Before being incorporated as a city, Kinloch was primarily an African-American community. The black population was a vibrant part of the community in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but by the 1980s, it had begun to decline, largely as a result of a noise-abatement program for the nearby Lambert International Airport. Between 1990 and 2000, Kinloch lost over 80 percent of its population and became an increasingly dangerous place to live. However, efforts have been made in recent years to rebuild this community. The city has grown around a large, central park, known as Kinloch Park. It was first developed in the 1890s.
The first major economic development in Kinloch was the town's airfield. The Wright Brothers' first presidential plane flew from Kinloch, which took only three minutes. By 1911, Kinloch was shipping airmail and hosting Charles Lindbergh as he prepared for his transatlantic flight. The town was a popular tourist destination, and many locals were employed in the airfield. Its population was 449 at the time, and some considered it to be a dying town.