Wildwood and the surrounding area. These descriptions are embedded in the City's landscape at historical locations (see maps below) via Historic Markers, a project that was honored in 2022 with a McReynold's Award by Missouri Preservation, the state's non-profit historic preservation organization.  

More about Wildwood's Eleven Historic Communities:

• Centaur
• Fox Creek
• Glencoe
• Grover
• Hollow
• Kelpe
• Melrose
• Monarch
• Orrville
• Pond
• Westland Acres

More About Wildwood's Other Historic Areas:

The City's newest historic marker honors the men in our area who served in the United States Colored Troops, many of whom resided in the community that once existed around present-day Madison Valley (formerly Old Slave Road) and Wild Horse Creek Road (formerly the Coleman and Tyler Plantations):

• More about Madison Valley (formerly Old Slave Road) and the Coleman and Tyler Plantations