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Coordinates: 38°37′38″N 90°11′52″W / 38.62722°N 90.19778°W / 38.62722; -90.19778
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{{About|the city in Missouri, United States}}
{{otheruses4|the independent city|the surrounding counties|St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area}}
{{Pp-move}}
{{Infobox City |official_name = St. Louis, Missouri
{{Pp-semi-indef}}
|nickname = Gateway City", "Gateway to the West", or "Mound City
{{More citations needed|date=July 2024}}
|website = http://stlouis.missouri.org/
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
|image_flag = Saint Louis, Missouri flag.svg
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
|image_seal = Stl cityseal.jpg
{{Infobox settlement
|image_map = MOMap-doton-Saint Louis.png
| name = St. Louis
|map_caption = Location in the state of [[Missouri]]
| settlement_type = [[Independent city (United States)|Independent city]]
|subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]<br> [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]<br> [[List of counties in Missouri|County]]
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]<br>[[Missouri]]<br>[[Independent City]]
| total_width = 300
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| border = infobox
|leader_name = [[Francis G. Slay]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| perrow = 1,2,2,1
|area_magnitude = 1 E8
| caption_align = center
|area_total = 66.2 mi² - 171.3
| image1 = Runner Fountain and Old Courthouse and Arch (5618845531).jpg
|area_land = 61.9 mi² - 160.4
| caption1 = The [[Old Courthouse (St. Louis)|Old Courthouse]] and [[Gateway Arch]] in [[Downtown St. Louis]]
|area_water = 4.2 mi² - 11.0
| image2 = St. Louis Art Museum.JPG
|population_as_of = 2005
| caption2 = [[Saint Louis Art Museum]]
|population_total = 352,572
| image3 = Busch Pano 2022.jpg
|population_metro = 2,764,054
| caption3 = [[Busch Stadium]]
|population_density = 5,695.8/mi² - 2,224.9
| image4 = Climatron - panoramio.jpg
|timezone = [[Central Standard Time Zone|CST]]
| caption4 = [[Missouri Botanical Garden]]
|utc_offset = -6
| image5 = St. Louis Union Station (17577826564).jpg
|timezone_DST = [[Central Daylight Time|CDT]]
| caption5 = [[St. Louis Union Station|Union Station]]
|utc_offset_DST = -5
}}
|latd = 38
| image_flag = Flag of St. Louis, Missouri.svg
|latm = 38
| image_seal = Seal of St. Louis, Missouri.svg
|lats = 53
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of St. Louis, Missouri.svg
|latNS = N
| blank_emblem_type = Logo
|longd = 90
| nickname = "Gateway to the West",<ref name="Globosapiens.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.globosapiens.net/travel-information/St.+Louis-698.html|title=St. Louis United States – Visiting the Gateway to the West|publisher=Globosapiens.net|access-date=March 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515090544/http://www.globosapiens.net/travel-information/St.+Louis-698.html |archive-date=May 15, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Gateway City,<ref name="Globosapiens.net"/> Mound City,<ref>[http://www.slpl.org/slpl/interests/article240099632.asp St. Louis Public Library on "Mound City"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001231020/http://www.slpl.org/slpl/interests/article240099632.asp|date=October 1, 2008}}.</ref> The Lou,<ref>
|longm = 12
[https://archive.today/20080522094145/http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-editors-desk/the-editors-desk/2008/05/offended-by-the-lou/ STLtoday.com on "The Lou"].</ref> Rome of the West,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.romeofthewest.com/ |title=Rome of the West |publisher=Stltoday.com |access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810033358/http://www.romeofthewest.com/|archive-date=August 10, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> River City, The STL, St. Lou
|longs = 44
| image_map = {{maplink
|longEW = W
| frame = yes
|elevation = 141.7
| plain = yes
|footnotes =
| frame-align = center
| frame-width = 290
| frame-height = 290
| frame-coord = {{coord|38.6386|-90.2463}}
| zoom = 10
| type = shape
| marker = city
| stroke-width = 2
| stroke-color = #0096FF
| fill = #0096FF
| id2 = Q38022
| type2 = shape-inverse
| stroke-width2 = 2
| stroke-color2 = #5F5F5F
| stroke-opacity2 = 0
| fill2 = #000000
| fill-opacity2 = 0
}}
| map_caption = Interactive map of St. Louis
| pushpin_map = Missouri#USA
| pushpin_relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|38|37|38|N|90|11|52|W|region:US-MO_type:city(302,000)|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Missouri]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Combined statistical area|CSA]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Greater St. Louis|St. Louis–St. Charles–Farmington, MO–IL]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Metropolitan statistical area|Metro]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[St. Louis, MO-IL MSA|St. Louis, MO-IL]]
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = February 14, 1764
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2 = 1822
| named_for = [[Louis IX of France]]
| government_type = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
| governing_body = [[St. Louis Board of Aldermen|Board of Aldermen]]
| leader_title = [[Mayor of St. Louis|Mayor]]
| leader_name = [[Tishaura Jones]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title1 = [[St. Louis Board of Aldermen|President, Board of Aldermen]]
| leader_name1 = [[Megan Green]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title2 = [[Treasurer]]
| leader_name2 = Adam Layne
| leader_title3 = [[Comptroller]]
| leader_name3 = Darlene Green ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title4 = [[United States House of Representatives|Congressional representative]]
| leader_name4 = [[Cori Bush]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 171.39
| area_total_sq_mi = 66.17
| area_land_km2 = 159.85
| area_land_sq_mi = 61.72
| area_water_km2 = 11.53
| area_water_sq_mi = 4.45
| area_urban_sq_mi = 910.4
| area_urban_km2 = 2,357.8
| area_metro_sq_mi = 8,458
| area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 28, 2022|archive-date=January 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119173812/https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|url-status=live}}</ref>
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="St. Louis Elevation">{{cite web|title=St. Louis City, Missouri – Population Finder – American FactFinder|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=106:3:3712217792123411::NO::P3_FID:765765|date=October 24, 1980|access-date=December 23, 2008|archive-date=January 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122161856/https://geonames.usgs.gov/login/index.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
| elevation_ft = 466
| elevation_max_footnotes = <ref name="St. Louis elevation 2">{{cite web|title=Elevations and Distances in the United States|url=http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb//pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html|website=U.S. Geological Survey|publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior — U.S. Geological Survey|access-date=October 17, 2016|date=April 29, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109183109/http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb//pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html|archive-date=November 9, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_total = 301578
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est = 293310
| pop_est_as_of = 2021
| pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2021"/>
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
| population_density_sq_mi = 4886.23
| population_density_km2 = 1886.59
| population_urban = 2156323 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|22nd]])
| population_density_urban_km2 = 914.5
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 2,368.6
| population_metro = 2809299 (US: [[Metropolitan statistical area|21st]])
| population_rank = US: [[List of United States cities by population|76th]]<br>Midwest: 13th<br>Missouri: 2nd
| population_blank2_title = [[Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
| population_blank2 = 2914230 (US: [[Combined statistical area|20th]])
| population_demonym = St. Louisan; Saint Louisan
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title= Total Gross Domestic Product for St. Louis, MO-IL (MSA) |url= https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP41180 |website= fred.stlouisfed.org |access-date= December 7, 2023 |archive-date= October 9, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231009234549/https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP41180 |url-status= live }}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Greater St. Louis
| demographics2_info1 = $209.9 billion (2022)
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code = {{collapsible list
| title = List
| frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
| list_style = display:none
|63101–63141<br />63143–63147<br />63150–63151<br />63155–63158<br />63160<br />63163–63164<br />63166–63167<br />63169<br />63171<br />63177–63180<br />63182<br />63188<br />63190<br />63195<br />63197–63199}}
| area_code = [[Area code 314|314/557]]
| area_code_type = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| timezone = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset = −6
| timezone_DST = [[Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = −5
| elevation_max_ft = 614
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 29-65000
| website = {{URL|https://stlouis-mo.gov}}
| footnotes =
}}
}}


'''St. Louis''' ({{IPAc-en|s|eɪ|n|t|_|ˈ|l|uː|ᵻ|s|,_|s|ən|t|-}} {{respell|saynt|_|LOO|iss|,_|sənt|-}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saint%20louis|title=Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster|access-date=July 23, 2020|archive-date=October 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022075756/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saint%20louis|url-status=live}}</ref> is an [[Independent city (United States)|independent city]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Missouri]]. It is located near the [[confluence]] of the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]] and the [[Missouri River|Missouri]] rivers. In 2020, the [[city proper]] had a population of 301,578,<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile/St._Louis_city,_Missouri?g=1600000US2965000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602183509/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile/St._Louis_city,_Missouri?g=1600000US2965000 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=October 7, 2022 }}</ref> while [[Greater St. Louis|its metropolitan area]], which extends into [[Illinois]], had an estimated population of over 2.8 million. It is the [[List of metropolitan areas of Missouri|largest metropolitan area in Missouri]] and the second-largest in Illinois. The city's [[combined statistical area]] is the 20th-largest in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals: 2020-2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Census.gov |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629175327/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
'''St. Louis''' (pronounced {{IPA|/seɪntˈluːɪs/}} in [[English language|English]], [[Image:ltspkr.png]][[Media:Saint-Louis.ogg|{{IPA|/sɛ̃ lwi/}}]] in [[French language|French]]), sometimes written '''Saint Louis''', encompasses an [[independent city]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Missouri]] (the "City of St. Louis") and its [[metropolitan area]] ([[St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area|Greater St. Louis]]). This area includes counties in the states of [[Missouri]] and [[Illinois]]; it is the 18th largest in the [[United States]] with a population of 2,698,672 as of the [[United States 2000 census|2000 census]]. According to the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA), the 2004 population is approximately 2,764,054.


The land that became St. Louis had been occupied by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] cultures for thousands of years before [[European colonization of the Americas|European settlement]]. The city was founded on February 14, 1764, by French fur traders [[Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent]], [[Pierre Laclède]], and [[Auguste Chouteau]].<ref name="Cazorla et al">Cazorla, Frank; Baena, Rose; Polo, David; and Reder Gadow, Marion. (2019) ''The governor Louis de Unzaga (1717–1793) Pioneer in the Birth of the United States of America''. Foundation, Malaga, pages 49, 57–65, 70–75, 150, 207</ref> They named it for King [[Louis IX of France]], and it quickly became the regional center of the French [[Illinois Country]]. In 1804, the United States acquired St. Louis as part of the [[Louisiana Purchase]]. In the 19th century, St. Louis developed as a major port on the Mississippi River; from 1870 until the 1920 census, it was the fourth-largest city in the country. It separated from [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]] in 1877, becoming an [[independent city]] and limiting its political boundaries. In 1904, it hosted the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition]], also known as the St. Louis World's Fair, and the [[1904 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=History: Physical Growth of the City of St. Louis |publisher=St. Louis City Planning Commission |year=1969}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A Brief History of St. Louis |url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/visit-play/stlouis-history.cfm |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=stlouis-mo.gov |language=en |archive-date=July 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726081313/https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/visit-play/stlouis-history.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref>
The city, which is named after [[Louis IX of France|Louis IX]] of [[France]], is adjacent to, but not part of, [[St. Louis County, Missouri]] and has a population of 352,572. St. Louis has the state's largest metropolitan area population. In relation to the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] region, the City of St. Louis is the 10th largest city in population (between Minneapolis, Minnesota and Wichita, Kansas).


St. Louis is designated as one of 173 [[global city|global cities]] by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=GaWC - The World According to GaWC 2020 |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/microsites/geography/gawc/world2020t.html |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=www.lboro.ac.uk |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316190541/https://www.lboro.ac.uk/microsites/geography/gawc/world2020t.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The GDP of Greater St. Louis was $209.9 billion in 2022.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Total Gross Domestic Product for St. Louis, MO-IL (MSA) |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP41180 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis |archive-date=October 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009234549/https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP41180 |url-status=live }}</ref> St. Louis has a diverse economy with strengths in the service, manufacturing, trade, transportation, and aviation industries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commerce and Industry {{!}} UMSL |url=https://www.umsl.edu/searches/stl/commerce.html |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=www.umsl.edu |archive-date=December 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208035741/https://www.umsl.edu/searches/stl/commerce.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It is home to sixteen [[Fortune 1000|''Fortune'' 1000]] companies, six of which are also [[Fortune 500|''Fortune'' 500]] companies.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=6 St. Louis-area companies make Fortune 500 ranking, down from 7 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2024/06/05/6-st-louis-area-companies-make-2024-fortune-500.html |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> Federal agencies headquartered in the city or with significant operations there include the [[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]], the [[United States Department of Agriculture|U.S. Department of Agriculture]], and the [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]].
The city has several common [[nickname]]s, including the "Gateway City", "Gateway to the West", "Baseball City USA", and "Mound City". St. Louis is also sometimes called "St. Louie", "River City" or "Baseball Heaven". Alternatively, many young people who live in St. Louis have begun to call it "The 'Lou". Another popular synonym for St. Louis is "The STL" in reference to the airport code for the city (STL) and a long-standing use of an interlocked S, T and L by the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] baseball team.

Major [[Research university|research universities]] in Greater St. Louis include [[Washington University in St. Louis]], [[Saint Louis University]],<!-- "Saint Louis University" is never abbreviated. --> and the [[University of Missouri–St. Louis]]. The [[Washington University Medical Center]] in the [[Central West End, St. Louis|Central West End]] neighborhood hosts an agglomeration of [[List of hospitals in St. Louis|medical and pharmaceutical institutions]], including [[Barnes-Jewish Hospital]].

St. Louis has [[Sports in St. Louis|four professional sports teams]]: the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] of [[Major League Baseball]], the [[St. Louis Blues]] of the [[National Hockey League]], [[St. Louis City SC]] of [[Major League Soccer]], and the [[St. Louis BattleHawks]] of the [[United Football League (2024)|United Football League]]. The city's attractions include the {{convert|630|ft|m|adj=mid|0}} [[Gateway Arch]] in [[Downtown St. Louis]], the [[St. Louis Zoo]], the [[Missouri Botanical Garden]], the [[St. Louis Art Museum]], and [[Bellefontaine Cemetery]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fox2now.com/2018/05/04/st-louis-zoo-named-best-zoo-and-wins-best-zoo-exhibit-in-readers-choice-awards/|title=St. Louis Zoo named 'Best Zoo' and wins 'Best Zoo Exhibit' in Readers' Choice Awards|date=May 4, 2018|website=FOX2now.com|language=en|access-date=August 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802221146/https://fox2now.com/2018/05/04/st-louis-zoo-named-best-zoo-and-wins-best-zoo-exhibit-in-readers-choice-awards/|archive-date=August 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://arbnet.org/morton-register/bellefontaine-cemetery-and-arboretum|title=Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum Level II Accreditation Listing|website=arbnet.org/morton-register/bellefontaine-cemetery-and-arboretum|access-date=December 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125022302/http://www.arbnet.org/morton-register/bellefontaine-cemetery-and-arboretum|archive-date=November 25, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
{{main|History of St. Louis, Missouri}}
{{Main|History of St. Louis}}
{{For timeline}}
===Mississippian culture and European exploration===
{{Quote box |width=20em |align=right|bgcolor=#B0C4DE
|title=Historical affiliations
|fontsize=90% |quote={{flag|Kingdom of France}} 1690s–1763<br />{{flag|Kingdom of Spain|1785}} 1763–1800<br />{{flag|French First Republic}} 1800–1803<br />{{flag|United States|1804}} 1803–present
}}
[[File:Old_Chouteau_Mansion,_St._Louis._Mo_(cropped).jpg|thumb|The home of [[Auguste Chouteau]] is in St. Louis. [[Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent]],<ref name="Cazorla et al"/> Chouteau, and [[Pierre Laclède]] founded St. Louis in 1764.]]
{{Main|History of St. Louis before 1762}}
The area that became St. Louis was a center of the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] [[Mississippian culture]], which built numerous temple and residential [[Earthwork (archaeology)|earthwork]] [[Mound builder (people)|mounds]] on both sides of the Mississippi River. Their major regional center was at [[Cahokia Mounds]], active from 900 to 1500. Due to numerous major [[earthworks (engineering)|earthworks]] within St. Louis boundaries, the city was nicknamed as the "Mound City". These mounds were mostly demolished during the city's development. Historic Native American tribes in the area encountered by early Europeans included the [[Siouan]]-speaking [[Osage people]], whose territory extended west, and the [[Illiniwek]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}


European exploration of the area was first recorded in 1673, when French explorers [[Louis Jolliet]] and [[Jacques Marquette]] traveled through the Mississippi River valley. Five years later, [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle|La Salle]] claimed the region for France as part of [[Louisiana (New France)|La Louisiane]], also known as [[Louisiana]]. The earliest European settlements in the [[Illinois Country]] (also known as Upper Louisiana) were built by the French during the 1690s and early 1700s at [[Cahokia, Illinois|Cahokia]], [[Kaskaskia, Illinois|Kaskaskia]], and [[Fort de Chartres]]. Migrants from the French villages on the east side of the [[Mississippi River]], such as Kaskaskia, also founded [[Ste. Genevieve, Missouri|Ste. Genevieve]] in the 1730s.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
Prior to the arrival of [[France|French]] explorers in [[1673]] the area that would become St. Louis was a major center of the [[Mississippian culture|Mississippian]] [[Mound Builders|mound builders]]. The presence of numerous mounds, now almost all destroyed, earned the later city the nickname of "Mound City."


In 1764, after France lost the [[Seven Years' War]], [[Pierre Laclède]] and his stepson [[Auguste Chouteau]] founded what was to become the city of St. Louis.<ref>Hoffhaus. (1984). ''Chez Les Canses: Three Centuries at Kawsmouth'', Kansas City: Lowell Press. {{ISBN|0-913504-91-2}}.</ref> (French lands east of the Mississippi had been ceded to [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] and the lands west of the Mississippi to Spain; Catholic France and Spain were 18th-century allies. [[Louis XV of France]] and [[Charles III of Spain]] were cousins, both from the House of Bourbon.<ref>[[Pacte de Famille#The third Pacte de Famille]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=August 2019}}) The French families built the city's economy on the [[fur trade]] with the Osage, and with more distant tribes along the [[Missouri River]]. The Chouteau brothers gained a monopoly from Spain on the fur trade with [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]]. French colonists used [[History of slavery in Missouri|African slaves]] as domestic servants and workers in the city.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
===City founding and early history===
European exploration of the area had begun nearly a century before the city was founded. [[Louis Joliet]] and [[Jacques Marquette]], both French, traveled through the [[Mississippi River]] valley in [[1673]], and five years later, [[René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle|La Salle]] claimed the entire valley for [[France]]. He called it "Louisiana" after King [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]]; the French also called their region "[[Illinois Country]]." In 1699, a settlement was established across the river from what is now St. Louis, at [[Cahokia, Illinois|Cahokia]]. Other early settlements were downriver at [[Kaskaskia, Illinois|Kaskaskia]], Prairie du Pont, [[Fort de Chartres]], and [[Sainte Genevieve, Missouri|Sainte Genevieve]]. In 1703, Catholic priests established a small mission at what is now St. Louis. The mission was later moved across the Mississippi, but the small river at the site (now a drainage channel near the southern boundary of the City of St. Louis) still bears the name "River Des Peres" (River of the Fathers).


During the negotiations for the 1763 [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]], French negotiators agreed to transfer France's colonial territories west of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to [[New Spain]] to compensate for Spanish territorial losses during the war. These areas remained under Spanish control until 1803, when they were transferred to the [[French First Republic]]. During the [[American Revolutionary War]], St. Louis was unsuccessfully attacked by British-allied Native Americans in the 1780 [[Battle of St. Louis]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010223093542/http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/attack.htm ''www.usgennet.org''.] Attack On St. Louis: May 26, 1780.</ref>
In 1763, [[Pierre Laclède]], his 13-year-old "stepson" [[René Auguste Chouteau|Auguste Chouteau]], and a small band of men traveled up the Mississippi from [[New Orleans]]. In November, they landed a few miles downstream of the river's confluence with the [[Missouri River]] at a site where wooded limestone bluffs rose 40 feet above the river. The men returned to Fort de Chartres for the winter, but in February, Laclede sent Chouteau and 30 men to begin construction. The settlement was established on [[February 15]], 1764.


===Founding===
The settlement began to grow quickly after word arrived that the 1763 [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]] had given England all the land east of the Mississippi. Frenchmen who had settled to the river's east moved across the water to "Laclede's Village." Other early settlements were established nearby at [[Saint Charles, Missouri|Saint Charles]], Carondelet (now a part of the city of St. Louis), Fleurissant (renamed Saint Ferdinand under the Spaniards and now [[Florissant]]), and [[Portage Des Sioux, Missouri|Portage des Sioux]]. In 1765, St. Louis was made the capital of Upper Louisiana.
{{Main|History of St. Louis (1763–1803)}}
The founding of St. Louis was preceded by a trading business between [[Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent]] and [[Pierre Laclède|Pierre Laclède (Liguest)]] in late 1763. St. Maxent invested in a Mississippi River expedition led by Laclède, who searched for a location to base the company's fur trading operations. Though [[Ste. Genevieve, Missouri|Ste. Genevieve]] was already established as a trading center, he sought a place less prone to flooding. He found an elevated area overlooking the flood plain of the Mississippi River, not far south from its confluence with the Missouri and Illinois rivers. In addition to having an advantageous natural drainage system, there were nearby forested areas to supply timber and grasslands which could easily be converted for agricultural purposes. Laclède declared that this place "might become, hereafter, one of the finest cities in America". He dispatched his 14-year-old stepson, [[Auguste Chouteau]], to the site, with the support of 30 settlers in February 1764.<ref name="wade3">{{cite book |last1=Wade |first1=Richard C.|title=The Urban Frontier: The Rise of Western Cities, 1790–1830 |date=1959 |location=Cambridge |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=0-252-06422-4 |pages=3–4|edition=1996 Illini Books}}</ref>


Laclède arrived at the future town site two months later and produced a plan for St. Louis based on the New Orleans street plan. The default block size was 240 by 300 feet, with just three long avenues running parallel to the west bank of the Mississippi. He established a public corridor of 300 feet fronting the river, but later this area was released for private development.<ref name=wade3/>
[[Image:Apotheosis-of-saint-louis.jpg|thumb|right|margin:0 0 1em 1em|228px|''[[Apotheosis]] of Saint Louis'', a [[bronze]] statue of the city's namesake on horseback, was widely used as a symbol of the city before construction of the Arch.]]
[[Image:stl15.jpg|thumb|right|margin:0 0 1em 1em|228px|An aerial view of downtown looking south.]]
From 1766 to 1768, St. Louis was governed by the French lieutenant governor, Louis Saint Ange de Bellerive. After 1768, St. Louis was governed by a [[List of commandants of the Illinois Country|series of Spanish governors]], whose administration continued even after Louisiana was secretly returned to France in 1800 by the [[Third Treaty of San Ildefonso|Treaty of San Ildefonso]]. The town's population was then about a thousand.


[[File:St-louis-attack.jpg|thumb|alt=This photograph of a mural titled ''Indian Attack on the Village of St. Louis'', 1780, depicts the Battle of St. Louis.|The mural ''Indian Attack on the Village of St. Louis'', 1780, depicts that during the American Revolutionary War, St. Louis was unsuccessfully attacked by British-allied Native Americans in the [[Battle of St. Louis]] in 1780.]]
St. Louis was acquired from France by the [[United States]] under [[President of the United States|President]] [[Thomas Jefferson]] in [[1803]], as part of the [[Louisiana Purchase]]. The transfer of power from Spain was made official in a ceremony called "Three Flags Day." On [[March 8]] [[1804]], the Spanish flag was lowered and the French one raised. On [[March 10]], the French flag was replaced by the United States flag.
For the city's first few years, it was not recognized by any governments. Although the settlement was thought to be under the control of the Spanish government, no one asserted any authority over it, and thus St. Louis had no local government. This vacuum led Laclède to assume civil control, and all problems were disposed in public settings, such as communal meetings. In addition, Laclède granted new settlers lots in town and the surrounding countryside. In hindsight, many of these original settlers thought of these first few years as "the golden age of St. Louis".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Van Ravenswaay |first1=Charles |title=St. Louis: An Informal History of the City and Its People, 1764-1865 |date=1991 |publisher=Missouri History Museum |isbn=9780252019159 |pages=26}}</ref> In 1763, the Native Americans in the region around St. Louis began expressing dissatisfaction with the victorious British, objecting to their refusal to continue to the French tradition of supplying gifts to Natives. Odawa chieftain [[Pontiac (Odawa leader)|Pontiac]] began forming a pan-tribal alliance to counter British control over the region but received little support from the indigenous residents of St. Louis. By 1765, the city began receiving visits from representatives of the British, French, and Spanish governments.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}


St. Louis was transferred to the [[French First Republic]] in 1800 (although all of the colonial lands continued to be administered by Spanish officials), then sold by the French to the U.S. in 1803 as part of the [[Louisiana Purchase]]. St. Louis became the capital of, and gateway to, the new territory. Shortly after [[Three Flags Day|the official transfer of authority]] was made, the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson. The expedition departed from St. Louis in May 1804 along the Missouri River to explore the vast territory. There were hopes of finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean, but the party had to go overland in the Upper West. They reached the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia River in summer 1805. They returned, reaching St. Louis on September 23, 1806. Both Lewis and Clark lived in St. Louis after the expedition. Many other explorers, settlers, and trappers (such as [[Ashley's Hundred]]) would later take a similar route to the West.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
===19th Century expansion and growth===
The [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] left the St. Louis area in May 1804, reached the [[Pacific Ocean]] in the summer of 1805, and returned on [[23 September]] [[1806]]. Many other explorers, settlers, and trappers (such as [[Ashley's Hundred]]) would later take a similar route to the West. Missouri became a state in 1820. St. Louis was incorporated as a city on [[December 9]] [[1822]]. A U.S. arsenal was constructed at St. Louis in 1827.


===19th century===
The steamboat era began in St. Louis on [[July 27]] [[1817]], with the arrival of the "[[Zebulon M. Pike]]." Rapids north of the city made St. Louis the northernmost navigable port for many large boats, and "Pike" and her sisters soon transformed St. Louis into a bustling boomtown, commercial center, and inland port. By the 1850s, St. Louis had become the largest U.S. city west of Pittsburgh, and the second-largest port in the country, with a commercial tonnage exceeded only by New York.
{{Main|History of St. Louis (1804–1865)|History of St. Louis (1866–1904)}}
{{see also|St. Louis in the American Civil War}}
[[File:White men pose, 104 Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri in 1852 at Lynch's Slave Market - (cropped).jpg|thumb|White men pose in 1852 at Lynch's [[slave market]] at 104 Locust Street.]]
The city elected its first municipal legislators (called trustees) in 1808. [[Steamboat]]s first arrived in St. Louis in 1817, improving connections with [[New Orleans]] and eastern markets. Missouri was admitted as a state in 1821. St. Louis was incorporated as a city in 1822, and continued to develop largely due to its busy [[port]] and trade connections.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}


[[File:City of Saint Louis and Riverfront, 1874.jpg|thumb|City of St. Louis and Riverfront, 1874]]
Immigrants flooded into St. Louis after 1840, particularly from [[Germany]], [[Bohemia]], [[Italy]] and [[Ireland]], the latter driven by an Old World [[Irish Potato Famine (1845-1849)|potato famine]]. The population of St. Louis grew from fewer than 20,000 in 1840, to 77,860 in 1850, to just over 160,000 by 1860.
[[File:St. Louis, Mo. tornado May 27, 1896 south broadway.JPG|thumb|South Broadway had a tornado on May 27, 1896.]]
Immigrants from Ireland and Germany arrived in St. Louis in significant numbers starting in the 1840s, and the population of St. Louis grew from less than 20,000 inhabitants in 1840, to 77,860 in 1850, to more than 160,000 by 1860. By the mid-1800s, St. Louis had a greater population than New Orleans.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}


Settled by many Southerners in a [[Free and slave states|slave state]], the city was split in political sympathies and became polarized during the [[American Civil War]]. In 1861, 28 civilians were killed in a [[Camp Jackson Affair|clash with Union troops]]. The war hurt St. Louis economically, due to the [[Union blockade]] of river traffic to the south on the Mississippi River. The [[St. Louis Arsenal]] constructed [[ironclad]]s for the [[Union Navy]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
Two disasters occurred in 1849: a cholera epidemic killed nearly one-tenth of the population, and a [[St. Louis Fire (1849)|fire]] destroyed numerous steamboats and a large portion of the city. These disasters led to political action: old cemeteries were removed to the outskirts of the town; sinkholes were filled and swamps drained; water and sewer public utilities started; and a new building code required structures to be built of stone or brick.


[[History of slavery in Missouri|Slaves]] worked in many jobs on the waterfront and on the riverboats. Given the city's location close to the [[Free and slave states|free state]] of Illinois and others, some slaves escaped to freedom. Others, especially women with children, sued in court in [[freedom suits]], and several prominent local attorneys aided slaves in these suits. About half the slaves achieved freedom in hundreds of suits before the American Civil War.
In the first half of the 19th century, a second channel developed in the Mississippi River at St. Louis. An island ("Bloody Island") formed between the two channels, and a smaller island ("Duncan's Island") developed below St. Louis. It was feared that the levee at St. Louis might be left high and dry, and federal assistance was sought and obtained. Under the supervision of [[Robert E. Lee]], levees were constructed on the Illinois side to direct water toward the Missouri side and eliminate the second channel. Bloody Island was joined to the land on the Illinois side, and Duncan's Island was washed away.
The printing press of abolitionist [[Elijah Parish Lovejoy]] was destroyed for the third time by townsfolk. He was murdered the next year in nearby [[Alton, Illinois]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}


After the war, St. Louis profited via trade with the West, aided by the 1874 completion of the [[Eads Bridge]], named for its design engineer. Industrial developments on both banks of the river were linked by the bridge, the second in the Midwest over the Mississippi River after the Hennepin Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis. The bridge connects St. Louis, Missouri to [[East St. Louis, Illinois]]. The Eads Bridge became a symbolic image of the city of St. Louis, from the time of its erection until 1965 when the [[Gateway Arch]] Bridge was constructed. The bridge crosses the St. Louis riverfront between Laclede's Landing, to the north, and the grounds of the Gateway Arch, to the south. Today the road deck has been restored, allowing vehicular and pedestrian traffic to cross the river. The St. Louis MetroLink light rail system has used the rail deck since 1993. An estimated 8,500 vehicles pass through it daily.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
Militarily, the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] (1861-1865) barely touched St. Louis; the area saw only a few skirmishes in which [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] forces prevailed. But the war shut down trade with the South, devastating the city's economy. Missouri was nominally a slave state, but its economy did not depend on slavery, and it never [[secession|seceded]] from the Union. The arsenal at St. Louis was used during the war to construct ironclad ships for the Union.


On August 22, 1876, the city of St. Louis voted to [[urban secession|secede]] from [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]] and become an independent city, and, following a recount of the votes in November, officially did so in March 1877.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.stlmag.com/news/politics/st-louis-great-divorce-history-city-county-split-attempt-to-get-back-together/ |title=St. Louis' Great Divorce: A complete history of the city and county separation and attempts to get back together |date=March 8, 2019 |last=Cooperman |first=Jeannette |website=[[St. Louis Magazine]] |access-date=April 8, 2021 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420161447/https://www.stlmag.com/news/politics/st-louis-great-divorce-history-city-county-split-attempt-to-get-back-together/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[1877 St. Louis general strike]] caused significant upheaval, in a fight for the eight-hour day and the banning of child labor.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McCabe |first1=James Dabney |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=auNCAAAAIAAJ |title=The History of the Great Riots: The Strikes and Riots on the Various Railroads of the United States and in the Mining Regions Together with a Full History of the Molly Maguires |last2=Winslow |first2=Edward Martin |year=1877 |location=[[Philadelphia]] |publisher=National Publishing Company|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124212529/https://books.google.com/books?id=auNCAAAAIAAJ |archive-date=November 24, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{pn|date=April 2024}}
===St. Louis during the [[Gilded Age]]===
On [[July 4]], [[1876]] the City of St. Louis voted to [[urban secession|secede]] from [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]] and become an independent city. At that time the County was primarily rural and sparsely populated, and the fast-growing City did not want to spend their tax dollars on infrastructure and services for the inefficient county. The move also allowed some in St. Louis government to increase their political power.


Industrial production continued to increase during the late 19th century. Major corporations such as the [[Anheuser-Busch]] brewery, [[Ralston Purina]] company and [[Desloge Consolidated Lead Company]] were established at St. Louis which was also home to several [[brass era]] automobile companies, including the [[Success Automobile Manufacturing Company]];<ref>Clymer, Floyd. ''Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877–1925'' (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p. 32.</ref> St. Louis is the site of the [[Wainwright Building]], a skyscraper designed in 1892 by architect [[Louis Sullivan]].
{{Quote_box|
width=250px
|align=left
|quote="The City of St. Louis has affected me more deeply than any other environment has ever done, I consider myself fortunate to have been born here, rather than in Boston, or New York, or London."
|source=[[T.S. Eliot]] on St. Louis
|}}


===20th century===
As St. Louis grew and prospered during the late 19th and early 20th Century, the city produced a number of notable people in the fields of business and literature. The [[Ralston-Purina]] company (headed by the [[John Danforth|Danforth Family]]) was headquartered in the city, and [[Anheuser-Busch]], the world's largest brewery, remains a fixture of the city's economy. The City was home to both [[International Shoe]] and the [[Brown Shoe Company]]. Notable residents in the field of literature included poets [[Sara Teasdale]], and [[T.S. Eliot]] as well as playwright [[Tennessee Williams]]. Eliot always spoke fondly of his hometown, while Williams despised the city.
{{Main|History of St. Louis (1905–1980)}}
[[File:Louisiana_Purchase_Exposition_St._Louis_1904.jpg|thumb|The Government Building is at the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition|1904 World's Fair]].]]
In 1900, the entire streetcar system was shut down by a [[St. Louis streetcar strike of 1900|several months-long strike]], with significant unrest occurring in the city & violence against the striking workers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Arenson |first=Adam |title=The great heart of the republic: St. Louis and the cultural Civil War |date=2015 |publisher=University of Missouri Press |isbn=978-0-8262-2064-6 |edition=1st |location=Columbia (Mo.)}}</ref>


In 1904, the city hosted the [[1904 World's Fair|World's Fair]] and the [[1904 Summer Olympics|Olympics]], becoming the first non-European city to host the games.<ref name="1904 Olympics">{{cite web |title=1904 Summer Olympics |publisher=International Olympic Committee |url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1904 |access-date=April 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815120301/http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1904 |archive-date=August 15, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> The formal name for the 1904 World's Fair was the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition]]. Permanent facilities and structures remaining from the fair are located in [[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]], and other notable structures within the park's boundaries include the [[Saint Louis Art Museum|St. Louis Art Museum]], the [[Saint Louis Zoo|St. Louis Zoo]] and the [[Missouri History Museum]], and Tower Grove Park and the Botanical Gardens.
St. Louis is one of several cities that claims to have the world's first [[skyscraper]]. The [[Wainwright Building]], a 10-story structure designed by [[Louis Sullivan]] and built in [[1892]], still stands at Chestnut and Seventh Streets and is today used by the State of [[Missouri]] as a government office building.


After the Civil War, social and racial discrimination in housing and employment were common in St. Louis. In 1916, during the [[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow Era]], St. Louis passed a residential segregation ordinance<ref>Primm, James. ''Lion of the Valley: St. Louis, Missouri, 1764-1980''. St. Louis, Missouri: Missouri History Museum Press. 1998. Print</ref> saying that if 75% of the residents of a neighborhood were of a certain race, no one from a different race was allowed to move in.<ref>Smith, Jeffrey. "A Preservation Plan for St. Louis Part I: Historic Contexts" St. Louis, Missouri Cultural Resources Office. Web. Retrieved November 13, 2014.</ref> That ordinance was struck down in a court challenge, by the NAACP,<ref>NAACP. Papers of the NAACP Part 5. The Campaign against Residential Segregation. Frederick, MD: University Publications of America. 1986. Web</ref> after which racial covenants were used to prevent the sale of houses in certain neighborhoods to "persons not of Caucasian race".{{Clarify|date=December 2021|reason=Who are these racists and in what way did racial covenants restrict house sales?}} Again, St. Louisans offered a lawsuit in challenge, and such covenants were ruled unconstitutional by the [[United States Supreme Court|U.S. Supreme Court]] in 1948 in ''[[Shelley v. Kraemer]]''.<ref>"Shelley House". We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement. National Park Service. Retrieved November 10, 2014.</ref>
[[Nikola Tesla]] made the first public demonstration of radio communication here in [[1893]]. Addressing the [[Franklin Institute]] in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] and the [[National Electric Light Association]], he described and demonstrated in detail the principles of [[radio]] [[communication]]. The apparatus that he used contained all the elements that were incorporated into radio systems before the development of the [[vacuum tube]].


In 1926, [[Douglass University]], a [[historically black university]] was founded by [[Benjamin F. Bowles|B. F. Bowles]] in St. Louis, and at the time no other college in St. Louis County admitted black students.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Early |first=Gerald Lyn |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IRLhcVs_pJUC |title=Ain't But a Place: An Anthology of African American Writings about St. Louis |date=1998 |publisher=Missouri History Museum |isbn=978-1-883982-28-7 |pages=307–314 |language=en}}</ref>
In [[1896]], one of the deadliest and most destructive [[St. Louis-East St. Louis Tornado|tornadoes]] in U.S. history struck St. Louis and East St. Louis. The confirmed death toll is 255, with some estimates above 400, and injuries over 1,000. It left a mile wide continuous swath of destroyed homes, factories, mills, saloons, hospitals, schools, parks, churches, and railroad yards. Damages adjusted for inflation (1997 USD) make it the costliest tornado in U.S. history at an estimated $2.9 billion. Several other tornadoes have hit the city making it the worst tornado afflicted large city in the U.S.; with the most deadly and destructive occurring in 1871 (9 killed), 1890 (4 killed), 1904 (3 killed, 100 injured), 1927 (79 killed, 550 injured), and 1959 (21 killed, 345 injured).


In the first half of the 20th century, St. Louis was a destination in the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] of African Americans from the rural South seeking better opportunities.{{cn|date=June 2024}} During [[World War II]], the [[NAACP]] campaigned to integrate war factories. In 1964, [[Civil and political rights|civil rights activists]] protested at the construction of the Gateway Arch to publicize their effort to gain entry for African Americans into the skilled trade unions, where they were underrepresented. The Department of Justice filed the first suit against the unions under the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].{{cn|date=June 2024}}
By the time of the [[1900]] census, St. Louis was the fourth largest city in the country [http://www.census.gov/population/documentation/twps0027/tab13.txt]. In [[1904]], the city hosted a [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition|World's Fair]] and the [[1904 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]], making the [[United States]] the first [[English language|English]]-speaking country to host the [[Olympic Games|Olympics]]. Citizens of St. Louis still look back fondly on the events of 1904; there were several events held in 2004 to commemorate the centennial.


Between 1900 and 1929, St. Louis, had about 220 automakers, close to 10 percent of all American carmakers, about half of which built cars exclusively in St. Louis. Notable names include Dorris, Gardner and Moon.<ref>Hemmings, American City Business Journals, accessed January 22, 2022 [https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/the-best-of-the-little-three-1903-st-louis-runabout] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124144740/https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/the-best-of-the-little-three-1903-st-louis-runabout|date=January 24, 2022}}</ref>
===Early 20th century===
St. Louis was developed primarily as an industrial city. The [[uranium]] used in the [[Manhattan Project]] to build the first [[atomic bomb]] was refined in St. Louis by [[Mallinckrodt Chemical]] Co., starting in 1942. The industrial development that had fueled the city's growth in the 19th Century became a liability in the 20th Century. Through the 1950's, St. Louis struggled with a severe [[air pollution]] problem that was caused in part by the many coal-fired furnaces used to heat older homes. Many of the city's older neighborhoods were densely developed around the factories that formed the base of the city's economy.


In the first part of the century, St. Louis had some of the worst [[air pollution in the United States]]. In April 1940, the city banned the use of soft coal mined in nearby states. The city hired inspectors to ensure that only [[anthracite]] was burned. By 1946, the city had reduced air pollution by about 75%.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Neil|first1=Tim|title=Nov. 28 1939: The day 'Black Tuesday' rolled into St. Louis|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/archives/nov-the-day-black-tuesday-rolled-into-st-louis/article_00c3b6cd-ba69-5a19-b498-fbc29f9630c4.html|access-date=December 8, 2016|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=November 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202041856/http://www.stltoday.com/news/archives/nov-the-day-black-tuesday-rolled-into-st-louis/article_00c3b6cd-ba69-5a19-b498-fbc29f9630c4.html|archive-date=December 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
The city first lost population between the 1930 and 1940 census, and efforts to expand the city's boundaries to include some of the newly developing suburbs failed. The city reached its peak population at the 1950 census, reflecting a national housing shortage after World War II. The continued trend of suburban development and highway construction would lead to a decline in the city's population over the next several decades. As noted below, St. Louis' population is growing once again.


[[File:FromLacledesLanding.JPG|thumb|upright|The [[Gateway Arch|Arch]] (completed 1965) is visible from [[Laclede's Landing]], the remaining section of St. Louis's commercial riverfront.]]
===Recent developments===
''[[De jure]]'' educational segregation continued into the 1950s, and ''[[de facto]]'' segregation continued into the 1970s, leading to a court challenge and interdistrict desegregation agreement. Students have been bused mostly from the city to county school districts to have opportunities for integrated classes, although the city has created magnet schools to attract students.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcf.org/Publications/Education/freigovel.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040621102044/http://www.tcf.org/Publications/Education/freigovel.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 21, 2004|title=St. Louis: Desegregation and School Choice in the Land of Dred Scott|access-date=October 1, 2010}}</ref>
[[Image:Dsc087296zp.jpg|thumbnail|left|Washington Avenue Loft District]]


St. Louis, like many [[Midwestern]] cities, expanded in the early 20th century due to industrialization, which provided jobs to new generations of immigrants and migrants from the South. It reached its peak population of 856,796 at the 1950 census.<ref name="heritage">{{cite web|url=http://stlouis.missouri.org/heritage/History69/|title=Physical Growth of the City of St. Louis|access-date=July 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726220826/http://stlouis.missouri.org/heritage/History69/|archive-date=July 26, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Suburbanization]] from the 1950s through the 1990s dramatically reduced the city's population, as did restructuring of industry and loss of jobs.{{cn|date=June 2024}} The effects of suburbanization were exacerbated by the small geographical size of St. Louis due to its earlier decision to become an independent city, and it lost much of its tax base. During the 19th and 20th century, most major cities aggressively annexed surrounding areas as residential development occurred away from the central city; however, St. Louis was unable to do so.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
Recently, there has been a significant upturn in construction in downtown St. Louis. [[The Bottle District]], an entertainment district named after a large Vess soda bottle that stands near [[Interstate 70]], will open in spring [[2007]] and will be located in an area just north of the Edward Jones Dome. The St. Louis Cardinals' new [[Busch Stadium]] opened in 2006. [[Ballpark Village]] will be built where the former [[Busch Memorial Stadium|Busch Stadium]] stood. For several years, the [[Washington Avenue Loft District]] has been [[gentrification|gentrifying]] with an expanding corridor along Washington Avenue from the Edwards Jones Dome westward almost two dozen blocks. Rehabilitation of other downtown areas is planned, such as around the Old Post Office and Cupples warehouses. The Forest Park Southeast neighborhood near the Missouri Botanical Garden and the old Gaslight Square district are also going through extensive renovations.


Several [[urban renewal]] projects were built in the 1950s, as the city worked to replace old and substandard housing. Some of these were poorly designed and resulted in problems. One prominent example, [[Pruitt–Igoe]], became a symbol of failure in public housing, and was torn down less than two decades after it was built.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} The degradation and razing of [[Mill Creek Valley]] in this time was featured as an example of disenfranchisement in the 2024 Reparations Commission Report.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hays |first=Gabrielle |date=2024-12-04 |title=In St. Louis, a new reparations report details how the city can act on racial injustice |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/in-st-louis-a-new-reparations-report-details-how-the-city-can-act-on-racial-injustice |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=PBS News |language=en-us}}</ref>
St. Louis' population is growing again following a half-century of decline. As of 2005, St. Louis' population has grown over what it was at the time of the 2000 Census.

Since the 1980s, several revitalization efforts have focused on [[Downtown St. Louis]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===21st century===
{{Main|History of St. Louis (1981–present)}}
The urban revitalization projects that started in the 1980s continued into the new century. The city's [[Washington Avenue Historic District (St. Louis, Missouri)|old garment district]], centered on Washington Avenue in the [[Downtown St. Louis|Downtown]] and [[Downtown West, St. Louis|Downtown West]] neighborhoods, experienced major development starting in the late 1990s as many of the old factory and warehouse buildings were converted into lofts. The [[American Planning Association]] designated Washington Avenue as one of 10 Great Streets for 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-04 |title=Washington Avenue is Named "Great Street" by American Planning Association |url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/mayor/news/Washington-Avenue-is-Named-Great-Street.cfm |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=stlouis-mo.gov |language=en |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114205234/https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/mayor/news/Washington-Avenue-is-Named-Great-Street.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Cortex Innovation Community]], located within the city's [[Central West End, St. Louis|Central West End]] neighborhood, was founded in 2002 and has become a multi-billion dollar economic engine for the region, with companies such as Microsoft and Boeing currently leasing office space.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kukuljan |first=Steph |date=2022-03-21 |title=Cortex, facing unprecedented challenges, plots new course. 'This is an evolution,' says chief. |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/cortex-facing-unprecedented-challenges-plots-new-course-this-is-an-evolution-says-chief/article_db2258b1-9860-58d1-94cf-bbff7160bca3.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115030941/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/cortex-facing-unprecedented-challenges-plots-new-course-this-is-an-evolution-says-chief/article_db2258b1-9860-58d1-94cf-bbff7160bca3.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bean |first=Randy |title=Meet Me In St. Louis – The Reemergence Of An Innovation Hub |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2020/03/26/meet-me-in-st-louis--the-reemergence-of-an-innovation-hub/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115030952/https://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2020/03/26/meet-me-in-st-louis--the-reemergence-of-an-innovation-hub/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Forest Park Southeast, St. Louis|Forest Park Southeast]] neighborhood in the central corridor has seen major investment starting in the early 2010s. Between 2013 and 2018, over $50 million worth of residential construction has been built in the neighborhood.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Doug |date=2018-04-29 |title=These longtime St. Louis residents are digging in as their neighborhood takes off |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/these-longtime-st-louis-residents-are-digging-in-as-their-neighborhood-takes-off/article_5e8244f1-742d-5a7a-b173-fff8f930f088.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en |archive-date=January 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120002744/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/these-longtime-st-louis-residents-are-digging-in-as-their-neighborhood-takes-off/article_5e8244f1-742d-5a7a-b173-fff8f930f088.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The population of the neighborhood has increased by 19% from the 2010 to 2020 Census.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forest Park South East Census Data {{!}} City of St. Louis |url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/research/census/data/neighborhoods/neighborhood.cfm |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=stlouis-mo.gov |language=en |archive-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518142148/https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/research/census/data/neighborhoods/neighborhood.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[St. Louis Rams]] of the [[National Football League]] controversially returned to [[Los Angeles]] in 2016. The city of St. Louis sued the NFL in 2017, alleging the league breached its own relocation guidelines to profit at the expense of the city. In 2021, the NFL and Rams owner [[Stan Kroenke]] agreed to settle out of court with the city for $790 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-01-06 |title=Rams owner Kroenke rips St. Louis market as he seeks LA move |url=https://apnews.com/article/f8703bf3a7d7495ebea1884c8a71f04e |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524060119/https://apnews.com/article/f8703bf3a7d7495ebea1884c8a71f04e |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=$790M settlement in lawsuit over Rams' St. Louis departure |url=https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-business-los-angeles-st-louis-1cff28235e3d10777a86103d983cd2f1 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=November 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124092827/https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-business-los-angeles-st-louis-1cff28235e3d10777a86103d983cd2f1 |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Geography==
==Geography==
{{main|Geography of St. Louis, Missouri}}
{{Main|Geography of St. Louis}}
[[Image:St_Louis_Rivers.png|right|thumb|200px|<small>The Rivers around St. Louis</small>]]
St. Louis is located at {{coor dms|38|38|53|N|90|12|44|W|region:GR}} (38.648056, -90.212222).{{GR|1}}


===Landmarks===
The city is built primarily on [[bluff]]s and terraces that rise 100-200 feet above the western banks of the [[Mississippi River]], just south of the [[Missouri River|Missouri]]-Mississippi confluence. Much of the area is a fertile and gently rolling prairie that features low hills and broad, shallow valleys. Both the Mississippi River and the Missouri River have cut large valleys with wide flood plains.
{{Further|Landmarks of St. Louis}}
{{see also|List of public art in St. Louis}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Name
!Description
!Photo
|-
|[[Gateway Arch]]
|At {{convert|630|ft|m}}, the Gateway Arch is the world's tallest [[arch]] and tallest human-made [[monument]] in the [[Western Hemisphere]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Lohraff |first=Kevin |year=2009 |title=Hiking Missouri |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yO83BlN64sIC&pg=PA73 |location=Champaign, IL |publisher=Human Kinetics |isbn=978-0-7360-7588-6 |page=73 |access-date=November 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102210822/https://books.google.com/books?id=yO83BlN64sIC&pg=PA73 |archive-date=January 2, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Built as a monument to the [[westward expansion of the United States]], it is the centerpiece of [[Gateway Arch National Park]] which was known as Jefferson National Expansion Memorial until 2018.
|[[File:Gateway_Arch_at_Sunset_(cropped).jpg|150x150px]]
|-
|[[Saint Louis Art Museum|St. Louis Art Museum]]
|Built for the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition|1904 World's Fair]], with a building designed by [[Cass Gilbert]], the museum houses paintings, sculptures, and cultural objects. The museum is located in [[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]], and admission is free.
|[[File:St._Louis_Art_Museum.JPG|150x150px]]
|-
|[[Missouri Botanical Garden]]
|Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical institutions in the United States and a [[National Historic Landmark]]. It spans 79 acres in the [[Shaw, St. Louis|Shaw]] neighborhood, including a {{convert|14|acre|ha|abbr=off|adj=on}} [[Japanese garden]] and the Climatron [[geodesic dome]] conservatory.
|[[File:Missouri_Botanical_Garden.jpg|150x150px]]
|-
|[[Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (St. Louis)|Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis]]
|Dedicated in 1914, it is the mother church of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis|Archdiocese of St. Louis]] and the seat of its [[archbishop]]. The church is known for its large [[mosaic]] installation (which is one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere with 41.5 million pieces), burial crypts, and its outdoor sculpture.
|[[File:Cathedral_Basilica_of_St._Louis.JPG|150x150px]]
|-
|[[City Hall (St. Louis, Missouri)|City Hall]]
|Located in [[Downtown West, St. Louis|Downtown West]], City Hall was designed by [[Harvey Ellis]] in 1892 in the [[Renaissance Revival Architecture|Renaissance Revival]] style. It is reminiscent of the [[Hôtel de Ville, Paris]].
|[[File:St_Louis_MO_City_Hall_20150905-100.jpg|150x150px]]
|-
|[[St. Louis Public Library|Central Library]]
|Completed in 1912, the Central Library building was designed by [[Cass Gilbert]]. It serves as the main location for the [[St. Louis Public Library]].
|[[File:STLCentrallibrary.jpg|150x150px]]
|-
|[[City Museum]]
|City Museum is a play house museum, consisting largely of repurposed architectural and industrial objects, housed in the former International Shoe building in the [[Washington Avenue Loft District]].
|[[File:City_Museum_outdoor_structures.jpg|150x150px]]
|-
|[[Old Courthouse (St. Louis)|Old Courthouse]]
|Built in the 19th century, it served as a federal and state courthouse. The [[Scott v. Sandford]] case (resulting in the Dred Scott decision) was tried at the courthouse in 1846.
|[[File:Old_St_Louis_County_Courthouse_20150905_046-047.jpg|150x150px]]
|-
|[[St. Louis Science Center]]
|Founded in 1963, it includes a [[science museum]] and a [[planetarium]], and is situated in [[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]]. Admission is free. It is one of two science centers in the United States which offers free general admission.
|[[File:McDonnellPlanetarium.jpg|frameless|upright=0.65]]
|-
|[[St. Louis Symphony]]
|Founded in 1880, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second oldest symphony orchestra in the United States, preceded by the [[New York Philharmonic]]. Its principal concert venue is [[Powell Symphony Hall]].
|[[File:782px-Powell_Symphony_Hall.jpg|frameless|upright=0.65]]
|-
|[[Union Station (St. Louis)|Union Station]]
|Built in 1888, it was the city's main passenger intercity train terminal. Once the world's largest and busiest train station, it was converted in the 1980s into a hotel, [[shopping mall|shopping center]], and entertainment complex. Today, it also continues to serve local rail ([[MetroLink (St. Louis)|MetroLink]]) transit passengers, with [[Amtrak]] service nearby. On December 25, 2019, the St. Louis Aquarium opened inside Union Station. The St. Louis Wheel, a 200&nbsp;ft 42 gondola ferris wheel, is also located at Union Station.
|[[File:Grand_Hall_at_Union_Station.jpg|150x150px]]
|-
|[[Saint Louis Zoo|St. Louis Zoo]]
|Built for the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition|1904 World's Fair]], it is recognized as a leading zoo in animal management, research, conservation, and education. It is located in [[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]], and admission is free.
|[[File:St. Louis Zoo sign.jpg|150x150px]]
|}


===Architecture===
[[Limestone]] and [[dolomite]] of the [[Mississippian]] [[geologic time scale|epoch]] underlies the area and much of the city is a [[karst]] area, with numerous sinkholes and caves, although most of the caves have been sealed shut; many springs are visble along the riverfront. Significant deposits of [[coal]], [[brick]] [[clay]], and [[millerite]] ore were once mined in the city, and the predominant surface rock, the ''St. Louis Limestone'', is used as dimension stone and rubble for construction.
{{main|Architecture of St. Louis}}
{{see also|List of tallest buildings in St. Louis}}
[[File:Wainwright building st louis USA.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Wainwright Building]] (1891), is an important [[Early skyscrapers|early skyscraper]] designed by [[Louis Sullivan]].]]
[[File:Lafayette Square St-Louis.jpg|thumb|Many houses in [[Lafayette Square, St. Louis|Lafayette Square]] are built with a blending of Greek Revival, Federal and Italianate styles.]]
The architecture of St. Louis exhibits a variety of commercial, residential, and monumental [[architecture]]. St. Louis is known for the [[Gateway Arch]], the tallest [[monument]] constructed in the United States at {{convert|630|ft|m}}.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/21/st-louis-reasons-to-love_n_4993763.html |work=Huffington Post |first=Marcos |last=Saldivar |title=26 Reasons St. Louis Is America's Hidden Gem |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324041004/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/21/st-louis-reasons-to-love_n_4993763.html |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Arch pays homage to [[Thomas Jefferson]] and St. Louis's position as the gateway to the West. Architectural influences reflected in the area include [[French Colonial]], [[Architecture of Germany|German]], [[Architecture of the United States|early American]], and [[Modern architecture|modern architectural]] styles.


Several examples of religious structures are extant from the pre-Civil War period, and most reflect the common residential styles of the time. Among the earliest is the [[Basilica of St. Louis, King of France]] (referred to as the ''Old Cathedral''). The Basilica was built between 1831 and 1834 in the Federal style. Other religious buildings from the period include SS. Cyril and Methodius Church (1857) in the Romanesque Revival style and [[Christ Church Cathedral (St. Louis, Missouri)|Christ Church Cathedral]] (completed in 1867, designed in 1859) in the Gothic Revival style.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
The ''St. Louis [[Geologic fault]]'' is exposed along the bluffs and was the source of several historic minor earthquakes; it is part of the ''St. Louis [[Anticline]]'' which has some [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]] deposits outside of the city. St. Louis is also just north of the [[New Madrid Seismic Zone]] which in 1811-12 produced a [[New Madrid Earthquake|series of earthquakes]] that are the largest known in the contiguous United States. Seismologists estimate 90% probability of a magnitude [[Richter scale|6.0]] earthquake by 2040 and 7-10% probability of a magnitude 8.0 [http://www.livescience.com/forcesofnature/050622_new_madrid.html], such tremors could create significant damage across a large region of the central U.S. including St. Louis.


A few civic buildings were constructed during the early 19th century. The original St. Louis courthouse was built in 1826 and featured a Federal style stone facade with a rounded portico. However, this courthouse was replaced during renovation and expansion of the building in the 1850s. The [[Old Courthouse (St. Louis, Missouri)|Old St. Louis County Courthouse]] (known as the ''Old Courthouse'') was completed in 1864 and was notable for having a [[cast iron]] dome and for being the tallest structure in Missouri until 1894. Finally, a customs house was constructed in the Greek Revival style in 1852, but was demolished and replaced in 1873 by the [[United States Customhouse and Post Office (St. Louis, Missouri)|U.S. Customhouse and Post Office]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
Near the southern boundary of the City of St. Louis (separating it from [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]]) is the [[River des Peres]], virtually the only river or stream within the city limits that is not entirely underground. Most of River des Peres was either channelized or put underground in the 1920s and early 1930s. The lower section of the river was the site of some of the worst flooding of the [[Great Flood of 1993]].


Because much of the city's commercial and industrial development was centered along the riverfront, many pre-Civil War buildings were demolished during construction of the Gateway Arch. The city's remaining architectural heritage of the era includes a multi-block district of cobblestone streets and brick and cast-iron warehouses called [[Laclede's Landing]]. Now popular for its restaurants and nightclubs, the district is located north of Gateway Arch along the riverfront. Other industrial buildings from the era include some portions of the [[Anheuser–Busch#St. Louis headquarters and brewery|Anheuser-Busch Brewery]], which date to the 1860s.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
Near the central, western boundary of the city is [[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]], site of the 1904 [[World's fair]], the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition]] of [[1904]], and the [[1904 Summer Olympics]], the first [[Olympic Games]] held in North America. At the time, St. Louis was the fourth most populous city in the United States.


St. Louis saw a vast expansion in variety and number of religious buildings during the late 19th century and early 20th century. The largest and most ornate of these is the [[Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis]], designed by [[Thomas P. Barnett]] and constructed between 1907 and 1914 in the [[Neo-Byzantine]] style. The St. Louis Cathedral, as it is known, has one of the largest mosaic collections in the world. Another landmark in religious architecture of St. Louis is the [[St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (St. Louis, Missouri)|St. Stanislaus Kostka]], which is an example of the [[Polish Cathedral style]]. Among the other major designs of the period were [[St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, St. Louis|St. Alphonsus Liguori]] (known as ''The Rock Church'') (1867) in the Gothic Revival and [[Second Presbyterian Church (St. Louis, Missouri)|Second Presbyterian Church of St. Louis]] (1900) in [[Richardsonian Romanesque]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
The [[Missouri River]] forms the northern border of [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]], exclusive of a few areas where the river has changed its course. The [[Meramec River]] forms most of its southern border. To the east is the City and the [[Mississippi River]].


By the [[United States Census, 1900|1900 census]], St. Louis was the fourth largest city in the country. In 1904, the city hosted a [[world's fair]] at [[Forest Park (St. Louis, Missouri)|Forest Park]] called the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition]]. Its architectural legacy is somewhat scattered. Among the fair-related cultural institutions in the park are the [[Saint Louis Art Museum|St. Louis Art Museum]] designed by [[Cass Gilbert]], part of the remaining lagoon at the foot of Art Hill, and the Flight Cage at the [[St. Louis Zoo]]. The [[Missouri History Museum]] was built afterward, with the profit from the fair. But 1904 left other assets to the city, like [[Theodore Link]]'s 1894 [[St. Louis Union Station]], and an improved Forest Park.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 171.3 [[square kilometre|km²]] (66.2 [[square mile|mi²]]). 160.4 km² (61.9 mi²) of it is land and 11.0 km² (4.2 mi² or 6.39%) of it is water.


[[One US Bank Plaza]], the local headquarters for [[US Bancorp]], was constructed in 1976 in the [[structural expressionist]] style. Several notable [[Postmodern architecture|postmodern]] commercial skyscrapers were built downtown in the 1970s and 1980s, including the [[909 Chestnut Street|former AT&T building at 909 Chestnut Street]] (1986), and [[One Metropolitan Square]] (1989), which is the tallest building in St. Louis.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
=== Metropolitan statistical area ===
[[Image:St_Louis_MSA.png|thumb|200px|The [[St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area]].]]
The St. Louis [[United States metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]] is the [[List of United States metropolitan statistical areas by population|18th largest]] in the United States, and has a total population of 2,764,054 as of 2004. This area includes [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]] (1,016,235), the independent City of St. Louis (350,705), the [[List of Missouri counties|Missouri counties]] of [[Saint Charles County, Missouri|Saint Charles]] (320,734), [[Jefferson County, Missouri|Jefferson]] (210,397), [[Franklin County, Missouri|Franklin]] (98,234), [[Lincoln County, Missouri|Lincoln]] (45,618) and [[Warren County, Missouri|Warren]] (27,809), and the [[List of Illinois counties|Illinois counties]] of [[Madison County, Illinois|Madison]] (264,350), [[Saint Clair County, Illinois|Saint Clair]] (259,132), [[Clinton County, Illinois|Clinton]] (36,065), [[Monroe County, Illinois|Monroe]] (30,491) and [[Jersey County, Illinois|Jersey]] (22,320).


During the 1990s, St. Louis saw the construction of the largest United States courthouse by area, the [[Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse]] (2000). The Eagleton Courthouse is home to the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri]] and the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit]]. The most recent high-rise buildings in St. Louis include two residential towers: [[One Hundred Above the Park|One Hundred]] in the Central West End neighborhood and [[Ballpark Village (St. Louis)|One Cardinal Way]] in the Downtown neighborhood.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
=== Cityscape ===
[[Image:DSC08649.jpg|thumbnail|left|Lafayette Square Homes]]


===Neighborhoods===
The city is divided into 79 neighborhoods. The divisions have no legal standing, although some neighborhood associations administer grants or hold veto power over historic-district development. Nevertheless, the social and political influence of neighborhood identity is profound. Some hold avenues of massive stone edifices built as palaces for heads of state visiting the 1904 World's Fair. Others offer tidy working-class bungalows or loft districts Many of them have succesfully retained a remarkable camaraderie that is missing from many American towns today.
{{Further|Neighborhoods of St. Louis}}
[[File:LafayetteSquareHouses.jpg|thumb|[[Second Empire style]] houses are in [[Lafayette Square, St. Louis|Lafayette Square]].]]
[[File:Blueberry_Hill_patio.jpg|thumb|The [[Delmar Loop]] is a neighborhood close to [[Washington University in St. Louis|Washington University]], bordering the city and [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]].|alt=]]
The city is divided into 79 officially-recognized neighborhoods.<ref>[http://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/neighborhood-stabilization-office/neighborhoods/index.cfm Neighborhoods of the City of St. Louis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512222340/http://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/neighborhood-stabilization-office/neighborhoods/index.cfm |date=May 12, 2012}}, StLouis-mo.gov</ref>


===Topography===
Among the best-known, architecturally significant, or well-visited neighborhoods are [[Downtown St. Louis|Downtown]], [[Midtown St. Louis|Midtown]], Benton Park, [[Carondelet (St. Louis, Missouri, USA)|Carondelet]], the [[Central West End]], [[Clayton Tamm|Clayton/Tamm]] (Dogtown), [[Dutchtown South]], [[Forest Park Southeast]], [[Grand Center]], [[The Hill (Saint Louis)|The Hill]], [[Lafayette Square (Saint Louis)|Lafayette Square]], [[Princeton Heights]], [[Old North St. Louis]], Shaw (home to the [[Missouri Botanical Garden]] and named after the Garden's founder, [[Henry Shaw (botanist)|Henry Shaw]]), Southwest Garden, [[Soulard]] (home of the second-largest [[Mardi Gras]] festival in the nation), [[Tower Grove East]], [[Tower Grove South]], Hortense Place (home to many grand mansions) and Wydown/Skinker.
[[File:St Louis Rivers.png|thumb|Rivers in the St. Louis area]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], St. Louis has a total area of {{convert|66|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|62|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.1|sqmi}} (6.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 20, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|archive-date=October 21, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The city is built on [[Hill|bluffs]] and terraces that rise 100–200 feet above the western banks of the Mississippi River, in the [[Midwestern United States]] just south of the [[Missouri River|Missouri]]-Mississippi [[confluence]]. Much of the area is a fertile and gently rolling prairie that features low hills and broad, shallow valleys. Both the Mississippi River and the Missouri River have cut large valleys with wide flood plains.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}


[[Limestone]] and [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]] of the [[Mississippian age|Mississippian]] [[geologic time scale|epoch]] underlie the area, and parts of the city are [[karst]] in nature. This is particularly true of the area south of downtown, which has numerous sinkholes and caves. Most of the caves in the city have been sealed, but many springs are visible along the riverfront. Coal, brick [[clay]], and [[millerite]] ore were once mined in the city. The predominant surface rock, known as ''St. Louis limestone'', is used as [[dimension stone]] and rubble for construction.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
=== Climate ===
St. Louis has a continental temperate climate, and has neither large mountains nor large bodies of water to moderate its temperature. The area is affected by both cold Canadian arctic air, and also hot, humid tropical air from the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. The city has four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature for the years 1971-2000, recorded at nearby Lambert–St. Louis International Airport, is 56.3 °F (13.5 °C), and average precipitation is 38.75 inches (980&nbsp;mm). The normal high temperature in July is 90 °F (32 °C), and the normal low temperature in January is 21 °F (−6 °C), although these values are often exceeded. Temperatures of 100 °F (38 °C) or more occur no more than five days per year, while temperatures of 0 °F (-17.8 °C) or below occur 2 or 3 days per year on average. The official all-time record low is -22 °F (-30.0 °C) and the record high is 117 °F (47.2 °C). Hundreds were killed by extreme heat and humidity in 1995 and 1999.


Near the southern boundary of the city of St. Louis (separating it from [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]]) is the [[River des Peres]], practically the only river or stream within the city limits that is not entirely underground.<ref>[http://www.rftstl.com/2000-12-06/news/a-sewer-runs-through-it/ St. Louis – News – A Sewer Runs Through It<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311021411/http://www.rftstl.com/2000-12-06/news/a-sewer-runs-through-it/ |date=March 11, 2007}}.</ref> Most of River des Peres was confined to a channel or put underground in the 1920s and early 1930s. The lower section of the river was the site of some of the worst flooding of the [[Great Flood of 1993]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
Winter is the driest season, averaging about 6 inches of total precipitation. Springtime, March through May, is typically the wettest season, with just under 10.5 inches. Dry spells of one or two weeks duration are common during the growing seasons.


The city's eastern boundary is the Mississippi River, which separates Missouri from Illinois. The Missouri River forms the northern line of St. Louis County, except for a few areas where the river has changed its course. The [[Meramec River]] forms most of its southern line.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[Thunderstorm]]s can be expected on 40 to 50 days per year. A few of them will be severe with locally destructive winds and large [[hail]], and occasionally accompanied by [[tornadoes]] (see [[St. Louis tornado history]]). The two costliest tornadoes and the costliest hailstorm in history occurred in St. Louis. Other occasional weather hazards include [[blizzard]]s and [[ice storm]]s. A period of unseasonably warm weather late in [[autumn]] known as [[Indian summer]] is common – [[rose]]s will still be in bloom as late as November or early December in some years.


=== Flora and fauna ===
===Climate===
{{Further|Geography of St. Louis#Climate}}
Before the founding of the city, the area was prairie and open forest maintained by burning by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. Trees are mainly [[oak]], [[maple]], and [[hickory]], similar to the forests of the nearby [[The Ozarks|Ozarks]]; common understory trees include [[Eastern Redbud]], [[Serviceberry]], and [[Flowering Dogwood]]. [[Riparian]] areas are forested with mainly [[American sycamore]]. Most of the residential area of the city is planted with large native shade trees. The largest native forest area is found in Forest Park. In [[Autumn]], the changing color of the trees is notable. Most species here are typical of the Eastern Woodland, although numerous decorative non-native species are found; the most notable invasive species is [[Japanese honeysuckle]], which is actively removed from some parks.
[[File:The Captains' Return statue and Eads Bridge.JPG|thumb|The Captains' Return statue was inundated by the Mississippi River, 2010.]]
The urban area of St. Louis has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfa''); however, its [[Greater St. Louis|metropolitan region]] even to the south may present a hot-summer [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfa''), which shows the effect of the [[urban heat island]] in the city.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} The city experiences hot, humid summers and chilly to cold winters.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} It is subject to both cold Arctic air and hot, humid tropical air from the [[Gulf of Mexico]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} The average annual temperature recorded at nearby [[Lambert–St. Louis International Airport]], is {{convert|57.4|°F|1}}. {{convert|100|and|0|°F|0}} temperatures can be seen on an average 3 and 1 days per year, respectively. Precipitation averages {{convert|41.70|in|mm|sigfig=2}}, but has ranged from {{convert|20.59|in|mm|abbr=on}} in 1953 to {{convert|61.24|in|mm|abbr=on}} in 2015. The highest recorded temperature in St. Louis was {{cvt|115|°F}} on July 14, 1954, and the lowest was {{cvt|-22|°F}} on January 5, 1884.


St. Louis experiences [[thunderstorm]]s 48 days a year on average.<ref name="weatherbase">{{cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=43427&refer=&units=us |title=Historical Weather for St. Louis, Missouri |access-date=October 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916194311/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=43427&refer=&units=us |archive-date=September 16, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Especially in the spring, these storms can often be severe, with high winds, large [[hail]] and tornadoes. Lying within the hotbed of [[Tornado Alley]], St. Louis is one of the most frequently tornado-struck metropolitan areas in the U.S. and has an extensive history of [[St. Louis tornado history|damaging tornadoes]]. Severe flooding, such as the [[Great Flood of 1993]], may occur in spring and summer; the (often rapid) melting of thick snow cover upstream on the Missouri or Mississippi Rivers can contribute to springtime flooding.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[Image:A03_4663_1024x683.JPG|thumbnail|right|250px|Female [[Bald Eagle|bald eagle]] on an egg in nest near [[Chain of Rocks Bridge]]]]
Large [[mammal]]s found in the city include urbanized [[coyote]]s and occasionally a stray [[whitetail deer]]. [[Eastern Gray Squirrel]], [[Cottontail rabbit]], and other rodents are abundant, as well as the nocturnal and rarely seen [[Opossum]]. Large bird species are abundant in parks and include [[Canada goose]], [[Mallard duck]], as well as [[shorebird]]s, including the [[Great Egret]] and [[Great Blue Heron]]. [[Gulls]] are common along the [[Mississippi River]]; these species typically follow [[barge]] traffic. Winter populations of [[Bald Eagle]]s are found by the [[Mississippi River]] around the [[Chain of Rocks Bridge]]. The city is on the [[Mississippi Flyway]], used by migrating birds, and has a large variety of small bird species, common to the eastern U.S. The [[Eurasian Tree Sparrow]], an introduced species, is limited in North America to the counties surrounding St. Louis. [[Tower Grove Park]] is a well-known birdwatching area in the city.


<div style="width:100%;">{{St. Louis weatherbox}}</div>
Frogs are commonly found in the springtime, especially after extensive wet periods. Common species include the [[American toad]] and species of chorus frogs, commonly called "[[spring peepers]]" that are found in nearly every pond. Some years have outbreaks of [[cicadas]] or [[ladybugs]]. [[Mosquitos]] and [[houseflies]] are common [[insect]] nuisances; because of this, windows are nearly universally fitted with [[Window screen|screens]], and "screened-in" [[porch]]es are common in homes of the area. Populations of [[honeybees]] have sharply declined in recent years, and numerous species of [[Pollination|pollinator]] insects have filled their ecological niche.


==People and culture==
===Flora and fauna===
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2024}}
{{main|People and culture of St. Louis, Missouri}}
[[File:Tower Grove Park Scene 1.jpg|thumb|[[Tower Grove Park]] in spring]]
{| class="toccolours" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin:0 0 1em 1em; font-size: 95%;"
[[File:Missouri_Botanical_Garden_-_Seiwa-en.JPG|thumb|The [[Missouri Botanical Garden]]]]
Before the founding of the city, the area was mostly prairie and open forest. Native Americans maintained this environment, good for hunting, by burning underbrush. Trees are mainly [[oak]], [[maple]], and [[hickory]], similar to the forests of the nearby [[The Ozarks|Ozarks]]; common understory trees include [[eastern redbud]], [[serviceberry]], and [[flowering dogwood]]. [[Riparian]] areas are forested with mainly [[American sycamore]].

Most of the residential areas of the city are planted with large native shade trees. The largest native forest area is found in Forest Park. In autumn, the changing color of the trees is notable. Most species here are typical of the eastern woodland, although numerous decorative non-native species are found. The most notable invasive species is [[Japanese honeysuckle]], which officials are trying to manage because of its damage to native trees. It is removed from some parks.

Wildlife includes urbanized [[coyote]]s, [[white-tailed deer]], [[eastern gray squirrel]], [[cottontail rabbit]], and the nocturnal [[Virginia opossum]]. Large bird species are abundant in parks and include [[Canada goose]], [[mallard duck]], and [[shorebird]]s, including the [[great egret]] and [[great blue heron]]. [[Gull]]s are common along the Mississippi River; these species follow [[barge]] traffic.

Winter populations of [[bald eagle]]s are along the Mississippi River around the [[Chain of Rocks Bridge]]. The city is on the [[Mississippi Flyway]], used by migrating birds, and has a large variety of small bird species, common to the eastern U.S. The [[Eurasian tree sparrow]], an introduced species, is limited in North America to the counties surrounding St. Louis. The city has special sites for birdwatching of migratory species, including [[Tower Grove Park]].

Common frog species include the [[American toad]] and species of chorus frogs called [[spring peeper]]s, which are found in nearly every pond. Some years have outbreaks of [[cicada]]s or [[ladybug]]s. Mosquitoes, [[no-see-ums]], and houseflies are common insect nuisances, especially in July and August; because of this, windows are almost always fitted with screens. Invasive populations of [[Western honey bee|honeybees]] have declined in recent years. Numerous native species of pollinator insects have recovered to fill their ecological niche, and [[armadillos]] are throughout the St. Louis area.<ref>[http://herald-review.com/news/local/armadillos-finding-st-louis-and-surrounding-area-nice-place-to/article_3b52d19c-433c-53f0-a823-3da7776924ab.html "Warmer weather attracting Armadillos"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131030095930/http://herald-review.com/news/local/armadillos-finding-st-louis-and-surrounding-area-nice-place-to/article_3b52d19c-433c-53f0-a823-3da7776924ab.html |date=October 30, 2013}}, accessed October 28, 2013</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1810= 1600
|1830= 4977
|1840= 16469
|1850= 77860
|1860= 160773
|1870= 310864
|1880= 350518
|1890= 451770
|1900= 575238
|1910= 687029
|1920= 772897
|1930= 821960
|1940= 816048
|1950= 856796
|1960= 750026
|1970= 622236
|1980= 453805
|1990= 396685
|2000= 348189
|2010= 319294
|2020= 301578
|estyear=2023
|estimate=281754
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|date=September 20, 2022|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 7, 2022|archive-date=July 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711040810/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016|archive-date=May 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507121432/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)" />
}}
[[File:Race and ethnicity 2010 St. Louis.png|thumb|left|Map of racial distribution in St. Louis, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ff0000|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#0000ff|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#00ffaa|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffa600|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffff07|Other}}]]
[[File:Pruitt-Igoe-overview.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Pruitt–Igoe]] was a large housing project constructed in 1954, which became infamous for poverty, crime and segregation. It was demolished in 1972.]]
St. Louis grew slowly until the American Civil War, when industrialization and immigration sparked a boom. Mid-19th century immigrants included many Irish and Germans; later there were immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. In the early 20th century, African American and white migrants came from the South; the former as part of the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] out of rural areas of the Deep South. Many came from Mississippi and Arkansas. Italians, Serbians, Lebanese, Syrians, and Greeks settled in St. Louis by the late 19th-Century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/visit-play/stlouis-history.cfm|title=A Brief History of St. Louis|access-date=July 26, 2023|archive-date=July 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726081313/https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/visit-play/stlouis-history.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref>

After years of immigration, migration, and expansion, the city reached its peak population in 1950. That year, the Census Bureau reported St. Louis's population as 82% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States|White]] and 17.9% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States|African American]].<ref name="census1">{{cite web|title=Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |access-date=April 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012}}</ref> After World War II, St. Louis began losing population to the suburbs, first because of increased demand for new housing, unhappiness with city services, ease of commuting by highways, and later, [[white flight]].<ref name="historical populations">{{cite web|last=Gibson |first=Campbell |title=Population of the 100 largest cities and other urban places in the United States: 1790 to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |date=June 1998 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027.html |access-date=December 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314031958/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027.html |archive-date=March 14, 2007}}</ref> St. Louis's population decline has resulted in a significant increase of abandoned residential housing units and vacant lots throughout the city proper; this blight has attracted much wildlife (such as deer and coyotes) to the many abandoned overgrown lots.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} As of the 2020 Census, St. Louis has lost 64.8% of its population since the [[1950 United States census]]. During this period, the population of Greater St. Louis, which includes more than one county, has grown every year and continues to do so.
[[File:Ethnic Origins in St. Louis, MO.png|thumb|Ethnic origins in St. Louis]]According to the [[2010 United States census]], St. Louis had 319,294 people living in 142,057 households, of which 67,488 households were families. The population density was {{convert|5,158.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. About 24% of the population was 19 or younger, 9% were 20 to 24, 31% were 25 to 44, 25% were 45 to 64, and 11% were 65 or older. The median age was about 34 years,

The African-American population is concentrated in the north side of the city (the area north of Delmar Boulevard is 94.0% black, compared with 35.0% in the central corridor and 26.0% in the south side of St. Louis<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dynamic.stlouis-mo.gov/census/corridor.cfm|title=Census|website=Dynamic.stlouis-mo.gov|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724040727/http://dynamic.stlouis-mo.gov/census/corridor.cfm|archive-date=July 24, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>). Among the Asian-American population in the city, the largest ethnic group is [[Vietnamese American|Vietnamese]] (0.9%), followed by [[Chinese American|Chinese]] (0.6%) and [[Indian American|Indian]]s (0.5%). The Vietnamese community has concentrated in the [[Dutchtown, St. Louis|Dutchtown]] neighborhood of south St. Louis; Chinese are concentrated in the [[Central West End, St. Louis|Central West End]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|website=United States Census|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=December 27, 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/https://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}</ref> People of [[Mexican American|Mexican]] descent are the largest Latino group, and make up 2.2% of St. Louis's population. They have the highest concentration in the Dutchtown, [[Benton Park West, St. Louis|Benton Park West]] (Cherokee Street), and [[Gravois Park, St. Louis|Gravois Park]] neighborhoods.<ref name="censusus">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP3&prodType=table |title=Race and Hispanic or Latino Origin: 2010 |publisher=United States Census |access-date=October 8, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> People of [[Italian American|Italian]] descent are concentrated in [[The Hill, St. Louis|The Hill]].

In 2010, St. Louis's per-capita rates of online charitable donations and volunteerism were among the highest among major U.S. cities.<ref>{{cite web |last=Druart |first=T. |title=Convio ranks most generous online cities |publisher=convio |date=February 2010 |url=http://www.convio.com/convio/news/releases/convio-ranks-generous-cities-2009.html |access-date=August 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927015722/http://www.convio.com/convio/news/releases/convio-ranks-generous-cities-2009.html |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{as of|2010}}, 91.05% (270,934) of St. Louis city residents age 5 and older spoke English at home as a [[primary language]], while 2.86% (8,516) spoke Spanish, 0.91% (2,713) Serbo-Croatian, 0.74% (2,200) Vietnamese, 0.50% (1,495) African languages, 0.50% (1,481) Chinese, and French was spoken as a [[main language]] by 0.45% (1,341) of the population over the age of five. In total, 8.95% (26,628) of St. Louis's population age 5 and older spoke a [[mother language]] other than English.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mla.org/cgi-shl/docstudio/docs.pl?map_data_results |title=St. Louis (city) County, Missouri |publisher=[[Modern Language Association]] |access-date=August 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815140430/http://www.mla.org/cgi-shl/docstudio/docs.pl?map_data_results |archive-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible mw-collapsed" style="font-size: 90%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
|-
! Historical racial composition !! 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.indystar.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/st-louis-city-missouri/050-29510/|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 23, 2021|title=2020 Census Results|archive-date=November 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123105438/https://data.indystar.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/st-louis-city-missouri/050-29510/|url-status=live}}</ref>!! 2010<ref>{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/2965000.html |title=St. Louis (city), Missouri |work=State & County QuickFacts |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203020207/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/2965000.html |archive-date=December 3, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>!! 2000<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/data/2000-census-summary.cfm |title=2000 Census Summary |publisher=City of St. Louis |access-date=March 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403140131/https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/data/2000-census-summary.cfm |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>!! 1990<ref name="census1"/> !! 1970<ref name="census1"/> !! 1940<ref name="census1"/>
! colspan=2 bgcolor="#ccccff" align="center"| City Population [http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027.html]
|-
|-
| [[White American|White]] || 43.9% || 43.9% || 43.9% || 50.9% || 58.7% || 86.6%
! align="center"| Census<br>year !! align="right"| Population
|-
|-
| —Non-Hispanic || 42.9% || 42.2% || 43.0%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mcdc.missouri.edu/cgi-bin/broker?_PROGRAM=websas.dp3_2k.sas&_SERVICE=sasapp&state=29&county=510|title=MCDC Demographic Profile|website=Mcdc.missouri.edu|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305005947/http://mcdc.missouri.edu/cgi-bin/broker?_PROGRAM=websas.dp3_2k.sas&_SERVICE=sasapp&state=29&county=510|archive-date=March 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>|| 50.2% || 57.9%<ref name="fifteen">From 15% sample</ref>|| 86.4%
| colspan=2|<hr>
|-
|-
| [[African American|Black]] || 43.0% || 49.2% || 51.2% || 47.5% || 40.9% || 13.3%
| align="center"| [[1830]] || align="right"| 4,977
|-
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race) || 5.1% || 3.5% || 2.0% || 1.3% || 1.0%<ref name="fifteen"/> || 0.2%
| align="center"| [[1840]] || align="right"| 16,469
|-
|-
| [[Asian American|Asian]] || 4.1% || 2.9% || 2.0% || 0.9% || 0.2% || (X)
| align="center"| [[1850]] || align="right"| 77,860
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''St. Louis, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br /><small>{{nobold|''Note: the U.S. census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Missouri: 1990 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-27.pdf |access-date=September 12, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – St. Louis city, Missouri |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US2965000&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web |title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – St. Louis city, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2965000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web |title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – St. Louis city, Missouri |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2965000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
| align="center"| [[1860]] || align="right"| 160,773
|198,956
|142,329
|134,702
|style='background: #ffffe6; |129,368
|50.15%
|42.89%
|42.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |42.90%
|-
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| align="center"| [[1870]] || align="right"| 310,864
|187,805
|177,446
|156,389
|style='background: #ffffe6; |128,993
|47.34%
|50.96%
|48.98%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |42.77%
|-
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
| align="center"| [[1880]] || align="right"| 350,518
|874
|862
|684
|style='background: #ffffe6; |614
|0.22%
|0.25%
|0.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.20%
|-
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| align="center"| [[1890]] || align="right"| 451,770
|3,616
|6,820
|9,233
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,205
|0.91%
|1.96%
|2.89%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.05%
|-
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| align="center"| [[1900]] || align="right"| 575,238
|N/A
|83
|62
|style='background: #ffffe6; |88
|N/A
|0.02%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
| align="center"| [[1910]] || align="right"| 687,029
|310
|647
|478
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,773
|0.08%
|0.19%
|0.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.59%
|-
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
| align="center"| [[1920]] || align="right"| 772,897
|N/A
|5,980
|6,616
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13,132
|N/A
|1.72%
|2.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.35%
|-
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| align="center"| [[1930]] || align="right"| 821,960
|5,124
|7,022
|11,130
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15,405
|1.29%
|2.02%
|3.49%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.11%
|-
|-
|'''Total'''
| align="center"| [[1940]] || align="right"| 816,048
|'''396,685'''
|-
|'''348,189'''
| align="center"| [[1950]] || align="right"| 856,796
|'''319,294'''
|-
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''301,578'''
| align="center"| [[1960]] || align="right"| 750,026
|'''100.00%'''
|-
|'''100.00%'''
| align="center"| [[1970]] || align="right"| 622,236
|'''100.00%'''
|-
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
| align="center"| [[1980]] || align="right"| 453,085
|-
| align="center"| [[1990]] || align="right"| 396,685
|-
| align="center"| [[2000]] || align="right"| 348,189
|-
| align="center"| [[2005]] || align="right"| est. 352,572
|}
|}


===Bosnian population===
Social changes in the twentieth century influenced radically the sorts of people who live in St. Louis now. From [[1810]], the date of the first Federal census, to [[1880]], the population totals include with the city of St. Louis the population of St. Louis County, which in [[1880]] was separately enumerated at 31,888 people.
{{see also|History of the Bosnians in St. Louis}}
About fifteen families from Bosnia settled in St. Louis between 1960 and 1970. After the [[Bosnian War]] started in 1992, more Bosnian refugees began arriving and by 2000, tens of thousands of Bosnian refugees settled in St. Louis with the help of Catholic aid societies. Many of them were professionals and skilled workers who had to take any job opportunity to be able to support their families. Most Bosnian refugees are Muslim, ethnically [[Bosniaks]] (87%); they have settled primarily in south St. Louis<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ellis|first=Stefanie|date=2022-01-17|title=St Louis: The US city transformed by heartbreak|work=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220117-st-louis-the-us-city-transformed-by-heartbreak|access-date=2022-02-04|archive-date=February 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205150213/https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220117-st-louis-the-us-city-transformed-by-heartbreak|url-status=live}}</ref> and South County. [[Bosnian-Americans]] are well integrated into the city, developing many businesses and ethnic/cultural organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stlbosnians.com/event/the-bosnian-community-in-st-louis-by-imam-muhamed-hasic/|title=The Bosnian Community in St. Louis by Imam Muhamed Hasic|website=Stlbosnians.com|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912112923/http://www.stlbosnians.com/event/the-bosnian-community-in-st-louis-by-imam-muhamed-hasic/|archive-date=September 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>


An estimated 70,000 [[Bosnian American|Bosnians]] live in the metro area, which is tied with [[Bosnians in Chicago|Chicago]] for largest population of Bosnians in the United States and the largest Bosnian population outside their homeland. The highest concentration of Bosnians is in the neighborhood of [[Bevo Mill]] and in [[Affton, Missouri|Affton]], [[Mehlville]], and [[Oakville, Missouri|Oakville]] of south [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Gilsinan|first=Kathy|title=Why Are There So Many Bosnians in St. Louis?|url=http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2013/02/why-are-there-so-many-bosnians-st-louis/4668/|work=The Atlantic Cities|publisher=[[Atlantic Media Company]]|access-date=February 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217204738/http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2013/02/why-are-there-so-many-bosnians-st-louis/4668/|archive-date=February 17, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ABOUT US |url=https://bs.bhaccchicago.org/about-us |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=bhacc |language=en |archive-date=July 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701141725/https://bs.bhaccchicago.org/about-us |url-status=live }}</ref>
In [[1910]], 687,029 people lived in the city. 125,706 foreign-born people were residents in [[1910]]. 47,765 of those persons were natives of the [[German Empire]]. In [[1910]], 11.3 per cent of the foreign-born people were of [[Irish people|Irish]] nativity, 4.1 percent of [[English people|English]], 12.3 of [[Russians|Russian]], 6 of [[Italian people|Italian]], and 8.8 of [[Austria|Austrian]]. 43,960 [[African American]]s composed 6.4% of the total population.


Bosnian Muslim [[Romani people]] have also settled in St. Louis.<ref>{{cite book|title=Danger! Educated Gypsy: Selected Essays|page=130|isbn=978-1-907396-30-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HOycWJwdyLgC&pg=PA130 |last1=Hancock |first1=Ian |date=2010 |publisher=Univ of Hertfordshire Press }}</ref>
Like other large [[United States|American]] cities, St. Louis experienced a large population shift to the [[suburb]]s in the twentieth century; first because of increased demand for new housing following the [[Second World War]], and later in response to demographic changes, whether real or perceived, in existing neighborhoods.


===Crime===
Populations of city ''and'' county: [[1810]], 5,667; [[1820]], 10,049; [[1830]], 14,145; [[1840]], 35,979; [[1850]], 104,978; [[1860]], 190,524; [[1870]], 351,189.
{{Main|Crime in St. Louis}}
Since 2014 the city of St. Louis has had, {{as of|2017|April|lc=y}}, one of the highest murder rates, per capita, in the United States,<ref>{{cite news|title=Millennials really like St Louis|url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21720664-addition-countrys-highest-murder-rate-city-boasts-vibrant-start-up|access-date=April 14, 2017|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=April 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413184035/http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21720664-addition-countrys-highest-murder-rate-city-boasts-vibrant-start-up|archive-date=April 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> with 188 homicides in 2015 (59.3 homicides per 100,000)<ref name="crimerate">{{cite web |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2015/crime-in-the-u.s.-2015/tables/table-6 |title=Crime in the United States, 2015 |publisher=FBI.gov (Uniform Crime Reports) |access-date=April 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322171022/https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2015/crime-in-the-u.s.-2015/tables/table-6 |archive-date=March 22, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Bosman, Julie and Mitch Smith (December 28, 2016). Article comparing Chicago's annual homicide statistics to those of other American cities, including St. Louis, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/us/chicago-murder-rate-gun-deaths.html ''New York Times''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331214442/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/us/chicago-murder-rate-gun-deaths.html |date=March 31, 2017}}</ref> and ranks No. 13 of the most dangerous cities in the world by homicide rate. [[Detroit]], [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]], [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], and [[Baltimore]] have higher overall violent crime rates than St. Louis, when comparing other crimes such as rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.<ref name=crimerate /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-02|title=NeighborhoodScout's Most Dangerous Cities - 2020|url=https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/blog/top100dangerous|access-date=2020-06-08|website=NeighborhoodScout|language=en-US|archive-date=March 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308110815/https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/blog/top100dangerous|url-status=live}}</ref> These crime rates are high relative to other American cities, but St. Louis [[index crime]] rates have declined almost every year since the peak in 1993 (16,648), to the 2014 level of 7,931 (which is the sum of violent crimes and property crimes) per 100,000. In 2015, the index crime rate reversed the 2005–2014 decline to a level of 8,204. Between 2005 and 2014, violent crime has declined by 20%, although rates of violent crime remains 6 times higher than the [[Crime in the United States|United States national average]] and property crime in the city remains 2 {{frac|1|2}} times the national average.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.morganquitno.com/methodology01.htm |title=Methodology |publisher=Morganquitno.com |access-date=March 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511075835/http://www.morganquitno.com/methodology01.htm |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> St. Louis has a higher homicide rate than the rest of the U.S. for both whites and blacks and a higher proportion committed by males. {{as of|2016|October}}, 7 of the homicide suspects were white, 95 black, 0 Hispanic, 0 Asian and 1 female out of the 102 suspects. In 2016, St. Louis was the most dangerous city in the United States with populations of 100,000 or more, ranking 1st in violent crime and 2nd in property crime. It was also ranked 6th of the most dangerous of all establishments in the United States, and East St. Louis, a suburb of the city itself, was ranked 1st.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2015/|title=2015|website=Ucr.fbi.gov|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830025557/https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2015|archive-date=August 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slmpd.org/images/Homicide_Stats_for_Website.pdf | publisher=St. Louis Police Department | title=SLMPD 2016 UCR Homicide Analysis |access-date=October 18, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019003806/http://www.slmpd.org/images/Homicide_Stats_for_Website.pdf |archive-date=October 19, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The [[Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis|St. Louis Police Department]] at the end of 2016 reported a total of 188 murders for the year, the same number of homicides that had occurred in the city in 2015.<ref>Murphy, Doyle (January 3, 2017). [http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2017/01/03/st-louis-murder-toll-hit-188-in-2016-tying-2015s-unusually-high-number "St. Louis Murder Toll Hit 188 in 2016--Tying 2015's Unusually High Number."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116171953/http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2017/01/03/st-louis-murder-toll-hit-188-in-2016-tying-2015s-unusually-high-number |date=January 16, 2017}} ''Riverfront Times'' (''RFT''). Retrieved January 15, 2017.</ref> According to the STLP At the end of 2017, St. Louis had 205 murders but the city recorded only 159 inside St. Louis city limits.<ref name="2017murders">{{cite web |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/focused-police-presence-in-north-st-louis-better-relationships-with/article_7ba12d3a-ed23-5ecb-b92f-db8c8cc8bb39.html |title=Focused police presence in north St. Louis, better relationships with protesters among new chief's goals |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=January 3, 2018 |access-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206033621/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/focused-police-presence-in-north-st-louis-better-relationships-with/article_7ba12d3a-ed23-5ecb-b92f-db8c8cc8bb39.html |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>St. Louis Crime tracker-City snapshot, https://graphics.stltoday.com/apps/crime/index.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211201618/https://graphics.stltoday.com/apps/crime/index.html |date=December 11, 2017}} Retrieved January 30, 2018</ref> The new Chief of Police, [[John Hayden Jr.|John Hayden]] said two-thirds (67%) of all the murders and one-half of all the assaults are concentrated in a triangular area in the North part of the city.<ref name=2017murders />


Yet another factor when comparing the murder rates of St. Louis and other cities is the manner of drawing municipal boundaries. While many other municipalities have annexed many suburbs, St. Louis has not annexed as much suburban area as most American cities. According to a 2018 estimate, the St. Louis metro area included about 3 million residents and the city included about 300,000 residents. Therefore, the city contains about ten percent of the metro population, a low ratio indicating that the municipal boundaries include only a small part of the metro population.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/upshot/crime-statistics-south-bend-st-louis-misleading.html |last=Asher |first=Jeff |date=December 17, 2019 |title=South Bend and St. Louis, Where Crime Statistics Can Mislead |access-date=July 14, 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=September 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913002557/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/upshot/crime-statistics-south-bend-st-louis-misleading.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Demographics===
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 348,189 people, 147,076 households, and 76,920 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 2,171.2/km² (5,622.9/mi²). There were 176,354 housing units at an average density of 1,099.7/km² (2,847.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 51.20% [[African American]], 43.85% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.98% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.80% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.88% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.02% of the population. Historically, North St. Louis City has been primarily African American while South St. Louis City has been primarily White. This has changed in recent years as large portions of North St. Louis City have been depopulated, with African-American residents moving either south or to surrounding counties.


==Economy==
There are 147,076 households, out of which 25.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.7% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 3.19.
{{main|Economy of St. Louis}}
The [[gross domestic product]] of Greater St. Louis was $209.9 billion in 2022, up from $192.9 billion the previous year.<ref name=":0" /> Greater St. Louis had a GDP per capita of $68,574 in 2021, up 10% from the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Total Gross Domestic Product for St. Louis, MO-IL (MSA) |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP41180 |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Census Bureau |date=1969-01-01 |title=Resident Population in St Louis, MO-IL (MSA) |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/STLPOP |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref> As of November, 2024, the education and health services industries employed the greatest amount of people in the region, followed by the trade, transportation, and utilities industries and professional and business services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis, MO-IL Economy at a Glance |url=https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.mo_stlouis_msa.htm |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Bureau of Labor Statistics |language=en}}</ref>


===Major companies and institutions===
In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
[[File:StLouisABPackaging_Plant.JPG|thumb|The [[Anheuser-Busch]] packaging plant is in St. Louis.]]
As of 2024, Greater St. Louis is home to six ''Fortune'' 500 companies: [[Centene Corporation]], [[Reinsurance Group of America]], [[Emerson Electric]], [[Edward Jones Investments|Edward Jones]], [[Graybar|Graybar Electric]], and [[Ameren]]. An additional ten other area companies are listed on the ''Fortune'' 1000: [[Post Holdings]], [[Olin Corporation]], [[Core & Main]], [[Stifel|Stifel Financial]], [[Peabody Energy]], [[Arch Resources]], [[Energizer|Energizer Holdings]], [[Caleres]], [[Spire Inc.|Spire]], and [[Belden Incorporated|Belden]].<ref name=":2" />


Other major corporations headquartered in the region include [[Anheuser-Busch]], [[Bunge Global]], [[Wells Fargo Advisors]], [[Enterprise Holdings]], [[World Wide Technology]], [[Arco Construction]], [[McCarthy Holdings]], [[Clayco Construction]], [[Apex Oil]], [[Alberici Corporation|Alberici]], and [[Schnucks|Schnuck Market]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis' top 150 privately held companies |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/subscriber-only/2024/10/03/st-louis-top-150-privately-held-companies.html |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MURPHY" |first="ANDREA |title=Forbes America's Top Private Companies 2024 List |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/top-private-companies/ |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> Notable corporations with operations in St. Louis but headquarters elsewhere include [[Boeing]], [[Bayer]], [[Mastercard]], [[U.S. Bancorp|U.S. Bank]], and [[BMO Harris Bank|BMO Bank]].
The median income for a household in the city was $27,156, and the median income for a family was $32,585. Males had a median income of $30,106 versus $24,987 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,108. About 20.8% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 36.4% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.


The [[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]] is one of two federal reserve banks in [[Missouri]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us &#124; The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis |url=http://stlouisfed.org/about%5Fus/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219214747/http://stlouisfed.org/about%5Fus/ |archive-date=December 19, 2010 |access-date=March 14, 2011 |publisher=St. Louis Fed}}</ref>
===Cuisine===
*[[Anheuser-Busch]] beers
*Mayfair salad dressing, created at the former Mayfair Hotel in St. Louis
*[[Fried-brain sandwiches]]
*[[Gooey butter cake]]
*[[Missouri wine]]
*[[Pork steak]]
*[[Provel cheese]]
*[[St. Louis-style pizza]], exemplified by regional chain [[Imo's Pizza]]
*[[Schlafly]] beers
*[[Ted Drewes]] Frozen Custard
*[[Fried Tripe sandwiches]]
*[[Toasted ravioli]]
*[[Vess]] soda
*[[St. Paul sandwich]],
*[[Pig Snoot (Snout)]], fried and barbequed. Served with potato salad.
*[[St. Louis-style barbecue]], often featuring [[spare ribs]] and thin, tangy tomato-based [[barbecue sauce]]
*[[Slingers (food)|Slingers]]


St. Louis is a center of medicine and [[biotechnology]].<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Louis Health Care |url=http://www.stlrcga.org/x438.xml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527143319/http://www.stlrcga.org/x438.xml |archive-date=May 27, 2013 |access-date=May 24, 2013 |publisher=RCGA St. Louis |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The [[Washington University School of Medicine]] is affiliated with [[Barnes-Jewish Hospital]], the fifth largest hospital in the world. Both institutions operate the [[Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Siteman Cancer Center, About Us |url=http://www.siteman.wustl.edu/about-us.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512083147/http://www.siteman.wustl.edu/about-us.aspx |archive-date=May 12, 2013 |access-date=May 24, 2013 |publisher=Siteman Cancer Center}}</ref> The School of Medicine also is affiliated with [[St. Louis Children's Hospital]], one of the country's top pediatric hospitals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ratings and Rankings |url=http://www.stlrcga.org/x2208.xml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106000813/http://www.stlrcga.org/x2208.xml |archive-date=January 6, 2007 |access-date=May 24, 2013 |publisher=RCGA St. Louis}}</ref> Both hospitals are owned by [[BJC HealthCare]]. The [[McDonnell Genome Institute]] at Washington University played a major role in the [[Human Genome Project]].<ref>[http://genome.wustl.edu Home – The Genome Institute at Washington University] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019135215/https://www.genome.wustl.edu/|date=October 19, 2019}}. Genome.wustl.edu. Retrieved on August 16, 2013.</ref> [[Saint Louis University]]<!-- DO NOT CHANGE; the university ALWAYS is referred to as "Saint Louis University" and is never abbreviated --> Medical School is affiliated with [[SSM Health]]'s [[Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital]] and [[Saint Louis University Hospital]]<!-- DO NOT CHANGE; the university ALWAYS is referred to as "Saint Louis University" and is never abbreviated -->. It also has a cancer center, vaccine research center, geriatric center, and a bioethics institute. Several different organizations operate hospitals in the area, including BJC HealthCare, [[Mercy (healthcare organization)|Mercy]], SSM Health Care, and Tenet. Other health care and biotechnology institutions with operations in the region include [[Pfizer]], the [[Donald Danforth Plant Science Center]], Bayer, [[Sigma-Aldrich]], [[Mallinckrodt]], and [[Multidata Systems International]].
===Museums and other points of interest===
[[Image:City_Museum19.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[City Museum]]]]
There are several museums and attractions in the city. The [[City Museum]] offers a variety of interesting exhibits, including several large caves and a huge outdoor playground. It also serves as a meeting point for St. Louis' young arts scene. The [[Eugene Field]] House, located in downtown St. Louis, is a museum dedicated to the distinguished children's author. The [[Missouri History Museum]] presents exhibits and programs on a variety of topics including the 1904 World's Fair, and a comprehensive exhibit on Lewis and Clark's voyage exploring the Louisiana Purchase.


Several once-independent pillars of the local economy have been purchased by other corporations. Among them are [[Anheuser-Busch]], purchased by Belgium-based [[InBev]]; [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]], merged with the [[Omaha, Nebraska]]-based [[Union Pacific Railroad]] in 1982;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/heritage/mopac/index.htm|title=Missouri Pacific Railroad|website=Up.com|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817054351/http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/heritage/mopac/index.htm|archive-date=August 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> [[McDonnell Douglas]], whose operations are now part of [[Boeing Defense, Space & Security]]; [[Trans World Airlines]], which was headquartered in the city for its last decade of existence prior to being acquired by [[American Airlines]]; and [[Ralston Purina]], now a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Nestlé]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stlrcga.org/x2212.xml |title=Ratings and Rankings – Area Companies |publisher=Stlrcga.org |access-date=March 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129211233/http://stlrcga.org/x2212.xml |archive-date=November 29, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The [[May Department Stores Company]] was purchased by [[Federated Department Stores]], now [[Macy's]], although it still has its regional headquarters in the area. Most of the assets of [[Furniture Brands International]] were sold to [[Heritage Home Group]] in 2013, which moved to [[North Carolina]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2014/04/30/heritage-home-formerly-furniture-brands-moving-hq.html|title=Triad bound? Heritage Home moving HQ to North Carolina|last1=Kirn|first1=Jacob|last2=Acieri|first2=Katie|work=[[Triad Business Journal]]|date=April 30, 2014|access-date=May 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531090639/http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2014/04/30/heritage-home-formerly-furniture-brands-moving-hq.html|archive-date=May 31, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2015/05/19/heritage-home-group-names-interim-ceo.html|title=Heritage Home Group names interim CEO|last=Arcieri|first=Katie|work=Triad Business Journal|date=May 19, 2015|access-date=December 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523061431/http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2015/05/19/heritage-home-group-names-interim-ceo.html|archive-date=May 23, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
The [[Fox Theatre (St. Louis)|Fox Theatre]], originally one of many movie theatres along Grand Boulevard, is now a newly restored theatre featuring a Byzantine facade and Oriental decor. The Fox Theatre presents a Broadway Series in addition to concerts.
[[Image:Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.JPG|thumb|right|300px|[[Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis]].]]
[[Image:A02_6003_427x640.JPG|thumb|right|300px|View of the Arch from the Old Cathedral.]]
There are several notable churches in the city, including the [[Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis]] (New Cathedral), a large [[Roman Catholic]] [[cathedral]] designed in the [[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine]] and [[Romanesque]] styles. The interior is decorated with lovely [[mosaic]]s, the largest mosaic collection in the world. The [[Basilica of St. Louis, King of France]] (1834), also known as the "Old Cathedral," is the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral west of the [[Mississippi River]]. The Old Cathedral is located adjacent to the [[Jefferson National Expansion Memorial]].


[[File:JeffersonLake BJC.jpg|thumb|[[Barnes-Jewish Hospital]] is affiliated with the [[Washington University School of Medicine]].|alt=]][[Cortex Innovation Community]] in [[Midtown St. Louis|Midtown]] is the region's largest innovation hub. Cortex is home to offices of [[Square, Inc.|Square]], [[Microsoft]], [[Aon (company)|Aon]], [[Boeing]], and [[Centene]]. Cortex has generated 3,800 tech jobs in 14 years, and once built out, is projected to generate $2 billion in development and create 13,000 jobs for the region.<ref name="brookings-stl">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/metropolitan-revolution/2016/05/05/in-st-louis-a-gateway-to-innovation-and-inclusion/ |title=In St. Louis, a gateway to innovation and inclusion |first=Julie |last=Wagner |access-date=18 September 2018 |date=5 May 2016 |work=Brookings |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919061811/https://www.brookings.edu/blog/metropolitan-revolution/2016/05/05/in-st-louis-a-gateway-to-innovation-and-inclusion/ |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The nonprofit [[Arch Grants]] is attracting new startups to the region, while the nonprofit [[LaunchCode]] trains future tech workers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Toler |first1=Lindsay |date=Jan 22, 2014 |title=Launch Code: How 42 "Unqualified" People Landed Dream Tech Jobs in St. Louis |url=http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2014/01/launch_code_program_apprentice_terrence_bowen.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613041604/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2014/01/launch_code_program_apprentice_terrence_bowen.php |archive-date=June 13, 2015 |access-date=August 10, 2017 |website=Daily RFT |publisher=Riverfront Times |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/02/21/arch-grants/|title=Arch Grants Raises $2.5M To Turn St. Louis Into A Startup Hub; Square Co-founder Signs On|first=Rip|last=Empson|website=TechCrunch |date=February 21, 2012 |access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709221309/https://techcrunch.com/2012/02/21/arch-grants/|archive-date=July 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[The Hill (Saint Louis)|The Hill]] is an historically Italian neighborhood where many of the area's best Italian restaurants can be found. The Hill was the home of [[Yogi Berra]] and many other noted baseball players. The [[International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame]] and [[St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum]] is also located near Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis.


According to the ''[[St. Louis Business Journal]]'', the top employers in Greater St. Louis as of March 29th, 2023 are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis' largest employers |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/subscriber-only/2024/03/29/st-louis-largest-employers.html |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref>
[[Laclede's Landing]], located on the [[Mississippi River]]front directly north of the historic [[Eads Bridge]], is popular for its restaurants and nightclubs. St. Louis also possesses several distinct examples of 18th and 19th century architecture, such as the Soulard Market district (1779-1842), the Chatillon-de Menil House (1848), the [[Bellefontaine Cemetery]] (1850), the Robert G. Campbell House (1852), the Old Courthouse (1845-62), the original Anheuser-Busch Brewery (1860), and two of [[Louis Sullivan]]'s early skyscrapers, the [[Wainwright Building]] ([[1890]]-[[1891|91]]) and the Union Trust Building.


{| class="wikitable"
The Lemp Mansion, home of the fated Lemp family which had multiple suicides, is considered one of the most haunted places in the nation.
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of local employees
|-
|1
| [[BJC HealthCare|BJC Health Care]]
|33,797
|-
|2
| [[Washington University in St. Louis|Washington University]]
|21,278
|-
|3
| [[Walmart]]
|17,000
|-
|4
| [[Boeing Defense, Space & Security]]
|16,681
|-
|5
| [[SSM Health]]
|15,631
|-
<!-- old numbers and ranks from June 2013
|4
| [[Boeing Defense, Space & Security]]
|15,000
|-
|5
| [[Scott Air Force Base]]
|13,000
|-
|8
| [[Schnucks|Schnuck Markets]]
|10,919
-->
|}


According to St. Louis's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city only as of 2021 are:<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 13, 2023 |title=Office of the Comptroller 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) |url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/comptroller/documents/2022-comprehensive-annual-financial-report.cfm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827001242/https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/comptroller/documents/2022-comprehensive-annual-financial-report.cfm |archive-date=August 27, 2023 |access-date=August 26, 2023 |website=City of St. Louis, MO}}</ref>
There are also several notable museums in surrounding cities. The [[Delmar Loop]], in [[University City, Missouri|University City]], just west of the St. Louis city line, is a popular entertainment, cultural and restaurant district. The Butterfly House is located in western [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]].


{| class="wikitable"
The [[Museum of Transportation]] is in [[Kirkwood, Missouri|Kirkwood]], a suburb in southwestern [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]]. Many large steam locomotives, classic cars, and even a boat are some of the spectacles.
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
| [[Washington University in St. Louis|Washington University]]
|19,380
|-
|2
| [[BJC HealthCare|Barnes Jewish Hospital]]
|18,920
|-
|3
| [[Saint Louis University]]<!-- DO NOT CHANGE; the university ALWAYS is referred to as "Saint Louis University" and is never abbreviated --&gt; comment, 2022-01-06: Not always in full; it is abbreviated in the city's financial report. If there is an issue, please take it up with the report creators -->
| 9,152
|-
|4
| City of St. Louis
| 7,033
|-
|5
| [[Defense Finance and Accounting Service]]
| 6,051
|-
|6
| [[Wells Fargo Advisors]]
| 5,801
|-
|7
| [[United States Postal Service|U.S. Postal Service]]
| 4,960
|-
|8
| [[St. Louis Public Schools|St. Louis Board of Education]]
| 4,131
|-
|9
| [[SSM Health|SSM SLUH]]
| 3,794
|-
|10
| State of Missouri
| 3,259
|}
==Arts and culture==
[[File:Cathedral_Basilica_of_Saint_Louis_(St._Louis,_MO)_-_exterior,_quarter_view_2.jpg|thumb|The [[Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis]]]]
{{Main|Culture of St. Louis}}
{{see also|Cuisine of St. Louis|List of museums in St. Louis}}
The same year as the 1904 [[World's Fair]], the Strassberger Music Conservatory Building was constructed at 2300 Grand. Otto Wilhelmi was the architect. In 1911, the conservatory had over 1,100 students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Old Strassberger Music Conservatory Building - City Landmark #83 |url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/cultural-resources/city-landmarks/old-strassberger-music-conservatory-building.cfm |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=stlouis-mo.gov |language=en |archive-date=September 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901002916/https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/cultural-resources/city-landmarks/old-strassberger-music-conservatory-building.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref> The building is presently in the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Strassberger's Conservatory |url=https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Strassberger%27s%20Conservatory.pdf |website=Missouri State Parks |access-date=September 1, 2023 |archive-date=September 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901002908/https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Strassberger%27s%20Conservatory.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> A well known graduate was [[Alfonso D'Artega]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Alfonso D'Artega |date=2023-08-28 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Alfonso_D%27Artega&oldid=1172682090 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-09-01 |language=en |archive-date=January 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120002747/https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Alfonso_D%27Artega&oldid=1172682090 |url-status=live }}</ref>


With its French past and waves of Catholic immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries, from Ireland, Germany and Italy, St. Louis is a major center of [[Roman Catholicism in the United States]]. St. Louis also boasts the largest [[Ethical Society|Ethical Culture Society]] in the United States and is one of the most generous cities in the United States, ranking ninth in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=studies.metro.main|title=Charity Navigator - 2015 Metro Market Study|website=Charitynavigator.org|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829184817/https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=studies.metro.main|archive-date=August 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Several places of worship in the city are noteworthy, such as the [[Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis|Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis]], home of the world's largest mosaic installation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://explorestlouis.com/visit-explore/discover/25-things-to-do-in-st-louis/|title=25 Things to Do in St. Louis|access-date=February 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213060248/http://explorestlouis.com/visit-explore/discover/25-things-to-do-in-st-louis/|archive-date=February 13, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Six Flags|Six Flags St. Louis]], known as "Six Flags over Mid-America" when it opened in [[1971]], is an [[amusement park]] in [[Eureka, Missouri|Eureka]], [[Missouri]], in far west [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]]. It is one of the original Six Flags.
[[File:StLouisArtMuseumMO.jpg|thumb|The [[Saint Louis Art Museum|St. Louis Art Museum]] is in [[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]].]]
Other churches include the [[Basilica of St. Louis, King of France]], the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral west of the Mississippi River and the oldest church in St. Louis; the [[Saint Louis Abbey|St. Louis Abbey]], whose distinctive architectural style garnered multiple awards at the time of its completion in 1962; and [[St. Francis de Sales Church (St. Louis)|St. Francis de Sales Oratory]], a [[neo-Gothic]] church completed in 1908 in South St. Louis and the second largest church in the city.


The city is identified with music and the performing arts, especially [[blues]], [[jazz]], and [[ragtime]]. The [[Saint Louis Symphony|St. Louis Symphony]] is the second oldest [[symphony orchestra]] in the United States. Until 2010, it was also home to [[KFUO-FM]], one of the oldest classical music FM radio stations west of the Mississippi River.<ref>The station was sold by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod for $18 million, funded in part through a donation by then-St. Louis Cardinals star [[Albert Pujols]], and converted to [[contemporary Christian music]].[https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/civil-religion/deidre-pujols-sounds-off-on-christian-radio/article_72a3db58-2521-11e1-91c2-0019bb30f31a.html Deidre Pujols sounds off on Christian radio, STLtoday.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822041408/http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/civil-religion/deidre-pujols-sounds-off-on-christian-radio/article_72a3db58-2521-11e1-91c2-0019bb30f31a.html |date=August 22, 2014}}, December 12, 2011</ref> [[Opera Theatre of Saint Louis|Opera Theatre of St. Louis]] has been called "one of America's best summer festivals" by the ''Washington Post''. Former general director Timothy O'Leary was known for drawing the community into discussions of challenging operas. John Adams's "[[The Death of Klinghoffer]]", which touched off protests and controversy when performed by the [[Metropolitan Opera]] in 2014, had no such problems in St. Louis three years before, because the company fostered a citywide discussion, with interfaith dialogues addressing the tough issues of terrorism, religion and the nature of evil that the opera brings up. St. Louis's Jewish Community Relations Council gave O'Leary an award. Under O'Leary, the company—always known for innovative work—gave second chances to other major American operas, such as John Corigliano's "[[The Ghosts of Versailles]]", presented in 2009 in a smaller-scale version.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/washington-national-opera-lands-a-star-timothy-oleary-to-become-general-director/2017/09/22/af27e7e6-9f95-11e7-8ed4-a750b67c552b_story.html |title=Washington National Opera lands a star: Timothy O'Leary to become general director - the Washington Post |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=October 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022172109/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/washington-national-opera-lands-a-star-timothy-oleary-to-become-general-director/2017/09/22/af27e7e6-9f95-11e7-8ed4-a750b67c552b_story.html |archive-date=October 22, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Saint Charles, Missouri|Saint Charles]] is the [[county seat|seat]] of [[Saint Charles County, Missouri|St. Charles County]] and first capital of the state of [[Missouri]].


The [[Gateway Arch]] anchors downtown St. Louis and a historic center that includes: the Federal courthouse where the [[Dred Scott v. Sandford|Dred Scott case]] was first argued, an expanded public library, major churches and businesses, and retail.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} An increasing downtown residential population has taken to adapted office buildings and other historic structures. In nearby [[University City, Missouri|University City]] is the [[Delmar Loop]], ranked by the [[American Planning Association]] as a "great American street" for its variety of shops and restaurants, and the Tivoli Theater, all within walking distance.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[Cahokia Mounds]], located 8 miles east of St. Louis near [[Collinsville]], [[Illinois]], holds the ruins of a city of the ancient [[Mississippian culture|Mississippian]] aboriginal culture. Similar mounds within St. Louis, used as construction fill in the 1800s, gave the city one of its nicknames, "Mound City".


Unique city and regional cuisine reflecting various immigrant groups include [[toasted ravioli]], [[gooey butter cake]], [[provel cheese]], the [[Slinger (dish)|slinger]], the [[Gerber sandwich]], and the [[St. Paul sandwich]]. Some St. Louis chefs have begun emphasizing use of local produce, meats and fish, and neighborhood farmers' markets have become more popular. Artisan bakeries, salumeria, and chocolatiers also operate in the city.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[Magic House]], a children's hands-on exploration museum, and Worldways Children's Museum, an international children's cultural museum, are both in [[Kirkwood, Missouri|Kirkwood]].


[[St. Louis-style pizza]] has thin crust, provel cheese, and is cut in small squares.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imospizza.com|title=Imo's Pizza - The Square Beyond Compare|website=Imospizza.com|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825043950/https://www.imospizza.com/|archive-date=August 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Frozen-custard purveyor [[Ted Drewes]] offers its "Concrete": frozen custard blended with any combination of dozens of ingredients into a mixture so thick that a spoon inserted into the custard does not fall if the cup is inverted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teddrewes.com/home/default.aspx |title=Ted Drewes Frozen Custard - Home |access-date=March 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208055816/http://teddrewes.com/home/default.aspx |archive-date=February 8, 2014 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
===Media===
The ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' is the region's major daily [[newspaper]]. Founded by [[Joseph Pulitzer]] in the [[1800]]s, the paper was owned by [[Pulitzer Publishing]] until [[2005]], when the company was acquired by Lee Enterprises. The company also owns the ''Suburban Journals'', a collection of local newspapers. The daily ''[http://www.belleville.com/ Belleville News Democrat]'', published in [[Belleville, Illinois]], serves many Illinois communities in the St. Louis Metro Area.


==Sports==
The ''[[St. Louis Business Journal]]'', published weekly on Fridays, covers the region's business news.
{{main|Sports in St. Louis}}
{{see also|Soccer in St. Louis}}
St. Louis hosts the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] of [[Major League Baseball]] and the [[St. Louis Blues]] of the [[National Hockey League]]. In 2019, it became the eighth North American city to have won titles in all four major leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL) when the Blues won the Stanley Cup championship. It has collegiate-level soccer teams and is one of three American cities to have hosted the [[1904 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympic Games]]. A third major team, the [[St. Louis City SC]] of [[Major League Soccer]], began play in 2023.


===Professional sports===
In [[1900]], St. Louis had at least five daily newspapers: the ''[[St. Louis Globe-Democrat]]'' and the ''[[St. Louis Republic]]'' in the morning, and the ''Post-Dispatch'' and ''Star-Chronicle'' in the afternoon, as well as the German-language ''Westlische Post''. One by one, these papers folded or consolidated. The ''Post-Dispatch'' bought out its remaining afternoon competitor, the ''Star-Times'', in [[1951]]. Until the mid-[[1980]]s, the morning ''Globe-Democrat'', which was editorially more conservative than the ''Post-Dispatch'', served as the ''Post''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s main rival. Although the ''Post-Dispatch'' and the ''Globe-Democrat'' maintained a [[Joint operating agreement|joint operating agreement]] for years, the ''Globe-Democrat'' folded shortly after the ''Post-Dispatch'' switched from afternoon to morning publication.
Pro teams in the St. Louis area include:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Club !! Sport !! First season !! League !! Venue
|-
|[[St. Louis Cardinals]]
|[[Baseball]]
|1882
|[[Major League Baseball]]
|[[Busch Stadium]]
|-
|[[St. Louis Blues]]
|[[Ice hockey]]
|1967
|[[National Hockey League]]
|[[Enterprise Center]]
|-
|[[St. Louis City SC]]
|[[Association football|Soccer]]
|2023
|[[Major League Soccer]]
|[[Energizer Park]]
|-
|[[St. Louis BattleHawks]]
|[[American football]]
|2020
|[[United Football League (2024)|United Football League]]
|[[The Dome at America's Center]]
|-
|[[St. Louis City 2]]
|[[Association football|Soccer]]
|2022
|[[MLS Next Pro]]
|[[Energizer Park]]
|-
|[[Gateway Grizzlies]]
|[[Baseball]]
|2001
|[[Frontier League]]
|[[Grizzlies Ballpark]]
|-
|[[St. Louis Ambush (2013)|St. Louis Ambush]]
|[[Indoor Soccer|Indoor soccer]]
|2013
|[[Major Arena Soccer League]]
|[[Family Arena]]
|}
[[File:Busch Stadium 2022.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Busch Stadium]] is in downtown St. Louis.]]
The [[St. Louis Cardinals]] are one of the most successful franchises in [[Major League Baseball]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/history/timeline|title=St Louis Cardinals Franchise Timeline|website=[[St Louis Cardinals]]|access-date=March 1, 2022|archive-date=March 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302013549/https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/history/timeline|url-status=live}}</ref> The Cardinals have won 19 [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) titles (the [[List of National League pennant winners|most pennants for the league franchise in one city]]) and 11 [[World Series]] titles (second to the [[New York Yankees]] and the most by any NL franchise), recently in [[2011 World Series|2011]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/history/postseason-results|title=St Louis Cardinals Postseason results|website=[[St Louis Cardinals]]|access-date=March 1, 2022|archive-date=March 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302013911/https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/history/postseason-results|url-status=live}}</ref> They play at [[Busch Stadium]]. Previously, the [[History of the St. Louis Browns|St. Louis Browns]] played in the [[American League]] (AL) from 1902 to 1953, before moving to [[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]] to become the current incarnation of the [[Baltimore Orioles|Orioles]]. The [[1944 World Series]] was an all-St. Louis World Series, matching up the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Browns at [[Sportsman's Park]], won by the Cardinals in six games. It was the third and final time that the teams shared a home field. St. Louis also was home to the [[St. Louis Stars (baseball)]], also known as the St. Louis Giants from 1906 to 1921, who played in the [[Negro league baseball]] from 1920 to 1931 and won championships in 1928, 1930, and 1931, and the [[St. Louis Maroons/Indianapolis Hoosiers|St. Louis Maroons]] who played in the [[Union Association]] in 1884 and in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] from 1885 to 1889. In 1884, The St. Louis Maroons won the Union Association pennant and started the season with 20 straight wins, a feat that was not surpassed by any major professional sports team in the United States until the [[2015-16 Golden State Warriors season]] when they started their NBA season with 24 straight wins.


[[File:St. Louis blues home enterprise center.jpg|thumb|The [[Enterprise Center]] is in downtown St. Louis.]]
The city's main alternative weekly publications include the ''[[Evening Whirl]]'' and the ''[http://www.riverfronttimes.com/ Riverfront Times]''. African-American weeklies include the ''[[St. Louis Argus]]'' (est. [[1912]]), the ''[[Saint Louis American]]'' (est. [[1928]]), and the ''[[St. Louis Sentinel]]'' (est. [[1969]]). A variety of glossy monthly and quarterly publications cover topics such as local history, cuisine, and lifestyles. St. Louis is also home to the last remaining metropolitan journalism review, the ''[http://www.stljr.org/ St. Louis Journalism Review]'', based at [[Webster University]] in the suburb of [[Webster Groves, Missouri|Webster Groves]].
The [[St. Louis Blues]] of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) play at the [[Enterprise Center]]. They were one of the six teams added to the NHL in the [[1967 NHL expansion|1967 expansion]]. The Blues went to the Stanley Cup finals in their first three years, but got swept every time. Although they were the first 1967 expansion team to make the Stanley Cup Finals, they were also the last of the 1967 expansion teams to win the Stanley Cup. They finally won their first [[Stanley Cup]] in [[2019 Stanley Cup Finals|2019]] after beating the [[Boston Bruins]] in the final. This championship made St. Louis the eighth city to win a championship in each of the four major U.S. sports. Prior to the Blues, the city was home to the [[St. Louis Eagles]]. The team played in the 1934–35 season.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}


St. Louis has been home to four [[National Football League]] (NFL) teams. The [[St. Louis All-Stars]] played in the city in 1923, the [[St. Louis Gunners]] in 1934, the [[History of the St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] from 1960 to 1987, and the [[History of the St. Louis Rams|St. Louis Rams]] from 1995 to 2015. The football [[Arizona Cardinals|Cardinals]] advanced to the [[National Football League playoffs|NFL playoffs]] four times (1964, 1974, 1975 and 1982), never hosting in any appearance. They did, however, win the [[Playoff Bowl|1964 Playoff Bowl]] for third place against the Green Bay Packers by a score of 24–17. The Cardinals moved to [[Phoenix, Arizona]], in 1988. The [[Los Angeles Rams|Rams]] played at the [[The Dome at America's Center|Edward Jones Dome]] from 1995 to 2015 and won [[Super Bowl XXXIV]] in 2000. They also went to [[Super Bowl XXXVI]] but lost to the [[New England Patriots]]. The Rams then returned to [[Los Angeles]] in 2016.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
The St. Louis metro area is served by a wide variety of local television stations, and is the twenty-first largest [[designated market area]] (DMA) in the U.S., with 1,222,380 homes (1.11% of the total U.S.). The major network television affiliates are [[KMOV]] 4 ([[CBS]]), [[KDNL]] 30 ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]), [[KSDK]] 5 ([[National Broadcasting Company]]), [[KTVI]] 2 ([[Fox Broadcasting Company]]), [[KPLR]] 11 ([[The WB Television Network|WB]]), and [[WRBU]] 46 ([[UPN]]). There is also a [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] station at [[KETC]] 9. In September of 2006, KPLR will become the St. Louis [[Tribune Broadcasting]] O&O station for the new [[The CW Television Network|The CW]], a joint venture between [[CBS Corporation]] and [[Time-Warner]].


The [[Atlanta Hawks|St. Louis Hawks]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) played at [[Kiel Auditorium]] from 1955 to 1968. They won the [[List of NBA champions|NBA championship]] in [[1958 NBA Finals|1958]] and played in three other [[NBA Finals]]: [[1957 NBA Finals|1957]], [[1960 NBA Finals|1960]], and [[1961 NBA Finals|1961]]. In 1968 the Hawks moved to [[Atlanta]]. St. Louis was also the home to the [[St. Louis Bombers]] of the [[Basketball Association of America]] from 1946 to 1949 and the [[National Basketball Association]] from 1949 to 1950 and the [[Spirits of St. Louis]] of the [[American Basketball Association]] from 1974 to 1976 when the ABA and NBA merged.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
The region's radio airwaves offer a variety of locally produced programming. [[KMOX]] (1120 AM), which pioneered the call-in talk radio format in the [[1960]]s, retains significant regional influence due to its 50,000-watt clear-channel signal and an unusually active newsroom operation. [[Public radio]] station [[KWMU]] (90.7 FM), an [[National Public Radio|NPR]] affiliate, also provides extensive, locally produced programming treating social issues, politics, and the arts. St. Louis is one of only a handful of U.S. cities to have its own independent [[community radio]] station, [[KDHX]] (88.1 FM), which features a wide range of music and talk from local residents. [[Washington University in St. Louis]]' [[Campus radio|college radio]] station, [[KWUR]] (90.3 FM), also provides community broadcasting and an eclectic mix of [[underground music]].


[[File:City Park, Saint Louis.jpg|alt=CityPark - St. Louis CITY SC|thumb|[[Energizer Park]] is in downtown St. Louis.]]
===Music===
[[Major League Soccer]]'s [[St. Louis City SC]] began play in 2023 at [[Energizer Park]]. Their [[MLS Next Pro]] affiliate is [[St. Louis City 2]], which began play in 2022 and also plays at Energizer Park. Formerly, [[USL Championship]]'s [[Saint Louis FC]] played in the area from 2015 to 2020 at [[World Wide Technology Soccer Park]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
St. Louis is the home of the world-renowned [[Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra]] which was founded in St. Louis in 1880--the second oldest orchestra in the nation--and which has over the years been honored with six Grammy Awards and fifty-six nominations. Historic [[Powell Symphony Hall]] on North Grand Boulevard has been the permanent home of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra since 1968. [[Leonard Slatkin]] is one of the orchestra's major conductors; presently he conducts the [[National Symphony Orchestra]] in [[Washington, DC]].


The [[St. Louis BattleHawks]] of the [[XFL (2020)|XFL]] began play in 2020, using [[The Dome at America's Center]] as their home field. After a two-year hiatus of the league, the Battlehawks returned in 2023, when the XFL resumed play.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
The [[Opera Theatre of Saint Louis]] is an annual summer festival of opera performed in English, originally co-founded by [[Richard Gaddes]] in 1968; he is now the director of the [[Santa Fe Opera]]. [[Union Avenue Opera Theatre]], formed in the early 1990s, is a smaller but thriving company that performs opera in the original languages.


St. Louis hosts several minor league sports teams. The [[Gateway Grizzlies]] of the independent [[Frontier League]] play in the area in [[Grizzlies Ballpark|Sauget, IL]]. The [[St. Louis Trotters]] of the [[Independent Basketball Association]] play at Matthews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club. The [[St. Louis Ambush (2013)|St. Louis Ambush]] indoor soccer team plays in nearby [[St. Charles, Missouri|St. Charles]] at the [[Family Arena]] as a part of the [[Major Arena Soccer League]]. The [[St. Louis Slam]] play in the [[Women's Football Alliance]] at [[Harlen C. Hunter Stadium]].
St. Louis has long been associated with great [[ragtime]], [[jazz]] and [[blues]] music. Early [[rock and roll]] singer/guitarist [[Chuck Berry]] is a native St. Louisan and continues to perform there several times a year. [[Soul music]] artists [[Ike Turner]] and [[Tina Turner]] and [[jazz]] innovator [[Miles Davis]] began their careers in nearby [[East St. Louis, Illinois]]. St. Louis has also been a popular stop along the infamous [[Chitlin Circuit]].


The region hosts [[INDYCAR]], [[NHRA]] [[drag racing]], and [[NASCAR]] events at [[World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway]] in [[Madison, Illinois]]. [[Thoroughbred]] [[flat racing]] events are hosted at [[Fairmount Park Racetrack]] near [[Collinsville, Illinois]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
Popular Music and entertainment in St. Louis peaked in the 1960s due to the popularity of [[Gaslight Square]], a thriving local nightclub district that attracted nationally known musicians and performers. This area was all but extinct by the early 1970s and today is the site of a new housing development.


===College and amateur sports===
In the 1990s, the metro area produced several prominent [[alt-country]] artists, including [[Uncle Tupelo]], a [[Belleville, Illinois]] trio often considered the originators of the style, and [[The Bottle Rockets]]. More recently, the rise of [[Nelly]], [[The Saint Lunatics]], [[Murphy Lee]], [[Chingy]], [[J-Kwon]], [[Ebony Eyez]] and other musicians have made it one of the centers of [[hip hop music|rap]] and hip-hop, often mentioned side-by-side with [[New York City]], [[Atlanta]], [[Los Angeles]], and [[Detroit]].
St. Louis has hosted the [[Final Four]] of both the women's and men's [[college basketball]] [[NCAA Division I]] championship tournaments, and the [[Frozen Four]] collegiate ice hockey tournament. [[Saint Louis University]]<!-- DO NOT CHANGE; the university ALWAYS is referred to as "Saint Louis University" and is never abbreviated --> has won 10 NCAA men's soccer championships, and the city has hosted the [[NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|College Cup]] several times. In addition to collegiate soccer, many St. Louisans have played for the [[United States men's national soccer team]], and 20 St. Louisans have been elected into the [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]]. St. Louis also is the origin of the sport of [[corkball]], a type of baseball in which there is no base running.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}


Although the area does not have a [[National Basketball Association]] team, it hosts the St. Louis Phoenix, an [[American Basketball Association (2000–present)|American Basketball Association]] team.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
===Parks and outdoor attractions===
[[Image:Forest_PK_bridge.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Old footbridge in Forest Park.]] The city operates 105 parks that serve as gathering spots for neighbors to meet, and contains playgrounds, areas for summer [[concert]]s, picnics, [[baseball]] games, [[tennis]] courts, and lakes.


[[Club Atletico Saint Louis]], a semi-professional soccer team, competes within the [[National Premier Soccer League]] and plays out of [[St. Louis University High School|St. Louis University High School Soccer Stadium]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]], located on the western edge of the central corridor of the City of St. Louis, is one of the largest urban parks in the world, outsizing [[Central Park]] in [[New York City]] by 500 acres. It offers many of St. Louis' most popular attractions: the [[Saint Louis Zoological Park]], the [[The Muny|Municipal Theatre]] (also known as, ''The Muny'', the largest and oldest outdoor musical theatre in the United States), the [[St. Louis Science Center]] (with its architecturally distinctive [[St. Louis Science Center#McDonnell Planetarium|McDonnell Planetarium]]), the [[Saint Louis Art Museum]], the [[Missouri History Museum]], several lakes, and scenic, open areas. Forest Park completed a multimillion dollar renovation in [[2004]] for the centennial of the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition|St. Louis World's Fair]]. The Zoo, Art Museum, and Science Center are all world-class institutions. The Zoo-Museum Tax District provides them operating funds, so general admission to them, as well as to the History Museum, is free.


===Chess===
The [[Missouri Botanical Garden]], also known as ''Shaw's Garden'', is one of the world's leading [[botany|botanical research]] centers. It possesses a beautiful collection of flowering plants, shrubs, and [[tree]]s, and includes the Japanese Garden, which features a lake filled with [[koi]] and gravel designs; the woodsy English Garden; the Home Gardening Center; a rose garden; the [[Geodesic dome|Climatron]]; a children's garden and playground; and many other scenic gardens. Immediately south of the Missouri Botanical Garden is [[Tower Grove Park]], a gift to the City by [[Henry Shaw (botanist)|Henry Shaw]].
[[File:SinquefieldCup2015.jpg|thumb|The [[Sinquefield Cup]] chess tournament is hosted annually in St. Louis.]]
St. Louis is home to the [[Saint Louis Chess Club]] where the [[U.S. Chess Championship]] is held. St. Louisan [[Rex Sinquefield]] founded the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis (which was renamed as St. Louis Chess Club later) and moved the [[World Chess Hall of Fame]] to St. Louis in 2011. The [[Sinquefield Cup]] Tournament started at St. Louis in 2013. In 2014 the Sinquefield Cup was the highest-rated chess tournament of all time. Former U.S. Chess Champions [[Fabiano Caruana]] and [[Hikaru Nakamura]] have lived in St. Louis. Former women's chess champion [[Susan Polgar]] also resides in St. Louis.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}


==Parks and recreation==
The [[Jefferson National Expansion Memorial]] is a 90.96 acre national park located on the downtown riverfront where the city was first founded in 1764, and commemorates the westward growth of the United States between 1803 and 1890. The centerpiece of the park is the stainless steel Gateway Arch, which is the most recognizable structure in the city. It was designed by noted architect [[Eero Saarinen]] and completed on October 28, 1965. At 630 feet (192 m), it is the tallest manmade monument in the [[United States]]. Located below the Arch is the Museum of Westward Expansion, which contains an extensive collection of artifacts and details the story of the thousands of people who lived in and settled the American West during the nineteenth century. Nearby and also part of the memorial is the historic Old Courthouse, one of the oldest standing buildings in St. Louis. Begun in 1839, it was here that the first two trials of the [[Dred Scott case]] were held in 1847 and 1850. This park is also the location of the annual [[Independence Day (United States)|July 4th]] festival, [[Fair Saint Louis]].
{{Main|Parks in St. Louis}}
{{for|parks in the region|Parks in Greater St. Louis}}
[[File:Forest_Park,_St_Louis.jpg|thumb|[[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]] features a variety of attractions, including the [[St. Louis Zoo]], the [[Saint Louis Art Museum|St. Louis Art Museum]], the [[Missouri History Museum]], and the [[St. Louis Science Center]].]]
The city operates more than 100 parks, with amenities that include sports facilities, playgrounds, concert areas, picnic areas, and lakes. [[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]], located on the western edge of city, is the largest, occupying 1,400 acres of land, making it almost twice as large as [[Central Park]] in New York City.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com" /> The park is home to five major institutions, including the [[Saint Louis Art Museum|St. Louis Art Museum]], the [[St. Louis Zoo]], the [[St. Louis Science Center]], the [[Missouri History Museum]], and [[the Muny]] amphitheatre.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com" /> Another significant park in the city is [[Gateway Arch National Park]], which was known as Jefferson National Expansion Memorial until 2018 and is located on the riverfront in downtown St. Louis. The centerpiece of the park is the {{convert|630|ft|m|adj=mid|0}} tall [[Gateway Arch]], a [[National Memorial (United States)|National Memorial]] designed by noted architect [[Eero Saarinen]] and completed on October 28, 1965. Also part of the historic park is the [[Old Courthouse (St. Louis)|Old Courthouse]], where the first two trials of ''[[Dred Scott v. Sandford]]'' were held in 1847 and 1850.


[[File:JewelBox2013.jpg|thumb|The [[Jewel Box (St. Louis)|Jewel Box]] is a greenhouse and event venue in [[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]].]]
===Sports===
Other parks include the [[Missouri Botanical Garden]], [[Tower Grove Park]], [[Carondelet Park]], and [[Citygarden]]. The Missouri Botanical Garden, a private garden and botanical research facility, is a National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest botanical gardens in the United States.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com" /> The Garden features 79 acres of horticultural displays from around the world. This includes a Japanese strolling garden, [[Henry Shaw (philanthropist)|Henry Shaw]]'s original 1850 estate home and a geodesic dome called the [[Climatron]].<ref name="huffingtonpost.com" /> Immediately south of the Missouri Botanical Garden is [[Tower Grove Park]], a gift to the city by [[Henry Shaw (philanthropist)|Henry Shaw]]. Citygarden is an urban [[sculpture park]] located in downtown St. Louis, with art from [[Fernand Léger]], [[Aristide Maillol]], [[Julian Opie]], [[Tom Otterness]], [[Niki de Saint Phalle]], and [[Mark di Suvero]].<ref>Tim Bryant, "[https://archive.today/20090704020513/http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/building-blocks/uncategorized/2009/07/citygarden-an-immediate-hit-with-visitors/ Citygarden an immediate hit with visitors]." St. Louis Post-Dispatch. July 1, 2009.</ref><ref>[[David Bonetti]], "[https://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/visualarts/story/EFB03D819B8415B7862575E2000ACAB1?OpenDocument Spectacular Citygarden is opening on schedule in St. Louis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090701021430/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/visualarts/story/EFB03D819B8415B7862575E2000ACAB1?OpenDocument |date=July 1, 2009}}", ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', June 28, 2009.</ref> The park is divided into three sections, each of which represent a different theme: river bluffs; flood plains; and urban gardens. Another downtown sculpture park is the Serra Sculpture Park, with the 1982 [[Richard Serra]] sculpture ''Twain''.<ref name="serra">[http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov//parks/parks_div/serra.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623155228/http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov//parks/parks_div/serra.html|date=June 23, 2011}}</ref>
<!-- Table Header -->
<tr bgcolor="#ADADAD">
<td width="150px">'''Club'''</td>
<td width="120px" align="left">'''Sport'''</td>
<td width="270px" align="left">'''League'''</td>
<td width="180px" align="left">'''Venue'''</td>
<td width="50px" align="left">'''Logo'''</td>
</tr>
<!-- Rows -->
<tr bgcolor="#ffffff'>
<td width="150px">[[St. Louis Cardinals]]</td>
<td width="120px" align="left">[[Major League Baseball]]</td>
<td width="270px" align="left">[[National League]]</td>
<td width="180px" align="left">[[Busch Stadium]]</td>
<td width="50px" align="left">[[Image:Saint Louis Cardinals Logo.svg|30px|St. Louis Cardinals Logo]]</td>
<tr bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td width="150px">[[St. Louis Rams]]</td>
<td width="120px" align="left">[[American Football|Football]]</td>
<td width="270px" align="left">[[National Football League]] : [[National Football Conference|NFC]]</td>
<td width="180px" align="left">[[Edward Jones Dome]]</td>
<td width="50px" align="left">[[Image:StLouisRams_100.png|30px|St. Louis Rams Logo]]</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td width="150px">[[St. Louis Blues (hockey)|St. Louis Blues]]</td>
<td width="120px" align="left">[[Ice Hockey]]</td>
<td width="270px" align="left">[[National Hockey League]]</td>
<td width="180px" align="left">[[Savvis Center]]</td>
<td width="50px" align="left">[[Image:StLouisBlues_100.png|30px|St. Louis Blues Logo]]</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td width="150px">[[St. Louis Steamers]]</td>
<td width="120px" align="left">[[Soccer]]</td>
<td width="270px" align="left">[[Major Indoor Soccer League]]</td>
<td width="180px" align="left">[[Savvis Center]]</td>
<td width="50px" align="left">[[Image:Steamers2.gif|30px|St. Louis Steamers Logo]]</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td width="150px">[[River City Rage]]</td>
<td width="120px" align="left">[[Arena Football]]</td>
<td width="270px" align="left">[[National Indoor Football League]]</td>
<td width="180px" align="left">[[Savvis Center]]</td>
<td width="50px" align="left">[[Image:RiverCity_Ragelogo.jpg|30px|RiverCity_Ragelogo.jpg]]</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td width="150px">[[St. Louis Aces]]</td>
<td width="120px" align="left">[[Tennis]]</td>
<td width="270px" align="left">[[World TeamTennis Pro League]]</td>
<td width="180px" align="left">[[Dwight Davis Memorial Tennis Center]]</td>
</tr>
</table>
----
Enthusiastic and knowledgeable fans give the city a reputation as "a top-notch sports town" and "Baseball City USA." [[The Sporting News]] rated St. Louis the nation's "Best Sports City." Although the city has or had professional football, hockey, and basketball teams, it is baseball that is undeniably the epicenter of the city's sporting life. The [[St. Louis Cardinals]], one of the oldest franchises in [[Major League Baseball]], have won 9 World Championships, second only to the [[New York Yankees]].


==Government==
[[Image:Busch_Stadium_June2006_2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|A view of the new [[Busch Stadium]] from the top of the [[Gateway Arch]].]]
St. Louis is one of the 41 [[Independent city (United States)|independent cities in the U.S.]] that does not legally belong to any [[County (United States)|county]].<ref name="USDoC2001">{{Cite web|url=http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip6-4.htm|title=Counties and Equivalent Entities of the United States, Its Possessions, and Associated Areas; Change Notice No. 7|access-date=May 27, 2006|year=2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929074056/http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip6-4.htm|archive-date=September 29, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> St. Louis has a strong [[mayor–council government]] with legislative authority and oversight vested in the [[St. Louis Board of Aldermen|Board of Aldermen]] and with executive authority in the [[Mayor of St. Louis|mayor]] and six other elected officials.<ref name="citygovt">{{cite web |url=http://stlouis-mo.gov/government/elected-officials.cfm |title=City of St. Louis Elected Officials |publisher=Stlouis-mo.gov |date=July 8, 2010 |access-date=March 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406092135/http://stlouis-mo.gov/government/elected-officials.cfm |archive-date=April 6, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Board of Aldermen is made up of 28 members (one elected from each of the city's wards) plus a board president who is elected citywide.<ref>[http://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/aldermen/about/index.cfm Guide to the Board of Aldermen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028005547/http://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/aldermen/about/index.cfm |date=October 28, 2013}}, StLouis-mo.gov</ref> The 2014 fiscal year budget topped $1 billion for the first time, a 1.9% increase over the $985.2 million budget in 2013.<ref name="2014budget">{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morning_call/2014/07/citys-budget-tops-1-billion-for-first-time.html |title=City's budget tops $1 billion for first time |work=[[Business Journal]] |date=July 1, 2014 |access-date=July 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714235017/http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/morning_call/2014/07/citys-budget-tops-1-billion-for-first-time.html |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> 238,253 registered voters lived in the city in 2012,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/registeredvoters.asp?rvmID=0012 |title=SoS, Missouri – Elections: Registered Voters in Missouri 2012 |publisher=Sos.mo.gov |access-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025023240/http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/registeredvoters.asp?rvmID=0012 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> down from 239,247 in 2010, and 257,442 in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/registeredvoters.asp?rvmID=0008 |title=SoS, Missouri – Elections: Registered Voters in Missouri 2008 |publisher=Sos.mo.gov |access-date=April 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116213949/http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/registeredvoters.asp?rvmID=0008 |archive-date=November 16, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The city of St. Louis has earned 12 professional sports championships. As mentioned earlier, the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] have won 9 [[World Series]] Championships with one of the championships played against the old cross-city rival the [[St. Louis Browns]] in [[1944]]. The [[St. Louis Rams]] have won one [[Super Bowl]] Championship ([[2000 in sports|Super Bowl XXIV]] in January [[2000 in sports|2000]]), and the [[St. Louis Hawks]] (who later moved to Atlanta) gave the city its lone NBA Championship ([[1957-58 NBA season|1958]]). On top of that, the [[St. Louis Blues (hockey)|St. Louis Blues]] hold the record for most consecutive playoff appearances in all of sports with 26 straight. The Blues have also made 3 trips to the [[Stanley Cup]] Finals but have never won the championship.


===Structure===
St. Louis was also home to two prominent twentieth-century [[Boxing|boxers]], brothers [[Leon Spinks|Leon]] and [[Michael Spinks]]. The two are the only brothers in boxing history to have both captured the Heavyweight boxing title.
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin: .46em 0 0 1em"
|-
! Citywide office<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/|title=City of St. Louis Departments|website=Stlouis-mo.gov|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811005650/https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/|archive-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/aldermen/Wards-1-28.cfm |title=Wards and Aldermen |access-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026194115/https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/aldermen/Wards-1-28.cfm |url-status=live}}</ref>
!Elected official
|-
|[[Mayor of St. Louis]]
|[[Tishaura Jones]]
|-
|President of the [[St. Louis Board of Aldermen|Board of Aldermen]]
|[[Megan Green]]
|-
|City Comptroller
|Darlene Green
|-
|Recorder of Deeds
|Michael Butler
|-
|Collector of Revenue
|Gregory F.X. Daly
|-
|License Collector
|Mavis T. Thompson
|-
|Treasurer
|Adam Layne
|-
|Circuit Attorney
|Gabe Gore
|-
|City of St. Louis Sheriff
|Vernon Betts
|-
|}
[[File:Tishaura Jones crop.jpg|thumb|St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones in 2017]]
The mayor is the chief executive officer of the city and is responsible for appointing city department heads including; the director of public safety, the director of streets & traffic, the director of health, the director of human services, the director of the airport, the director of parks & recreation, the director of workforce development, the director of the Community Development Agency, the director of economic development, the director of public utilities, the director of the Civil Rights Enforcement Agency, the register, and the assessor, among other department-level or senior administrative positions. The President of the Board of Aldermen is the second highest-ranking official in the city. The President is the presiding officer of the Board of Aldermen which is the legislative branch of government of the city.


Municipal elections in St. Louis are held in odd-numbered years, with the primary elections in March and the general election in April. The mayor is elected in odd-numbered years following the United States presidential election using a top-two [[approval voting]] primary.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=2021-03-01 |title=St. Louis mayoral candidates, voters deal with new rules in Tuesday's primary |url=https://www.stltoday.com/life-entertainment/local/wellness/st-louis-mayoral-candidates-voters-deal-with-new-rules-in-tuesday-s-primary/article_4335d64e-7dc2-5f6b-832e-d02edc54477b.html |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |location=St. Louis |access-date=2024-05-24}}</ref> The aldermen representing odd-numbered wards are up for election at the same time as the mayor. The president of the board of aldermen and the aldermen from even-numbered wards are elected in the off-years. The [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] has dominated St. Louis city politics for decades. The city has not had a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] mayor since 1949, and the last time a Republican was elected to another citywide office was in the 1970s. {{as of|2015}}, all 28 of the city's aldermen are Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/2015/05/first-time-all-28-aldermen-are-democrats/|title=First Time All 28 Aldermen Are Democrats – UrbanReview - ST LOUIS|website=webcache.googleusercontent.com|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616121145/http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3AN5ob6C_jyuAJ%3Awww.urbanreviewstl.com%2F2015%2F05%2Ffirst-time-all-28-aldermen-are-democrats%2F+&ct=clnk&gl=us|archive-date=June 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
St. Louis is notable as arguably the biggest hotbed of [[Soccer]] in the [[United States]]. The [[Saint Louis University]] soccer team is amongst the elite of [[NCAA]] soccer, and several American soccer stars, such as [[Taylor Twellman]], [[Mike Sorber]], and [[Pat Noonan]] hail from St. Louis. Despite soccer's popularity in the area, St. Louis is yet to gain a [[Major League Soccer]] franchise, but plans are currently in the works. Currently, the highest ranking soccer club in St. Louis is the [[St. Louis Steamers]].


Forty-seven individuals have held the office of mayor of St. Louis, four of whom—[[William Carr Lane]], [[John Fletcher Darby]], [[John Wimer]], and [[John How]]—served non-consecutive terms. The most terms served by a mayor was by Lane, who served 8 full terms plus the unexpired term of Darby. The current mayor is [[Tishaura Jones]], who took office April 20, 2021, and is the first African-American woman to hold the post. She succeeded [[Lyda Krewson]], the first female mayor of the city, who retired in 2021 after serving for four years. The longest-serving mayor was [[Francis Slay]], who took office April 17, 2001, and left office April 18, 2017, a total of 16 years and six days over four terms in office. The shortest-serving mayor was [[Arthur Barret]], who died 11 days after taking office.
[[Professional Wrestling]] also has firm roots in St. Louis. Essentially, three men combined to make the Mound City not only the "Gateway to the West," but the unofficial capital of professional wrestling. The three men were [[Tom Packs]], [[Sam Muchnick]], and [[Lou Thesz]]. [[Wrestling at the Chase]] was a popular weekly event for hundreds of thousands of fans for several decades, both live and on television. St. Louis is also home to former [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) World Champion and currently one of the sport's top performers, [[Randy Orton]].


Although St. Louis separated from St. Louis County in 1876, some mechanisms have been put in place for joint funding management and funding of regional assets. The St. Louis Zoo-Museum district collects property taxes from residents of both St. Louis City and County, and the funds are used to support cultural institutions including the [[St. Louis Zoo]], [[Saint Louis Art Museum|St. Louis Art Museum]] and the [[Missouri Botanical Gardens]]. Similarly, the Metropolitan Sewer District provides sanitary and storm sewer service to the city and much of St. Louis County. The Bi-State Development Agency (now known as Metro) runs the region's [[MetroLink (St. Louis)|MetroLink]] light rail system and bus system.
In [[2006]], the [[College Cup]] will be played at [[Hermann Stadium]] on the campus of [[Saint Louis University]].


{{Infobox law enforcement agency
The [[Savvis Center]] will host the 2007 [[Frozen Four]] college ice hockey tournament on [[April 5]] and [[April 7]], [[2007]]. The Savvis Center also hosts the annual "Braggin' Rights" game, a men's college basketball rivalry game between the universities of [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|Illinois]] and [[University of Missouri - Columbia|Missouri]]. St. Louis is roughly equidistant from the two campuses.
| agencyname = St. Louis City Sheriff's Department
| commonname =
| abbreviation = STL-SO
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| badge = STLCSO.jpg
| patchcaption = The current patch of the St. Louis City Sheriff's Office
| motto = Professionalism, Honesty, Integrity, and Courage
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| unitname = {{collapsible list |title=5 | Civil Process Information |Court Information | Land Tax Sales | Conceal and Carry Firearm Permit| Sheriff's Office Events | Eviction Procedures and Policy | Courtroom Security
| stationtype =
| stations =
| anniversary1 =
| website = https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/sheriff/index.cfm / Sheriff's Office - City of St. Louis official website]
}}
}}


The City of St. Louis Sheriff's Office (STLSO or STLCSO) primarily provides security services for the courtrooms, and serves court documents and issues gun carry permits. In 2022, it gained the ability to make arrests and traffic stops.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=S |first1=Nicole |last2=ers |title=New certification to allow St. Louis City deputies to make arrests, traffic stops |url=https://www.kmov.com/2022/05/24/new-certification-allow-st-louis-city-deputies-make-arrests-traffic-stops/ |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=KMOV |date=May 24, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113010653/https://www.kmov.com/2022/05/24/new-certification-allow-st-louis-city-deputies-make-arrests-traffic-stops/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
In March [[2005]], the [[Edward Jones Dome]] in St. Louis hosted the final two rounds of the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship]], also known as the Final Four. In April [[2009]], the Edward Jones Dome will host the [[NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship]] Final Four.


===State and federal government===
[[Gateway International Raceway]] hosts [[NHRA]] Drag Racing and [[NASCAR]] racing events 5 miles east of the city in [[Madison, Illinois]].
{{PresHead|place=St. Louis, Missouri|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=October 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|archive-date=March 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|19,342|94,458|3,179|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|21,474|110,089|2,809|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|20,832|104,235|7,420|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|22,943|118,780|2,343|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|24,662|132,925|1,517|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|27,793|116,133|712|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|24,799|96,557|3,396|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|22,121|91,233|8,649|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|25,441|102,356|19,607|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|40,906|110,076|732|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|61,020|112,318|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|50,333|113,697|6,721|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|58,367|118,703|2,714|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|72,402|119,817|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|58,252|143,010|19,652|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|59,604|207,958|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|101,331|202,319|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|130,045|202,210|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|144,828|235,893|427|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|120,656|220,654|2,460|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|134,411|204,687|821|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|168,165|233,338|948|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|127,887|260,063|8,880|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|123,448|226,338|7,319|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|161,701|176,428|1,065|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|139,433|95,888|29,276|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|163,280|106,047|13,325|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|83,798|74,059|4,175|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|46,509|58,845|34,973|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|74,160|60,917|5,473|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|57,547|51,858|6,387|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|60,597|59,931|4,046|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|65,708|50,091|1,197|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|35,528|34,669|942|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|33,656|27,401|1,969|Missouri}}


St. Louis is split between 8 districts in the [[Missouri House of Representatives]]: the 76th, 77th, 78th, 79th, 80th, 81st, 82nd, and 84th districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Maps/StatewideHouseMap(FilingOnly).pdf|title=Statewide House Map|publisher=[[Missouri Secretary of State]]|date=January 21, 2022|access-date=August 9, 2023|archive-date=August 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232028/https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Maps/StatewideHouseMap(FilingOnly).pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The 5th [[Missouri Senate]] district is entirely within the city, while the 4th is shared with St. Louis County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Maps//2022JRCStatewideSenateDistrictMap.pdf|title=Statewide Senate Map|publisher=[[Missouri Secretary of State]]|date=Mar 15, 2022|accessdate=August 9, 2023|archive-date=March 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307011319/https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections//Maps//2022JRCStatewideSenateDistrictMap.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
There are also several minor league teams in the area. The [[Gateway Grizzlies]] ([[Minor League Baseball]]) of the [[Frontier League]], which plays at [[GMC Stadium]] across the river in [[Sauget, Illinois]]. The [[River City Rascals]] ([[Minor League Baseball]]) also of the [[Frontier League]], play at [[T.R. Hughes Stadium]] in nearby [[O'Fallon, Missouri]]. The [[Missouri River Otters]] ([[United Hockey League]]) play at [[Family Arena]] in [[St. Charles, Missouri]]. The [[River City Rage]] are an [[Arena Football]] team that play in the [[National Indoor Football League]] at [[Family Arena]]. The [[St. Louis Flight]] are a [[basketball]] team that play in the newly reincarnated [[American Basketball Association]], also at [[Family Arena]].


At the federal level, St. Louis is the heart of {{ushr|MO|1}}, which also includes part of northern St. Louis County.<ref name="districtmaps">{{cite web |url=http://www.mdn.org/2012/DATA/MAPS/ |title=Missouri's New Congressional District Maps |publisher=Missouri Digital News |access-date=January 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226002316/http://www.mdn.org/2012/DATA/MAPS/ |archive-date=December 26, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> A Republican has not represented a significant portion of St. Louis in the U.S. House since 1953. The city shifted from Republican voting to a Democratic stronghold at the presidential level since 1928. [[George H. W. Bush]] in 1988 was the most recent Republican to win even a quarter of the city's votes in a presidential election.
St. Louis is also one of the few cities in the country that plays host to local [[Corkball]] leagues. Corkball is a "mini-baseball" game featuring a 1.6 oz. ball and bat with a barrel that measures just 1.5". Corkball is St. Louis' classic baseball game. Originally played on the streets and alleys of St. Louis in the early 1900s, today the game has leagues formed around the country as a result of St. Louis servicemen introducing the game to their buddies during [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War|Korean conflict]]. It has many of the features of baseball, yet can be played in a very small area because there is no base-running.


The [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit]] and the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri]] are based in the [[Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse]] in downtown St. Louis. St. Louis is also home to a [[Federal Reserve System]] branch, the [[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]]. The [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]] (NGA) also maintains major facilities in the St. Louis area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who We Are |publisher=[[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]] |date=August 4, 2008 |url=https://www1.nga.mil/About/WhoWeAre/Pages/default.aspx |access-date=January 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226234207/http://www1.nga.mil/ABOUT/WHOWEARE/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=February 26, 2009}}</ref>
Nearby [[Town and Country, Missouri|Town and Country]] is home to the [[Bellerive Country Club]], which has hosted several golf [[major championships]].


The Military Personnel Records Center (NPRC-MPR) located at 9700 Page Avenue in St. Louis, is a branch of the National Personnel Records Center and is the repository of over 56 million military personnel records and medical records pertaining to retired, discharged, and deceased veterans of the U.S. armed forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.gov/veterans|title=Veterans' Service Records|website=Archives.gov|date=August 15, 2016|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729095003/https://www.archives.gov/veterans|archive-date=July 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Government==
The City of St. Louis has a [[mayor-council]] type government, with the legislative authority vested in a [[Board of Aldermen]] and the [[Mayor of St. Louis|mayor]] having primary executive authority. The Board of Aldermen is made up of 28 members (one elected from each of the city's wards) plus a board president who is elected city-wide. Unlike many other cities, the mayor shares some executive authority with 9 other independent citywide elected officials, including a treasurer, comptroller, and collector of revenue. These officials have significant influence. By custom and tradition the individual aldermen have a great deal of influence over decisions impacting the ward they represent on matters ranging from zoning changes, to street resurfacing.


==Education==
Municipal elections in St. Louis city are held in odd numbered years, with the primary elections in March and the general election in April. The mayor is elected in odd numbered years following the United States Presidential Election, as are the aldermen representing odd-numbered wards. The President of the Board of Aldermen and the aldermen from even-numbered wards are elected in the off-years. The [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] has dominated St. Louis city politics for decades. The city has not had a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] mayor since the [[1940s]] and the last time a Republican was elected to another city-wide office was in the [[1970s]]. As of 2006, 27 of the city's 28 Aldermen are Democrats.
{{Main|Education in St. Louis}}
{{for|education in the region|Education in Greater St. Louis}}


===Colleges and universities===
Although St. Louis City and County separated in 1876, some mechanisms have been put in place for joint funding management and funding of regional assets. The St. Louis Zoo-Museum district collects property taxes from residents of both St. Louis City and County and the funds are used to support cultural instituions including the [[St. Louis Zoo]], [[St. Louis Art Museum]] and the [[Missouri Botanical Gardens]]. Similarly, the Metropolitan Sewer District provides sanitary and storm sewer service to the city and much of St. Louis County. The Bi-State Development Agency (now known as Metro) runs the region's [[Metrolink]] light rail system and bus system.
[[File:WUBrookings.JPG|alt=|thumb|[[Brookings Hall]] is at [[Washington University in St. Louis]].]]
The city is home to three national research universities, [[Washington University in St. Louis]], [[Saint Louis University]]<!-- DO NOT CHANGE; the university ALWAYS is referred to as "Saint Louis University" and is never abbreviated -->, as classified under the [[Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education]]. [[Washington University School of Medicine]] in St. Louis has been ranked among the top 10 medical schools in the country by ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' for as long as the list has been published, and as high as second, in 2003 and 2004. ''U.S. News & World Report'' also ranks the undergraduate school and other graduate schools, such as the [[Washington University School of Law]], in the top 20 in the nation.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis-2520 |title=Overview of Washington University in St. Louis |work=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |access-date=December 19, 2019 |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704014936/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis-2520 |url-status=live}}</ref>


St. Louis Metropolitan Region is home to [[St. Louis Community College]]. It is also home to several other four-year colleges & universities, including [[Harris–Stowe State University]], a [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black]] [[public university]], Fontbonne University, Webster University, Missouri Baptist University, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (the former Saint Louis College of Pharmacy), Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE), and Lindenwood University.
The City of St. Louis is split roughly in half north to south by Missouri's first and third U.S. [[Congressional district]]s. Each district also includes a significant portion of St. Louis County. The City of St. Louis includes all of 9 [[Missouri House of Representatives]] districts and a portion of two others. Two [[Missouri State Senate]] districts are entirely within the city's boundaries and a third district is split between St. Louis City and County.


In addition to Catholic theological institutions such as [[Kenrick-Glennon Seminary]] and [[Aquinas Institute of Theology]] sponsored by the [[Dominican Order|Order of Preachers]], St. Louis is home to three [[Protestant]] seminaries: [[Eden Theological Seminary]] of the [[United Church of Christ]], [[Covenant Theological Seminary]] of the [[Presbyterian Church in America]], and [[Concordia Seminary]] of the St. Louis-based [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]].
== Economy ==
{{main|Economy of St. Louis, Missouri}}
St. Louis punches above its weight as a center for corporate headquarters. Beer commercials have made the city well known as the home of [[Anheuser-Busch]] Breweries. Three local brokerages, [[A.G. Edwards]], [[Stifel Nicolaus]] and [[Edward Jones (brokerage firm)|Edward Jones]], as well as online brokerage Scottrade, have grown into dominant players on the national financial landscape. It is also the site for the headquarters of [[Energizer Holdings|Energizer]], the battery company. Neighboring suburbs host [[Monsanto]], formerly a chemical company and now a leader in [[genetically modified]] [[agriculture|crops]], and [[Solutia]], the former Monsanto chemical division that was spun off as a separate company in [[1997]]. [[Express Scripts]], a pharmaceutrical benefits management firm, has its corporate headquarters in the suburbs of St. Louis and recently announced plans to construct its new headquarters near the campus of the [[University of Missouri-St. Louis]]. [[Hardee's]] corporate headquarters lies in the metro area. [[Enterprise Rent-A-Car]] is headquartered in [[Clayton, Missouri|Clayton]]. [[Emerson Electric]] is headquartered in the north side of St. Louis. [[Charter Communications]], the nation's fourth largest broadband communications company, is headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of Town and Country.


===Primary and secondary schools===
In recent years, however, several longtime corporate pillars have left St. Louis. St. Louis was the corporate headquarters of [[McDonnell-Douglas]] prior to its 1997 merger with [[Boeing]]. Upon the merger, the area became the headquarters for Boeing's $27 billion-per-year Integrated Defense Systems division and its company-wide Phantom Works R&D operation. Locally, Boeing manufactures the [[F/A-18]] Super Hornet and [[JDAM]] smart bombs, and has developed — at times secretly — several unmanned combat air vehicles ([[UCAV]]s). However, when Boeing relocated its corporate headquarters from [[Seattle, Washington]] in [[2001]], it moved to [[Chicago, Illinois]] — St. Louis was not one of the final candidates.
[[File:SLUH.JPG|thumb|[[St. Louis University High School]] was founded in 1818. Its current building was built in 1924.]]
The [[St. Louis Public Schools]] (SLPS), which covers the entire city,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29510_st_louis/DC20SD_C29510.pdf|title=2020 census - school district reference map: St. Louis city, MO|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 22, 2022|archive-date=July 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722203746/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29510_st_louis/DC20SD_C29510.pdf|url-status=live}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29510_st_louis/DC20SD_C29510_SD2MS.txt Text list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722203641/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29510_st_louis/DC20SD_C29510_SD2MS.txt |date=July 22, 2022 }}</ref> operate more than 75 schools, attended by more than 25,000 students, including several [[magnet schools]]. SLPS operates under provisional [[accreditation]] from the state of Missouri and is under the governance of a state-appointed [[school board]] called the Special Administrative Board, although a local board continues to exist without legal authority over the district. Since 2000, [[charter schools]] have operated in the city of St. Louis using authorization from Missouri state law. These schools are sponsored by local institutions or corporations and take in students from [[kindergarten]] through high school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slps.org/ |title=Slps.org |publisher=Slps.org |access-date=March 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501181951/http://www.slps.org/ |archive-date=May 1, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, several private schools exist in the city, and the [[Archdiocese of St. Louis]] operates dozens of [[parochial schools]] in the city, including parochial high schools. The city also has several private high schools, including secular, [[The Fulton School|Montessori]], [[Catholic school|Catholic]] and [[Lutheran school]]s. [[St. Louis University High School]] – a Jesuit preparatory high school founded in 1818 – is the oldest secondary educational institution in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sluh.org/about/history|title=Private Catholic School - Chesterfield - History|website=Sluh.org|access-date=January 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118043309/https://www.sluh.org/about/history|archive-date=January 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The state-operated K-12 boarding school [[Missouri School for the Blind]] is in St. Louis.


==Media==
From [[1994]] until its acquisition in [[2000]] by [[Tyco International]], another chemical company, Mallinckrodt, was headquartered in St. Louis County. Many of the former Mallinckrodt facilities are still in operation by Tyco in the St. Louis suburb of [[Hazelwood, Missouri]].
{{main|Media in St. Louis}}
[[File:St._Louis_Post-Dispatch_headquarters.JPG|thumb|The former ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' building is in downtown St. Louis.]]
[[Greater St. Louis]] commands the 24th-largest [[media market]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nielsen Media Research Television Markets listed numerically courtesy of the Master Station Index at TVJobs.com |url=https://www.tvjobs.com/cgi-bin/markets/market2.cgi |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=www.tvjobs.com |archive-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127133747/https://www.tvjobs.com/cgi-bin/markets/market2.cgi |url-status=dead }}</ref> All of the major U.S. television networks have affiliates in St. Louis, including [[KTVI]] 2 ([[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]), [[KMOV]] 4 ([[CBS]], with [[MyNetworkTV]] on channel 32.1), [[KSDK]] 5 ([[NBC]]), [[KETC]] 9 ([[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]), [[KPLR-TV]] 11 ([[The CW]]), [[KNLC]] 24 ([[MeTV]]), [[KDNL]] 30 ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]), [[WRBU]] 46 ([[Ion Television|Ion]]), and [[WPXS]] 51 [[Daystar Television Network]]. Among the area's most popular radio stations are [[KMOX]] (AM sports and talk, notable as the longtime flagship station for St. Louis Cardinals broadcasts), [[KLOU]] (FM oldies), [[WIL-FM]] (FM country), [[WARH]] (FM adult hits), and [[KSLZ]] (FM Top 40 mainstream).<ref name="arbitron">Arbitron (June 2011).</ref> St. Louis also supports [[public radio]]'s [[KWMU]], an [[NPR]] affiliate, and [[community radio]]'s [[KDHX]]. All-sports stations, such as [[KFNS (AM)|KFNS]] 590 AM "The Fan" and [[WXOS]] "101.1 ESPN" are also popular. [[KSHE]] 95 FM "Real Rock Radio" has broadcast rock music since November 1967 - longer than any other radio station in the United States.


The ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' is the region's major newspaper. Others in the region include [[Ladue News|''Ladue News'']], [[West Newsmagazine|''West Newsmagazine'']], the ''[[Webster-Kirkwood Times]],'' and the ''[[Call Newspapers]]'' which all serve parts of St. Louis County. Three weeklies serve the African-American community: the ''[[St. Louis Argus]]'', the ''[[St. Louis American]]'', and the ''[[St. Louis Sentinel]]''. ''[[St. Louis Magazine]]'', a monthly magazine, covers topics such as local history, cuisine, and lifestyles, while the weekly ''[[St. Louis Business Journal]]'' provides coverage of regional business news. St. Louis was served by an [[online newspaper]], the ''[[St. Louis Beacon]]'', but that publication merged with [[KWMU]] in 2013.<ref name="beacon">[https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/coverpage] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720014459/http://stlbeacon.org/|date=July 20, 2013}}</ref> The primary [[alternative newspaper]] was the ''[[Riverfront Times]]'' before it was closed in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-22 |title=Riverfront Times sale and layoff of news staff signals end of 46-year era for St. Louis alt-weekly |url=https://www.stlpr.org/2024-05-22/rft-sold-riverfront-times-rip-alt-weekly-staff-laid-off |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=STLPR |language=en}}</ref>
St. Louis was the corporate headquarters for animal feed and human-food maker [[Ralston Purina]]. After divesting all of its businesses except the pet food division, Nestle S.A., the world's largest food company acquired it in 2001. Several of the divested business still remain in St. Louis including Energizer, Ralcorp and Protein Technologies, Inc. n/k/a Solae. [[Trans World Airlines]] (acquired by [[American Airlines]], which then dismantled TWA's St. Louis [[Airline hub|hub]]), [[telecommunications]] company [[SBC Communications|SBC]] (moved to [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]]), and [[military]] contractor [[General Dynamics]] (moved to [[Washington, D.C.]]). All major St. Louis [[banks]] have been purchased by out-of-town banks. The city retains a [[Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis|Federal Reserve Bank]].


Many books and movies have been written about St. Louis. A few of the most influential and prominent films are ''[[Meet Me in St. Louis]]'' and ''[[American Flyers]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tucker|first1=Justin|title=Top 10 Films Set (or Partially Set) in St. Louis|url=http://insidestl.com/top-10-films-set-or-partially-set-in-st-louis|website=Inside St. Louis|access-date=April 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508171915/http://insidestl.com/top-10-films-set-or-partially-set-in-st-louis|archive-date=May 8, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and novels include ''[[The Killing Dance]]'', ''[[Meet Me in St. Louis (novel)|Meet Me in St. Louis]]'', ''[[The Runaway Soul]]'', ''[[The Rose of Old St. Louis (novel)|The Rose of Old St. Louis]]'', and ''[[Circus of the Damned]]''.
St. Louis remains home to railway car plants; two [[DaimlerChrysler]] plants in the nearby suburb of [[Fenton, Missouri|Fenton]], where [[minivans]] and [[pickup trucks]] are built; a [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] plant in suburban [[Wentzville, Missouri|Wentzville]]; and a [[Ford Motor Company]] plant in [[Hazelwood, Missouri|Hazelwood]], where [[Sport utility vehicle|SUV]]s are built.


Because St. Louis was a prime location for immigrants to move to, much of the early social work depicting immigrant life was based on St. Louis, such as in the book ''[[The Immigrant in St. Louis (book)|The Immigrant in St. Louis]]''.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
The region has built up a formidable health care industry. This is dominated by [[BJC HealthCare]], which operates [[Barnes-Jewish Hospital]] and [[St. Louis Children's Hospital]], plus eleven others. BJC benefits from a [[symbiotic]] relationship with [[Washington University in St. Louis]]' School of Medicine, which is a major center of medical research. Other major players include [[SSM Health Care]], [[St. John's Mercy]], and the [[Tenet Healthcare Corporation]] chain. In addition there is [[Saint Louis University School of Medicine]] which is a leader in several areas of medical research and works with hospitals including [[Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital]] and [[Saint Louis University Hospital]]. St. Louis is also home to two companies that produce radiation therapy planning software, [[CMS, Inc.]] and [[Multidata Systems International]].


==Transportation==
Although local housing costs have risen in recent years, they are still significantly below the national average, and are a revelation to new arrivals from the coasts. From the mid-1990s onward, the City of St. Louis itself has seen a major surge in housing rehabilitation as well as new construction on cleared sites. As a rule, other costs of living also are at or below the national average. Wages tend to reflect these facts, likewise being at or slightly below the average.
{{See also|Transportation in Greater St. Louis}}
[[File:St. Louis, MO.jpg|thumb|[[Interstate 64]] crosses the Mississippi in Downtown St. Louis.]]
[[road transport|Road]], [[rail transport|rail]], [[ship transport|ship]], and [[aviation|air]] transportation modes connect the city with surrounding communities in [[Greater St. Louis]], national transportation networks, and international locations. St. Louis also supports a [[public transportation]] network that includes [[public transport bus service|bus]] and [[light rail]] service.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}


===Roads and highways===
== Education ==
{{main|Education of St. Louis, Missouri}}
{{see also|Streets of St. Louis}}
Four [[Interstate Highway System|interstate]] highways connect the city to a larger regional highway system. [[Interstate 70]], an east–west highway, runs from the northwest corner of the city to [[downtown St. Louis]]. The north–south [[Interstate 55]] enters the city at the south near the [[Carondelet, Missouri|Carondelet]] neighborhood and runs toward the center of the city, and both [[Interstate 64]] and [[Interstate 44]] enter the city on the west, running parallel to the east. Two of the four interstates (Interstates 55 and 64) merge south of [[Gateway Arch National Park]] and leave the city on the [[Poplar Street Bridge]] into Illinois, while Interstate 44 terminates at Interstate 70 at its new interchange near N Broadway and Cass Ave. A small portion of the [[Interstate 270 (Missouri–Illinois)|Interstate 270]] outer belt freeway runs through the northern end of the city.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
===Public education===
The 168-year-old St. Louis public school district [http://www.slps.org/] controls the 92 schools in the public school system. With over 38,000 students, the district is the largest in the state of Missouri and the 108th largest in the nation. The district has recently come under fire for the firing of superintendent Dr. Creg E. Williams (July 2006). Dr. Diana Bourisaw was hired in July 2006 as his replacement. The district is currently aggressively pushing ahead with its 2011 initiative, which calls for improved graduation rates, higher test scores, and stronger student attendance.


The 563-mile [[Avenue of the Saints]] links St. Louis with [[St. Paul, Minnesota]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
=== Colleges and universities ===
The St. Louis metropolitan region contains a vibrant and energetic college student population. With almost 10% of its population enrolled in an institution of higher education,{{citation needed}} St. Louis has a plethora of institutions of higher learning. It is home to the prestigious [[Washington University]], an internationally recognized private research university ranked 11th in the nation by ''[[U.S. News and World Report]]''. St. Louis also holds a unique place in the establishment of American colleges and universities. The oldest university west of the Mississippi River, [[Saint Louis University]], was founded in 1818. The St. Louis metropolitan area is also home to at least 26 other institutions of higher learning:
[[Image:Wash-u.jpg|thumbnail|right|Brookings Hall; the most recognized building on the Washington University campus]]
[[Image:Slu_dubourg_1888.jpg|thumbnail|left|DuBourg Hall serves as the administration building for St. Louis University.]]
*[[Allied Medical College]]
*[[Aquinas Institute of Theology]]
*[[Concordia Seminary]] of the [[Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod|Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod]]
*[[Covenant Theological Seminary]]
*[[Deaconess College of Nursing]]
*[[Eden Theological Seminary]] of the [[United Church of Christ]]
*[[Fontbonne University]]
*[[Harris-Stowe State University]]
*[[Hickey College]]
*[[Kenrick-Glennon Seminary]]
*[[Lindenwood University]]
*[[Maryville University]]
*[[Missouri Baptist University]]
*[[Missouri College]]
*[[Missouri Tech University]]
*[[National Academy of Beauty Arts]]
*[[Patricia Stevens College]]
*[[Ranken Technical College]]
*[[St. Louis College of Pharmacy]]
*[[St. Louis Community College]]
*[[Southern Illinois University Edwardsville]], the sister institution of [[Southern Illinois University Carbondale]]
*[[University of Missouri–St. Louis]]
*[[University of Phoenix]] - St. Louis Campus
*[[Webster University]]


Major roadways include the north–south [[Memorial Drive (St. Louis)|Memorial Drive]], located on the western edge of Gateway Arch National Park and parallel to Interstate 70, the north–south streets of [[Grand Boulevard (St. Louis)|Grand Boulevard]] and [[Jefferson Avenue (St. Louis)|Jefferson Avenue]], both of which run the length of the city, and [[Missouri Route 30|Gravois Road]], which runs from the southeastern portion of the city to downtown and used to be signed as [[U.S. Route 66]]. An east-west roadway that connects the city with surrounding communities is [[Missouri Route 180|Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive]], which carries traffic from the western edge of the city to downtown.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
== Medicine ==
Because of its colleges, hospitals, and companies like [[Monsanto]], St. Louis is respected as a center of medicine and biotechnology. Barnes-Jewish hospital, in conjunction with [[Washington University in St. Louis]]' School of Medicine, is the fifth largest in the world, while Washington University's Medical School consistently ranks in the top 5 nationally.


===Metro light rail and subway===
== Transportation ==
{{main|Transportation of St. Louis, Missouri}}
{{Main|MetroLink (St. Louis)|l1=MetroLink}}
[[File:St Louis Metrolink train.jpg|thumb|A [[St. Louis MetroLink]] Red Line train leaves St. Louis Union Station.]]
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Dsc037637ia.jpg|thumbnail|right|St. Louis Metrolink]] -->
[[File:University City-Big Bend MetroLink station.jpg|thumb|right|University City-Big Bend Subway Station is along the Blue Line, near Washington University.]]
[[Image:I-70 in downtown St. Louis.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|[[Interstate 70]] in downtown St. Louis]]
[[File:MetroLink map Oct2008.svg|frameless|upright=1.9|right]]
The St. Louis metropolitan area is served by MetroLink (known as Metro) and is the 11th-largest light rail system in the country with {{convert|46|mi|abbr=on}} of [[double track]] [[light rail]]. The Red Line and The Blue Line both serve all the stations in the inner city, and branch to different destinations beyond in the suburban areas. Both lines enter the city north of [[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]] on the western edge of the city or on the [[Eads Bridge]] in downtown St. Louis to Illinois. All of the system track is in independent right of way, with both surface level and underground subway track in the city. All stations are independent entry, and all platforms are flush-level with trains. Rail service is provided by the [[Bi-State Development Agency]] (also known as Metro), which is funded by a [[sales tax]]es levied in the city and other counties in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrostlouis.org/InsideMetro/QuickFacts/metrolink.asp |title=Metro – Inside MetroLink |publisher=[[Bi-State Development Agency|Metro]] |access-date=October 29, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911065930/http://www.metrostlouis.org/InsideMetro/QuickFacts/metrolink.asp |archive-date=September 11, 2008}}</ref> The [[Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center]] acts as the hub station in the city of St. Louis, linking the city's light rail system, local bus system, passenger rail service, and national bus service. It is located just east of the historic grand [[St. Louis Union Station]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}


===Airports===
Like most American cities, the main method of transportation is the automobile. Use of the automobile is supported by the existence of many limited-access [[interstate highway]]s ([[Interstate 70|I-70]], [[Interstate 55|I-55]], [[Interstate 44|I-44]], [[Interstate 64|I-64]], [[Interstate 255|I-255]], [[Interstate 170|I-170]], and [[Interstate 270 (Illinois-Missouri)|I-270)]], as well as numerous state and county highways.
[[File:Western Perspective of St. Louis Lambert International Airport T1.jpg|alt=|thumb|This control tower and main terminal are at St. Louis Lambert.]]
St. Louis is served by two passenger airports. [[St. Louis Lambert International Airport]], owned and operated by the City of St. Louis, is 11 miles northwest of downtown along highway I-70 between I-170 and I-270 in St. Louis County. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state. In 2016, when the airport had more than 255 daily departures to about 90 domestic and international locations, it served more than 15 million passengers.<ref name="flystl.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.flystl.com|title=Lambert – St. Louis International Airport > Home - View_Blog|website=Flystl.com|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811060429/https://www.flystl.com/|archive-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The airport serves as a focus hub city for [[Southwest Airlines]]; it was once a hub for [[Trans World Airlines]] and a focus-city for [[American Airlines]] and [[AmericanConnection]].<ref name="flystl.com" /> The airport has two terminals with a total of five concourses. International flights and passengers use Terminal 2, whose lower level holds the Immigration and Customs gates. Passengers can move between the terminals on complimentary buses that run continuously, or via MetroLink for a fee. It was possible to walk between the terminals until Concourse D was closed in 2008.<ref name="travelpulse.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.travelpulse.com/st-louis-airport-reopens-one-concourse-remains-closed.html|title=St. Louis Airport Reopens, One Concourse Remains Closed|date=April 25, 2011|work=Travelpulse.com|access-date=November 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324031349/http://www.travelpulse.com/st-louis-airport-reopens-one-concourse-remains-closed.html|archive-date=March 24, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>


[[MidAmerica St. Louis Airport]] is the secondary passenger airport serving the metropolitan area. Located 17 miles east of the city downtown core, the airport serves domestic passengers. Air cargo transportation is available at Lambert International and at other nearby regional airports, including [[MidAmerica St. Louis Airport]], [[Spirit of St. Louis Airport]], and [[St. Louis Downtown Airport]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport]] is located in northwest St. Louis County, but is owned and operated by the city of St. Louis. [[American Airlines]] and [[Southwest Airlines]] have the greatest number of flights serving the airport. [[MidAmerica St. Louis Airport]] is located well east of the city in Illinois adjacent to [[Scott Air Force Base]]. Contructed as a reliever airport to Lambert, it has failed to attract any major airlines, primarily due to its distance from downtown and low population in its immediate vicinity. [[Spirit of Saint Louis Airport]], located in nearby [[Chesterfield, Missouri]] is the area's [[general aviation]] airport.


===Port authority===
Mass transit is provided in two forms, both of which are controlled by Metro St. Louis (formerly known as the [[Bi-State Development Agency]]): the city bus system and [[St. Louis Metrolink|Metrolink]], a [[light-rail]] train system that connects the airport to downtown and, recently, parts of the Metro East (extending as far east as [[Scott Air Force Base]] near [[Shiloh, Illinois]]). MetroLink is currently being expanded to Clayton, the county seat for [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]], and to south St. Louis County.
[[River transportation]] is available through the [[Port of St. Louis]], which is 19.3 miles of riverbank on the [[Mississippi River]] that handles more than 32 million tons of freight annually. The Port is the second largest inland port by trip-ton miles, and the third largest by tonnage in the United States, with more than 100 docks for [[barge]]s and 16 public terminals on the river.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/sldc/slpa/ |title=St. Louis Port Authority |publisher=Stlouis-mo.gov |date=April 16, 2013 |access-date=February 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221200627/https://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/sldc/slpa/ |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Port Authority added two new small fire and rescue craft in 2012 and 2013.


===Railroad service===
Passenger train service is also available through a new [[Amtrak]] station that opened in December, 2004 (http://www.texaseagle.com/stlouis.htm and http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am2/am2Popup&code=STL). This station is a precursor of the upcoming Multi-Modal (transporation) Station, the ground-breaking for which is scheduled for March 30, 2006 (see http://www.cmt-stl.org/NEW/new.html#multimodal and http://www.mayorslay.com/news/display.asp?prID=304). Other permanent train stations exist in the suburb of [[Kirkwood, Missouri]] and nearby [[Alton, Illinois]].
{{main|Transportation in St. Louis#Railroad Service}}
[[File:Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Freight Train.jpg|thumb|An eastbound [[Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis]] freight train passes under the Hampton Avenue viaduct.]]
[[Inter-city rail]] passenger train service in the city is provided by [[Amtrak]] at the [[Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center]] downtown. Amtrak trains terminating in the city include the ''[[Lincoln Service]]'' to [[Chicago]] and the ''[[Missouri River Runner (Amtrak)|Missouri River Runner]]'' to [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. St. Louis is an intermediate stop on the ''[[Texas Eagle]]'' route which provides long-distance passenger service between [[Chicago]], San Antonio, and three days a week, to Los Angeles.<ref>amtrak.com</ref>


St. Louis is the nation's third largest freight rail hub, moving Missouri exports such as fertilizer, gravel, crushed stone, prepared foodstuffs, fats, oils, nonmetallic mineral products, grain, alcohol, tobacco products, automobiles, and automobile parts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.missourieconomy.org/pdfs/rail.pdf |title=Rail Freight |last=Brite |first=Tony |publisher=Missouri Economic Research and Information Center |access-date=January 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629024300/http://www.missourieconomy.org/pdfs/rail.pdf |archive-date=June 29, 2014 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Freight rail]] service in St. Louis is provided on tracks owned by [[Union Pacific Railroad]], [[Norfolk Southern Railway]], Foster Townsend Rail Logistics – formerly [[Manufacturers Railway (St. Louis)]], [[Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis]], Affton Trucking,<ref name="afftontrucking.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.afftontrucking.com|title=Affton Trucking|website=Afftontrucking.com|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802103355/http://www.afftontrucking.com/|archive-date=August 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[BNSF Railway]].
St. Louis once had a moderately extensive streetcar system, but service began to erode in the 1950s and ended in 1966. The Metrolink expansion mirrors the original pathways. A movement is afoot to reinstate limited trolley service.[http://www.heritagetrolley.org/planStLous1.htm]


The [[Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis]] (reporting mark: TRRA) is a [[switching and terminal railroad]] jointly owned by all the major rail carriers in St. Louis. The company operates 30 [[diesel-electric]] locomotives to move railcars around the [[classification yards]], deliver railcars to local industries, and ready trains for departure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.terminalrailroad.com/About/TRRAHistory.aspx |title=TRRA History |publisher=Terminalrailroad.com |access-date=February 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202102733/http://www.terminalrailroad.com/About/TRRAHistory.aspx |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The TRRA processes and dispatches a significant portion of railroad traffic moving through the city and owns and operates a network of rail bridges and tunnels including the [[MacArthur Bridge (St. Louis)]] and the [[Merchants Bridge]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.terminalrailroad.com |title=TRRA Home |publisher=Terminalrailroad.com |access-date=February 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201174355/http://www.terminalrailroad.com/ |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> This infrastructure is also used by [[inter-city rail]] and long-distance passenger trains serving St. Louis.
St. Louis was also the largest city between [[Chicago, Illinois]] and [[Los Angeles, California]] on the famous [[U.S. Route 66]].


===Bus service===
== Crime and Social issues ==
{{main|Crime and Social issues of St. Louis, Missouri}}
{{main|MetroBus (St. Louis)|l1=MetroBus}}
[[File:MetroBus at St Louis Science Center.jpg|thumb|A bus passes under the St. Louis Science Center walkway.]]
The city of St. Louis has one of the highest per-capita crime rates in the United States, with 111 murders and 7,059 burglaries in 2002, reported by [http://www.city-data.com/ CityData]. Also, according to [[Morgan Quitno]]'s "America's safest/most dangerous cities" report, St. Louis has ranked among nation's worst three - 3rd, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, during [[2000]]-[[2004]], and ranked 3rd again in [[2005]], following [[Camden, New Jersey]] and [[Detroit, Michigan]]. Statistical data for the city of St. Louis are often skewed by the city's status as an independent city, and rankings which compare metropolitan statistical areas may be a better indicator of the region's health and stability.
Local bus service in the city of St. Louis is provided by the [[Bi-State Development Agency]] via [[MetroBus (St. Louis)|MetroBus]], with more than 75 routes connecting to MetroLink light rail transit and stops in the city and region. The city is also served by [[Madison County Transit]], which connects downtown St. Louis to [[Madison County, Illinois]]. National bus service in the city is offered by [[Greyhound Lines]], [[Burlington Trailways]] and [[Amtrak Thruway]], with a station at the [[Gateway Transportation Center]], and [[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]], with a stop at [[St. Louis Union Station]].


===Taxi===
Historically, St. Louis has been a ''de facto'' segregated city. The City's [[African-American]] population has been concentrated in North St. Louis. While some North St. Louis neighborhoods such as Baden and Penrose are stable and have a large number of middle-class residents, many northside neighborhoods suffer from poverty, unemployment, crime and dilapidated housing. Most white St. Louisans have moved their families into the better-off suburbs. Wealthier African Americans have moved to many North St. Louis County suburbs. In an attempt to counter this problem, St. Louis has implemented a school [[desegregation]] program: some inner city African-American students are bused into St. Louis County schools, and, in exchange, some County students are bused into City magnet schools.
[[Taxicab]] service in the city is provided by private companies regulated by the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission. Rates vary by vehicle type, size, passengers and distance, and by regulation all taxicab fares must be calculated using a [[taximeter]] and be payable in cash or credit card.<ref name="taxicode">{{cite web |url=http://www.stl-taxi.com/documents/VHC83WITHDIRECTORSRULESandallcurrentupdates37-7-11.pdf |title=Vehicle for Hire Code |access-date=July 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327191809/http://www.stl-taxi.com/documents/VHC83WITHDIRECTORSRULESandallcurrentupdates37-7-11.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Solicitation by a driver is prohibited, although a taxicab may be hailed on the street or at a stand.
{{clear left}}


==Notable people==
These historic patterns of segregation are starting to break down. For the past 25 years, St. Louis has a number of successful integrated neighborhoods in the "central corridor" stretching from Soulard and Lafayette Square near the Mississippi River to the Central West End near [[Forest Park (St. Louis)|Forest Park]]. More recently, a number of near southside neighborhoods, especially around [[Tower Grove Park]], have also successfully integrated. These areas have seen an influx of African-American residents, as well as Vietnamese residents and other immigrant groups. Since the upheavals in the Balkans, many Bosnian refugees have been settled in South St. Louis City, particularly in the Bevo neighborhood. Although white, they have brought a minority religion (most are Muslim). They have been responsible for an upturn in the economic situation there as they have opened stores and restaurants and other businesses in abandoned storefronts. Many of the suburbs in North St. Louis County became more integrated during the 1990's, however the suburbs of South St. Louis County have seen a miniscule amount of integrtion. This, along with the wealthier suburbs of West St. Louis county are primarily white. Indeed, the 2000 Census revealed that more African-Americans live in St. Louis County than live in St. Louis City. Of the African-American residents in the City, less than half live north of Delmar Boulevard, the traditional boundary for "North St. Louis."
{{Main category|People from St. Louis}}
{{Main list|List of people from St. Louis}}


==Sister cities==
The whole St. Louis area has been trying to fix its [[pollution]] problem. Missouri requires gasoline stations in the metro area to serve a special, reformulated gasoline. Most cars owned by residents of St. Louis and the counties of St. Louis, Saint Charles, Jefferson, and Franklin must pass an automobile pollution test every other year.
St. Louis has 16 [[sister cities]]:<ref name="St. Louis Twinnings">{{cite web|url=https://worldtradecenter-stl.com/st-louis-sister-cities-program/|title=St. Louis Sister Cities|publisher=St. Louis Center for International Relations|access-date=March 24, 2022|url-status=live|df=mdy-all|archive-date=December 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217221246/https://worldtradecenter-stl.com/st-louis-sister-cities-program/}}</ref> [[Bologna]], Italy; [[Bogor]], Indonesia; [[Brčko (city)|Brčko]], [[Brčko District]], Bosnia and Herzegovina; [[Donegal (town)|Donegal]], [[County Donegal]], Ireland; [[Galway]], [[County Galway]], Ireland; [[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]], Guyana; [[Lyon]], France; [[Nanjing]], China; [[Rosario]], [[Santa Fe Province|Santa Fe]], Argentina; [[Saint-Louis, Senegal|Saint-Louis]], Senegal; [[Samara, Russia|Samara]], Russia; [[San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí|San Luis Potosí]], Mexico; [[Stuttgart]], Germany;<ref name="Stuttgart twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.stuttgart.de/item/show/14673/1|title=Stuttgart Städtepartnerschaften|access-date=July 27, 2013|work=Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart, Abteilung Außenbeziehungen|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808023714/http://stuttgart.de/item/show/14673/1|archive-date=August 8, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Suwa, Nagano|Suwa]], Japan; [[Szczecin]], Poland;<ref name="Szczecin twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://bip.um.szczecin.pl/UMSzczecinBIP/chapter_11296.asp|title=Kontakty partnerskie Miasta Szczecin|access-date=July 29, 2013|work=Urząd Miasta Szczecin|language=pl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818001351/http://bip.um.szczecin.pl/umszczecinbip/chapter_11296.asp|archive-date = August 18, 2012}}</ref> and [[Wuhan]], China.


==See also==
As of July 1, 2005, the city of St. Louis extended healthcare benefits to the [[domestic partnership|domestic partners]] of all city employees, including same-sex partners and others living in committed but unmarried relationships, as well as children of such families. One of the chief criticisms of this measure was the increased cost; however, the City has stated that there will be no increased cost, because the City continues to pay directly only for the coverage of the employee.
{{Portal|United States|North America|Geography}}
{{Div col |colwidth = 18em }}
*[[1939 St. Louis smog]]
*[[Caves of St. Louis]]
*[[Cuisine of St. Louis]]
*[[Delmar Divide]]
*[[Downtown St. Louis]]
**[[Laclede's Landing, St. Louis]]
**[[Downtown West, St. Louis]]
*[[Great Flood of 1993]]
*[[Heat wave of 2006 derecho series]]
*[[History of the Jews in St. Louis]]
*[[LaClede Town]]
*[[LGBT culture in St. Louis]]
*[[List of mayors of St. Louis]]
*[[List of neighborhoods of St. Louis]]
*[[List of tallest buildings in St. Louis]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Louis (city, A–L), Missouri]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Louis (city, M-Z), Missouri]]
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis]]
**[[Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis]]
*[[St. Louis Fire of 1849]]
*[[St. Louis in the Civil War]]
* [[List of Veiled Prophet Parade themes]]
*[[USS St. Louis|USS ''St. Louis'']], 7 ships
{{div col end}}


==Notes==
==Some Notable St. Louis Births==
{{notelist}}
*[[Taylor Momsen]], Actress
*[[Sloane Momsen]], Actress
*[[Redd Foxx]], Actor
*[[Kevin Kline]], Actor
*[[Shelly Winters]], Actress
*[[Vincent Price]], Actor
See also
*[[List of famous people from St. Louis]]


== Sister cities ==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
St. Louis has eleven [[town twinning|sister cities]], as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]:
{|
| valign="top" |
* {{flagicon|Italy}} - [[Bologna]] ([[Italy]])
* {{flagicon|Ireland}} - [[Galway]] ([[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]])
* {{flagicon|Indonesia}} - [[Bogor]] ([[Indonesia]])
* {{flagicon|Guyana}} - [[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]] ([[Guyana]])
* {{flagicon|France}} - [[Lyon]] ([[France]])
* {{flagicon|People's Republic of China}} - [[Nanjing]] ([[People's Republic of China]])
| valign="top" |
* {{flagicon|Senegal}} - [[Saint-Louis, Senegal|Saint-Louis]] ([[Senegal]])
* {{flagicon|Russia}} - [[Samara, Russia|Samara]] ([[Russia]])
* {{flagicon|Germany}} - [[Stuttgart]] ([[Germany]])
* {{flagicon|Japan}} - [[Suwa]] ([[Japan]])
* {{flagicon|Poland}} - [[Szczecin]] ([[Poland]])
|}


== See also ==
==Further reading==
{{Further|History of St. Louis#Further reading}}
*[[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]], [[Illinois]]
*Berger, Henry W. ''St. Louis and Empire: 250 Years of Imperial Quest and Urban Crisis''. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2015.
*[[Fair Saint Louis]]
*Ekberg, Carl J., and Sharon K. Person, ''St. Louis Rising: The French Regime of Louis St. Ange de Bellerive''. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2015.
*[[Great Flood of 1993]]
*Gordon, Colin. ''Mapping Decline: St. Louis and the Fate of the American City''. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008. {{ISBN|9780812220940}}
*[[List of Mayors of St. Louis]]
* Primm, James Neal. ''Lion of the Valley: St. Louis, Missouri, 1764-1980'' (1998) a major scholarly history [https://archive.org/details/lionofvalleystlo00prim online]
*[[U.S. Route 66]]
*[[Metro-East]]
*[[Caves of St. Louis]]
*Other uses of the name [[Saint Louis]]


==External links==
==External links==
{{sisterlinks|St. Louis, Missouri}}
{{sister project links |voy = St. Louis }}
*{{official website|http://stlouis-mo.gov/government}}
*[http://stlouis.missouri.org/ Official City Government Website]
*[http://www.explorestlouis.com/ St. Louis Convention & Visitors Bureau]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120606084615/http://www.stlrcga.org/ St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association]
*Historic maps of St. Louis in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138981 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the [[University of Missouri]]
*[http://www.stlrcga.org/ St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association]
*[http://www.stlattractions.org/ St. Louis Attractions Association]
*[http://www.builtstlouis.net/ Built St. Louis]
*[http://www.urbanstl.com/ Urban St. Louis - General Information Discussion Forum]


{{Geographic location
|Centre = St. Louis
|North = [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]]
|Northeast = [[Madison County, Illinois]]
|East = [[Mississippi River]]
|Southeast = [[St. Clair County, Illinois]]
|South = [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]]
|Southwest =
|West = [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]]
|Northwest =
}}


{{St. Louis}}
{{Mapit-US-cityscale|38.627718|-90.242806}}
{{St. Louis MSA}}

{{Stl neighborhoods}}
{{St. Louis Radio}}
{{St Louis TV}}
{{Missouri}}
{{Missouri}}


{{St. Louis, Missouri}}
{{St. Louis MSA}}
{{Olympic Summer Games Host Cities}}
{{Olympic Summer Games Host Cities}}
{{Midwestern United States}}
{{USPopulousCities}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Louis}}

[[Category:1764 establishments]]
[[Category:St. Louis| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri|Saint Louis, Missouri]]
[[Category:1764 establishments in New Spain]]
[[Category:Cities on the Mississippi River|Saint Louis, Missouri]]
[[Category:1764 in New France]]
[[Category:Communities on U.S. Route 66|Saint Louis, Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Greater St. Louis]]
[[Category:Host cities of the Summer Olympic Games|Saint Louis, Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]
[[Category:Independent cities in the United States|Saint Louis, Missouri]]
[[Category:Former colonial and territorial capitals in the United States]]
[[Category:St. Louis County, Missouri|Saint Louis, Missouri]]
[[Category:French colonial settlements of Upper Louisiana]]
[[Category:St. Louis, Missouri|Saint Louis, Missouri]]
[[Category:Independent cities in the United States]]
[[Category:Twin cities|Saint Louis, Missouri]]
[[Category:Inland port cities and towns of the United States]]
[[Category:Missouri counties on the Mississippi River]]

[[Category:Missouri counties on the Missouri River]]
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[[Category:Missouri populated places on the Mississippi River]]
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[[Category:Populated places established in 1764]]
[[da:St. Louis]]
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[[Category:Regions of Greater St. Louis]]
[[et:Saint Louis]]
[[es:San Luis (Misuri)]]
[[eo:Sankta-Luizo]]
[[fr:Saint Louis (Missouri)]]
[[ko:세인트루이스]]
[[io:Saint Louis, Missouri]]
[[it:St. Louis]]
[[he:סנט לואיס]]
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[[zh:圣路易斯 (密苏里州)]]

Latest revision as of 15:34, 20 December 2024

St. Louis
Official seal of St. Louis
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Nickname(s): 
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St. Louis is located in Missouri
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St. Louis is located in the United States
St. Louis
St. Louis
Coordinates: 38°37′38″N 90°11′52″W / 38.62722°N 90.19778°W / 38.62722; -90.19778
CountryUnited States
StateMissouri
CSASt. Louis–St. Charles–Farmington, MO–IL
MetroSt. Louis, MO-IL
FoundedFebruary 14, 1764
Incorporated1822
Named forLouis IX of France
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • BodyBoard of Aldermen
 • MayorTishaura Jones (D)
 • President, Board of AldermenMegan Green (D)
 • TreasurerAdam Layne
 • ComptrollerDarlene Green (D)
 • Congressional representativeCori Bush (D)
Area
66.17 sq mi (171.39 km2)
 • Land61.72 sq mi (159.85 km2)
 • Water4.45 sq mi (11.53 km2)
 • Urban
910.4 sq mi (2,357.8 km2)
 • Metro
8,458 sq mi (21,910 km2)
Elevation466 ft (142 m)
Highest elevation614 ft (187 m)
Population
301,578
 • Estimate 
(2021)[9]
293,310
 • RankUS: 76th
Midwest: 13th
Missouri: 2nd
 • Density4,886.23/sq mi (1,886.59/km2)
 • Urban
2,156,323 (US: 22nd)
 • Urban density2,368.6/sq mi (914.5/km2)
 • Metro
2,809,299 (US: 21st)
 • CSA
2,914,230 (US: 20th)
Demonym(s)St. Louisan; Saint Louisan
GDP
 • Greater St. Louis$209.9 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
List
Area code314/557
FIPS code29-65000
Websitestlouis-mo.gov

St. Louis (/snt ˈlɪs, sənt-/ saynt LOO-iss, sənt-)[11] is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is located near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578,[8] while its metropolitan area, which extends into Illinois, had an estimated population of over 2.8 million. It is the largest metropolitan area in Missouri and the second-largest in Illinois. The city's combined statistical area is the 20th-largest in the United States.[12]

The land that became St. Louis had been occupied by Native American cultures for thousands of years before European settlement. The city was founded on February 14, 1764, by French fur traders Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent, Pierre Laclède, and Auguste Chouteau.[13] They named it for King Louis IX of France, and it quickly became the regional center of the French Illinois Country. In 1804, the United States acquired St. Louis as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In the 19th century, St. Louis developed as a major port on the Mississippi River; from 1870 until the 1920 census, it was the fourth-largest city in the country. It separated from St. Louis County in 1877, becoming an independent city and limiting its political boundaries. In 1904, it hosted the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, also known as the St. Louis World's Fair, and the Summer Olympics.[14][15]

St. Louis is designated as one of 173 global cities by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.[16] The GDP of Greater St. Louis was $209.9 billion in 2022.[17] St. Louis has a diverse economy with strengths in the service, manufacturing, trade, transportation, and aviation industries.[18] It is home to sixteen Fortune 1000 companies, six of which are also Fortune 500 companies.[19] Federal agencies headquartered in the city or with significant operations there include the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Major research universities in Greater St. Louis include Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The Washington University Medical Center in the Central West End neighborhood hosts an agglomeration of medical and pharmaceutical institutions, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

St. Louis has four professional sports teams: the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball, the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League, St. Louis City SC of Major League Soccer, and the St. Louis BattleHawks of the United Football League. The city's attractions include the 630-foot (192 m) Gateway Arch in Downtown St. Louis, the St. Louis Zoo, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the St. Louis Art Museum, and Bellefontaine Cemetery.[20][21]

History

Mississippian culture and European exploration

Historical affiliations

 Kingdom of France 1690s–1763
 Kingdom of Spain 1763–1800
 French First Republic 1800–1803
 United States 1803–present

The home of Auguste Chouteau is in St. Louis. Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent,[13] Chouteau, and Pierre Laclède founded St. Louis in 1764.

The area that became St. Louis was a center of the Native American Mississippian culture, which built numerous temple and residential earthwork mounds on both sides of the Mississippi River. Their major regional center was at Cahokia Mounds, active from 900 to 1500. Due to numerous major earthworks within St. Louis boundaries, the city was nicknamed as the "Mound City". These mounds were mostly demolished during the city's development. Historic Native American tribes in the area encountered by early Europeans included the Siouan-speaking Osage people, whose territory extended west, and the Illiniwek.[citation needed]

European exploration of the area was first recorded in 1673, when French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette traveled through the Mississippi River valley. Five years later, La Salle claimed the region for France as part of La Louisiane, also known as Louisiana. The earliest European settlements in the Illinois Country (also known as Upper Louisiana) were built by the French during the 1690s and early 1700s at Cahokia, Kaskaskia, and Fort de Chartres. Migrants from the French villages on the east side of the Mississippi River, such as Kaskaskia, also founded Ste. Genevieve in the 1730s.[citation needed]

In 1764, after France lost the Seven Years' War, Pierre Laclède and his stepson Auguste Chouteau founded what was to become the city of St. Louis.[22] (French lands east of the Mississippi had been ceded to Great Britain and the lands west of the Mississippi to Spain; Catholic France and Spain were 18th-century allies. Louis XV of France and Charles III of Spain were cousins, both from the House of Bourbon.[23][circular reference]) The French families built the city's economy on the fur trade with the Osage, and with more distant tribes along the Missouri River. The Chouteau brothers gained a monopoly from Spain on the fur trade with Santa Fe. French colonists used African slaves as domestic servants and workers in the city.[citation needed]

During the negotiations for the 1763 Treaty of Paris, French negotiators agreed to transfer France's colonial territories west of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to New Spain to compensate for Spanish territorial losses during the war. These areas remained under Spanish control until 1803, when they were transferred to the French First Republic. During the American Revolutionary War, St. Louis was unsuccessfully attacked by British-allied Native Americans in the 1780 Battle of St. Louis.[24]

Founding

The founding of St. Louis was preceded by a trading business between Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent and Pierre Laclède (Liguest) in late 1763. St. Maxent invested in a Mississippi River expedition led by Laclède, who searched for a location to base the company's fur trading operations. Though Ste. Genevieve was already established as a trading center, he sought a place less prone to flooding. He found an elevated area overlooking the flood plain of the Mississippi River, not far south from its confluence with the Missouri and Illinois rivers. In addition to having an advantageous natural drainage system, there were nearby forested areas to supply timber and grasslands which could easily be converted for agricultural purposes. Laclède declared that this place "might become, hereafter, one of the finest cities in America". He dispatched his 14-year-old stepson, Auguste Chouteau, to the site, with the support of 30 settlers in February 1764.[25]

Laclède arrived at the future town site two months later and produced a plan for St. Louis based on the New Orleans street plan. The default block size was 240 by 300 feet, with just three long avenues running parallel to the west bank of the Mississippi. He established a public corridor of 300 feet fronting the river, but later this area was released for private development.[25]

This photograph of a mural titled Indian Attack on the Village of St. Louis, 1780, depicts the Battle of St. Louis.
The mural Indian Attack on the Village of St. Louis, 1780, depicts that during the American Revolutionary War, St. Louis was unsuccessfully attacked by British-allied Native Americans in the Battle of St. Louis in 1780.

For the city's first few years, it was not recognized by any governments. Although the settlement was thought to be under the control of the Spanish government, no one asserted any authority over it, and thus St. Louis had no local government. This vacuum led Laclède to assume civil control, and all problems were disposed in public settings, such as communal meetings. In addition, Laclède granted new settlers lots in town and the surrounding countryside. In hindsight, many of these original settlers thought of these first few years as "the golden age of St. Louis".[26] In 1763, the Native Americans in the region around St. Louis began expressing dissatisfaction with the victorious British, objecting to their refusal to continue to the French tradition of supplying gifts to Natives. Odawa chieftain Pontiac began forming a pan-tribal alliance to counter British control over the region but received little support from the indigenous residents of St. Louis. By 1765, the city began receiving visits from representatives of the British, French, and Spanish governments.[citation needed]

St. Louis was transferred to the French First Republic in 1800 (although all of the colonial lands continued to be administered by Spanish officials), then sold by the French to the U.S. in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. St. Louis became the capital of, and gateway to, the new territory. Shortly after the official transfer of authority was made, the Lewis and Clark Expedition was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson. The expedition departed from St. Louis in May 1804 along the Missouri River to explore the vast territory. There were hopes of finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean, but the party had to go overland in the Upper West. They reached the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia River in summer 1805. They returned, reaching St. Louis on September 23, 1806. Both Lewis and Clark lived in St. Louis after the expedition. Many other explorers, settlers, and trappers (such as Ashley's Hundred) would later take a similar route to the West.[citation needed]

19th century

White men pose in 1852 at Lynch's slave market at 104 Locust Street.

The city elected its first municipal legislators (called trustees) in 1808. Steamboats first arrived in St. Louis in 1817, improving connections with New Orleans and eastern markets. Missouri was admitted as a state in 1821. St. Louis was incorporated as a city in 1822, and continued to develop largely due to its busy port and trade connections.[citation needed]

City of St. Louis and Riverfront, 1874
South Broadway had a tornado on May 27, 1896.

Immigrants from Ireland and Germany arrived in St. Louis in significant numbers starting in the 1840s, and the population of St. Louis grew from less than 20,000 inhabitants in 1840, to 77,860 in 1850, to more than 160,000 by 1860. By the mid-1800s, St. Louis had a greater population than New Orleans.[citation needed]

Settled by many Southerners in a slave state, the city was split in political sympathies and became polarized during the American Civil War. In 1861, 28 civilians were killed in a clash with Union troops. The war hurt St. Louis economically, due to the Union blockade of river traffic to the south on the Mississippi River. The St. Louis Arsenal constructed ironclads for the Union Navy.[citation needed]

Slaves worked in many jobs on the waterfront and on the riverboats. Given the city's location close to the free state of Illinois and others, some slaves escaped to freedom. Others, especially women with children, sued in court in freedom suits, and several prominent local attorneys aided slaves in these suits. About half the slaves achieved freedom in hundreds of suits before the American Civil War. The printing press of abolitionist Elijah Parish Lovejoy was destroyed for the third time by townsfolk. He was murdered the next year in nearby Alton, Illinois.[citation needed]

After the war, St. Louis profited via trade with the West, aided by the 1874 completion of the Eads Bridge, named for its design engineer. Industrial developments on both banks of the river were linked by the bridge, the second in the Midwest over the Mississippi River after the Hennepin Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis. The bridge connects St. Louis, Missouri to East St. Louis, Illinois. The Eads Bridge became a symbolic image of the city of St. Louis, from the time of its erection until 1965 when the Gateway Arch Bridge was constructed. The bridge crosses the St. Louis riverfront between Laclede's Landing, to the north, and the grounds of the Gateway Arch, to the south. Today the road deck has been restored, allowing vehicular and pedestrian traffic to cross the river. The St. Louis MetroLink light rail system has used the rail deck since 1993. An estimated 8,500 vehicles pass through it daily.[citation needed]

On August 22, 1876, the city of St. Louis voted to secede from St. Louis County and become an independent city, and, following a recount of the votes in November, officially did so in March 1877.[27] The 1877 St. Louis general strike caused significant upheaval, in a fight for the eight-hour day and the banning of child labor.[28][page needed]

Industrial production continued to increase during the late 19th century. Major corporations such as the Anheuser-Busch brewery, Ralston Purina company and Desloge Consolidated Lead Company were established at St. Louis which was also home to several brass era automobile companies, including the Success Automobile Manufacturing Company;[29] St. Louis is the site of the Wainwright Building, a skyscraper designed in 1892 by architect Louis Sullivan.

20th century

The Government Building is at the 1904 World's Fair.

In 1900, the entire streetcar system was shut down by a several months-long strike, with significant unrest occurring in the city & violence against the striking workers.[30]

In 1904, the city hosted the World's Fair and the Olympics, becoming the first non-European city to host the games.[31] The formal name for the 1904 World's Fair was the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Permanent facilities and structures remaining from the fair are located in Forest Park, and other notable structures within the park's boundaries include the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Zoo and the Missouri History Museum, and Tower Grove Park and the Botanical Gardens.

After the Civil War, social and racial discrimination in housing and employment were common in St. Louis. In 1916, during the Jim Crow Era, St. Louis passed a residential segregation ordinance[32] saying that if 75% of the residents of a neighborhood were of a certain race, no one from a different race was allowed to move in.[33] That ordinance was struck down in a court challenge, by the NAACP,[34] after which racial covenants were used to prevent the sale of houses in certain neighborhoods to "persons not of Caucasian race".[clarification needed] Again, St. Louisans offered a lawsuit in challenge, and such covenants were ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1948 in Shelley v. Kraemer.[35]

In 1926, Douglass University, a historically black university was founded by B. F. Bowles in St. Louis, and at the time no other college in St. Louis County admitted black students.[36]

In the first half of the 20th century, St. Louis was a destination in the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South seeking better opportunities.[citation needed] During World War II, the NAACP campaigned to integrate war factories. In 1964, civil rights activists protested at the construction of the Gateway Arch to publicize their effort to gain entry for African Americans into the skilled trade unions, where they were underrepresented. The Department of Justice filed the first suit against the unions under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[citation needed]

Between 1900 and 1929, St. Louis, had about 220 automakers, close to 10 percent of all American carmakers, about half of which built cars exclusively in St. Louis. Notable names include Dorris, Gardner and Moon.[37]

In the first part of the century, St. Louis had some of the worst air pollution in the United States. In April 1940, the city banned the use of soft coal mined in nearby states. The city hired inspectors to ensure that only anthracite was burned. By 1946, the city had reduced air pollution by about 75%.[38]

The Arch (completed 1965) is visible from Laclede's Landing, the remaining section of St. Louis's commercial riverfront.

De jure educational segregation continued into the 1950s, and de facto segregation continued into the 1970s, leading to a court challenge and interdistrict desegregation agreement. Students have been bused mostly from the city to county school districts to have opportunities for integrated classes, although the city has created magnet schools to attract students.[39]

St. Louis, like many Midwestern cities, expanded in the early 20th century due to industrialization, which provided jobs to new generations of immigrants and migrants from the South. It reached its peak population of 856,796 at the 1950 census.[40] Suburbanization from the 1950s through the 1990s dramatically reduced the city's population, as did restructuring of industry and loss of jobs.[citation needed] The effects of suburbanization were exacerbated by the small geographical size of St. Louis due to its earlier decision to become an independent city, and it lost much of its tax base. During the 19th and 20th century, most major cities aggressively annexed surrounding areas as residential development occurred away from the central city; however, St. Louis was unable to do so.[citation needed]

Several urban renewal projects were built in the 1950s, as the city worked to replace old and substandard housing. Some of these were poorly designed and resulted in problems. One prominent example, Pruitt–Igoe, became a symbol of failure in public housing, and was torn down less than two decades after it was built.[citation needed] The degradation and razing of Mill Creek Valley in this time was featured as an example of disenfranchisement in the 2024 Reparations Commission Report.[41]

Since the 1980s, several revitalization efforts have focused on Downtown St. Louis.[citation needed]

21st century

The urban revitalization projects that started in the 1980s continued into the new century. The city's old garment district, centered on Washington Avenue in the Downtown and Downtown West neighborhoods, experienced major development starting in the late 1990s as many of the old factory and warehouse buildings were converted into lofts. The American Planning Association designated Washington Avenue as one of 10 Great Streets for 2011.[42] The Cortex Innovation Community, located within the city's Central West End neighborhood, was founded in 2002 and has become a multi-billion dollar economic engine for the region, with companies such as Microsoft and Boeing currently leasing office space.[43][44] The Forest Park Southeast neighborhood in the central corridor has seen major investment starting in the early 2010s. Between 2013 and 2018, over $50 million worth of residential construction has been built in the neighborhood.[45] The population of the neighborhood has increased by 19% from the 2010 to 2020 Census.[46]

The St. Louis Rams of the National Football League controversially returned to Los Angeles in 2016. The city of St. Louis sued the NFL in 2017, alleging the league breached its own relocation guidelines to profit at the expense of the city. In 2021, the NFL and Rams owner Stan Kroenke agreed to settle out of court with the city for $790 million.[47][48]

Geography

Landmarks

Name Description Photo
Gateway Arch At 630 feet (190 m), the Gateway Arch is the world's tallest arch and tallest human-made monument in the Western Hemisphere.[49] Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States, it is the centerpiece of Gateway Arch National Park which was known as Jefferson National Expansion Memorial until 2018.
St. Louis Art Museum Built for the 1904 World's Fair, with a building designed by Cass Gilbert, the museum houses paintings, sculptures, and cultural objects. The museum is located in Forest Park, and admission is free.
Missouri Botanical Garden Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical institutions in the United States and a National Historic Landmark. It spans 79 acres in the Shaw neighborhood, including a 14-acre (5.7-hectare) Japanese garden and the Climatron geodesic dome conservatory.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis Dedicated in 1914, it is the mother church of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the seat of its archbishop. The church is known for its large mosaic installation (which is one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere with 41.5 million pieces), burial crypts, and its outdoor sculpture.
City Hall Located in Downtown West, City Hall was designed by Harvey Ellis in 1892 in the Renaissance Revival style. It is reminiscent of the Hôtel de Ville, Paris.
Central Library Completed in 1912, the Central Library building was designed by Cass Gilbert. It serves as the main location for the St. Louis Public Library.
City Museum City Museum is a play house museum, consisting largely of repurposed architectural and industrial objects, housed in the former International Shoe building in the Washington Avenue Loft District.
Old Courthouse Built in the 19th century, it served as a federal and state courthouse. The Scott v. Sandford case (resulting in the Dred Scott decision) was tried at the courthouse in 1846.
St. Louis Science Center Founded in 1963, it includes a science museum and a planetarium, and is situated in Forest Park. Admission is free. It is one of two science centers in the United States which offers free general admission.
St. Louis Symphony Founded in 1880, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second oldest symphony orchestra in the United States, preceded by the New York Philharmonic. Its principal concert venue is Powell Symphony Hall.
Union Station Built in 1888, it was the city's main passenger intercity train terminal. Once the world's largest and busiest train station, it was converted in the 1980s into a hotel, shopping center, and entertainment complex. Today, it also continues to serve local rail (MetroLink) transit passengers, with Amtrak service nearby. On December 25, 2019, the St. Louis Aquarium opened inside Union Station. The St. Louis Wheel, a 200 ft 42 gondola ferris wheel, is also located at Union Station.
St. Louis Zoo Built for the 1904 World's Fair, it is recognized as a leading zoo in animal management, research, conservation, and education. It is located in Forest Park, and admission is free.

Architecture

The Wainwright Building (1891), is an important early skyscraper designed by Louis Sullivan.
Many houses in Lafayette Square are built with a blending of Greek Revival, Federal and Italianate styles.

The architecture of St. Louis exhibits a variety of commercial, residential, and monumental architecture. St. Louis is known for the Gateway Arch, the tallest monument constructed in the United States at 630 feet (190 m).[50] The Arch pays homage to Thomas Jefferson and St. Louis's position as the gateway to the West. Architectural influences reflected in the area include French Colonial, German, early American, and modern architectural styles.

Several examples of religious structures are extant from the pre-Civil War period, and most reflect the common residential styles of the time. Among the earliest is the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France (referred to as the Old Cathedral). The Basilica was built between 1831 and 1834 in the Federal style. Other religious buildings from the period include SS. Cyril and Methodius Church (1857) in the Romanesque Revival style and Christ Church Cathedral (completed in 1867, designed in 1859) in the Gothic Revival style.[citation needed]

A few civic buildings were constructed during the early 19th century. The original St. Louis courthouse was built in 1826 and featured a Federal style stone facade with a rounded portico. However, this courthouse was replaced during renovation and expansion of the building in the 1850s. The Old St. Louis County Courthouse (known as the Old Courthouse) was completed in 1864 and was notable for having a cast iron dome and for being the tallest structure in Missouri until 1894. Finally, a customs house was constructed in the Greek Revival style in 1852, but was demolished and replaced in 1873 by the U.S. Customhouse and Post Office.[citation needed]

Because much of the city's commercial and industrial development was centered along the riverfront, many pre-Civil War buildings were demolished during construction of the Gateway Arch. The city's remaining architectural heritage of the era includes a multi-block district of cobblestone streets and brick and cast-iron warehouses called Laclede's Landing. Now popular for its restaurants and nightclubs, the district is located north of Gateway Arch along the riverfront. Other industrial buildings from the era include some portions of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, which date to the 1860s.[citation needed]

St. Louis saw a vast expansion in variety and number of religious buildings during the late 19th century and early 20th century. The largest and most ornate of these is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, designed by Thomas P. Barnett and constructed between 1907 and 1914 in the Neo-Byzantine style. The St. Louis Cathedral, as it is known, has one of the largest mosaic collections in the world. Another landmark in religious architecture of St. Louis is the St. Stanislaus Kostka, which is an example of the Polish Cathedral style. Among the other major designs of the period were St. Alphonsus Liguori (known as The Rock Church) (1867) in the Gothic Revival and Second Presbyterian Church of St. Louis (1900) in Richardsonian Romanesque.[citation needed]

By the 1900 census, St. Louis was the fourth largest city in the country. In 1904, the city hosted a world's fair at Forest Park called the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Its architectural legacy is somewhat scattered. Among the fair-related cultural institutions in the park are the St. Louis Art Museum designed by Cass Gilbert, part of the remaining lagoon at the foot of Art Hill, and the Flight Cage at the St. Louis Zoo. The Missouri History Museum was built afterward, with the profit from the fair. But 1904 left other assets to the city, like Theodore Link's 1894 St. Louis Union Station, and an improved Forest Park.[citation needed]

One US Bank Plaza, the local headquarters for US Bancorp, was constructed in 1976 in the structural expressionist style. Several notable postmodern commercial skyscrapers were built downtown in the 1970s and 1980s, including the former AT&T building at 909 Chestnut Street (1986), and One Metropolitan Square (1989), which is the tallest building in St. Louis.[citation needed]

During the 1990s, St. Louis saw the construction of the largest United States courthouse by area, the Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse (2000). The Eagleton Courthouse is home to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The most recent high-rise buildings in St. Louis include two residential towers: One Hundred in the Central West End neighborhood and One Cardinal Way in the Downtown neighborhood.[citation needed]

Neighborhoods

Second Empire style houses are in Lafayette Square.
The Delmar Loop is a neighborhood close to Washington University, bordering the city and St. Louis County.

The city is divided into 79 officially-recognized neighborhoods.[51]

Topography

Rivers in the St. Louis area

According to the United States Census Bureau, St. Louis has a total area of 66 square miles (170 km2), of which 62 square miles (160 km2) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km2) (6.2%) is water.[52] The city is built on bluffs and terraces that rise 100–200 feet above the western banks of the Mississippi River, in the Midwestern United States just south of the Missouri-Mississippi confluence. Much of the area is a fertile and gently rolling prairie that features low hills and broad, shallow valleys. Both the Mississippi River and the Missouri River have cut large valleys with wide flood plains.[citation needed]

Limestone and dolomite of the Mississippian epoch underlie the area, and parts of the city are karst in nature. This is particularly true of the area south of downtown, which has numerous sinkholes and caves. Most of the caves in the city have been sealed, but many springs are visible along the riverfront. Coal, brick clay, and millerite ore were once mined in the city. The predominant surface rock, known as St. Louis limestone, is used as dimension stone and rubble for construction.[citation needed]

Near the southern boundary of the city of St. Louis (separating it from St. Louis County) is the River des Peres, practically the only river or stream within the city limits that is not entirely underground.[53] Most of River des Peres was confined to a channel or put underground in the 1920s and early 1930s. The lower section of the river was the site of some of the worst flooding of the Great Flood of 1993.[citation needed]

The city's eastern boundary is the Mississippi River, which separates Missouri from Illinois. The Missouri River forms the northern line of St. Louis County, except for a few areas where the river has changed its course. The Meramec River forms most of its southern line.[citation needed]

Climate

The Captains' Return statue was inundated by the Mississippi River, 2010.

The urban area of St. Louis has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa); however, its metropolitan region even to the south may present a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa), which shows the effect of the urban heat island in the city.[citation needed] The city experiences hot, humid summers and chilly to cold winters.[citation needed] It is subject to both cold Arctic air and hot, humid tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico.[citation needed] The average annual temperature recorded at nearby Lambert–St. Louis International Airport, is 57.4 °F (14.1 °C). 100 and 0 °F (38 and −18 °C) temperatures can be seen on an average 3 and 1 days per year, respectively. Precipitation averages 41.70 inches (1,100 mm), but has ranged from 20.59 in (523 mm) in 1953 to 61.24 in (1,555 mm) in 2015. The highest recorded temperature in St. Louis was 115 °F (46 °C) on July 14, 1954, and the lowest was −22 °F (−30 °C) on January 5, 1884.

St. Louis experiences thunderstorms 48 days a year on average.[54] Especially in the spring, these storms can often be severe, with high winds, large hail and tornadoes. Lying within the hotbed of Tornado Alley, St. Louis is one of the most frequently tornado-struck metropolitan areas in the U.S. and has an extensive history of damaging tornadoes. Severe flooding, such as the Great Flood of 1993, may occur in spring and summer; the (often rapid) melting of thick snow cover upstream on the Missouri or Mississippi Rivers can contribute to springtime flooding.[citation needed]

Climate data for St. Louis, Missouri (Lambert–St. Louis Int'l), 1991−2020 normals,[a] extremes 1874−present[b]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 77
(25)
85
(29)
92
(33)
93
(34)
98
(37)
108
(42)
115
(46)
110
(43)
104
(40)
94
(34)
86
(30)
76
(24)
115
(46)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 64.7
(18.2)
71.0
(21.7)
79.4
(26.3)
86.4
(30.2)
90.4
(32.4)
95.5
(35.3)
99.2
(37.3)
99.1
(37.3)
93.4
(34.1)
87.0
(30.6)
75.5
(24.2)
66.9
(19.4)
100.7
(38.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 40.4
(4.7)
45.8
(7.7)
56.6
(13.7)
68.0
(20.0)
77.1
(25.1)
85.9
(29.9)
89.6
(32.0)
88.3
(31.3)
81.1
(27.3)
69.2
(20.7)
55.5
(13.1)
44.5
(6.9)
66.8
(19.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 32.1
(0.1)
36.7
(2.6)
46.6
(8.1)
57.5
(14.2)
67.5
(19.7)
76.5
(24.7)
80.4
(26.9)
78.8
(26.0)
71.0
(21.7)
59.1
(15.1)
46.5
(8.1)
36.5
(2.5)
57.4
(14.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 23.8
(−4.6)
27.6
(−2.4)
36.7
(2.6)
47.0
(8.3)
57.9
(14.4)
67.2
(19.6)
71.1
(21.7)
69.3
(20.7)
60.9
(16.1)
49.1
(9.5)
37.4
(3.0)
28.5
(−1.9)
48.0
(8.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 4.4
(−15.3)
9.6
(−12.4)
17.8
(−7.9)
32.2
(0.1)
43.5
(6.4)
55.5
(13.1)
61.4
(16.3)
60.1
(15.6)
47.1
(8.4)
33.6
(0.9)
22.0
(−5.6)
11.0
(−11.7)
1.2
(−17.1)
Record low °F (°C) −22
(−30)
−18
(−28)
−5
(−21)
20
(−7)
31
(−1)
43
(6)
51
(11)
47
(8)
32
(0)
21
(−6)
1
(−17)
−16
(−27)
−22
(−30)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.59
(66)
2.23
(57)
3.50
(89)
4.73
(120)
4.82
(122)
4.49
(114)
3.93
(100)
3.38
(86)
2.96
(75)
3.15
(80)
3.42
(87)
2.50
(64)
41.70
(1,059)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.7
(14)
4.3
(11)
2.3
(5.8)
0.2
(0.51)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.9
(2.3)
3.2
(8.1)
16.6
(42)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.3 8.7 10.8 11.5 12.6 9.8 8.9 8.4 7.3 8.5 9.0 9.0 113.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 4.7 3.9 1.7 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 3.2 14.5
Average relative humidity (%) 73.0 72.0 68.3 63.5 66.5 67.1 68.0 70.0 71.6 68.7 72.2 75.8 69.7
Average dew point °F (°C) 20.1
(−6.6)
24.1
(−4.4)
33.1
(0.6)
42.3
(5.7)
52.9
(11.6)
62.1
(16.7)
66.6
(19.2)
65.1
(18.4)
58.6
(14.8)
46.0
(7.8)
36.0
(2.2)
25.5
(−3.6)
44.4
(6.9)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 161.2 158.3 198.3 223.5 266.5 291.9 308.9 269.8 236.1 208.4 140.9 129.9 2,593.7
Percent possible sunshine 53 53 53 56 60 66 68 64 63 60 47 44 58
Average ultraviolet index 1.7 2.7 4.5 6.4 7.9 9.0 9.1 8.2 6.3 4.0 2.3
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity, dew point, and sun 1961−1990)[56][57][58]
Source 2: UV Index Today (1995 to 2022)[59]

Flora and fauna

Tower Grove Park in spring
The Missouri Botanical Garden

Before the founding of the city, the area was mostly prairie and open forest. Native Americans maintained this environment, good for hunting, by burning underbrush. Trees are mainly oak, maple, and hickory, similar to the forests of the nearby Ozarks; common understory trees include eastern redbud, serviceberry, and flowering dogwood. Riparian areas are forested with mainly American sycamore.

Most of the residential areas of the city are planted with large native shade trees. The largest native forest area is found in Forest Park. In autumn, the changing color of the trees is notable. Most species here are typical of the eastern woodland, although numerous decorative non-native species are found. The most notable invasive species is Japanese honeysuckle, which officials are trying to manage because of its damage to native trees. It is removed from some parks.

Wildlife includes urbanized coyotes, white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrel, cottontail rabbit, and the nocturnal Virginia opossum. Large bird species are abundant in parks and include Canada goose, mallard duck, and shorebirds, including the great egret and great blue heron. Gulls are common along the Mississippi River; these species follow barge traffic.

Winter populations of bald eagles are along the Mississippi River around the Chain of Rocks Bridge. The city is on the Mississippi Flyway, used by migrating birds, and has a large variety of small bird species, common to the eastern U.S. The Eurasian tree sparrow, an introduced species, is limited in North America to the counties surrounding St. Louis. The city has special sites for birdwatching of migratory species, including Tower Grove Park.

Common frog species include the American toad and species of chorus frogs called spring peepers, which are found in nearly every pond. Some years have outbreaks of cicadas or ladybugs. Mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and houseflies are common insect nuisances, especially in July and August; because of this, windows are almost always fitted with screens. Invasive populations of honeybees have declined in recent years. Numerous native species of pollinator insects have recovered to fill their ecological niche, and armadillos are throughout the St. Louis area.[60]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18101,600
18304,977
184016,469230.9%
185077,860372.8%
1860160,773106.5%
1870310,86493.4%
1880350,51812.8%
1890451,77028.9%
1900575,23827.3%
1910687,02919.4%
1920772,89712.5%
1930821,9606.3%
1940816,048−0.7%
1950856,7965.0%
1960750,026−12.5%
1970622,236−17.0%
1980453,805−27.1%
1990396,685−12.6%
2000348,189−12.2%
2010319,294−8.3%
2020301,578−5.5%
2023 (est.)281,754[9]−6.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[61]
2020 Census[8]
Map of racial distribution in St. Louis, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people:  White  Black  Asian  Hispanic  Other
Pruitt–Igoe was a large housing project constructed in 1954, which became infamous for poverty, crime and segregation. It was demolished in 1972.

St. Louis grew slowly until the American Civil War, when industrialization and immigration sparked a boom. Mid-19th century immigrants included many Irish and Germans; later there were immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. In the early 20th century, African American and white migrants came from the South; the former as part of the Great Migration out of rural areas of the Deep South. Many came from Mississippi and Arkansas. Italians, Serbians, Lebanese, Syrians, and Greeks settled in St. Louis by the late 19th-Century.[62]

After years of immigration, migration, and expansion, the city reached its peak population in 1950. That year, the Census Bureau reported St. Louis's population as 82% White and 17.9% African American.[63] After World War II, St. Louis began losing population to the suburbs, first because of increased demand for new housing, unhappiness with city services, ease of commuting by highways, and later, white flight.[64] St. Louis's population decline has resulted in a significant increase of abandoned residential housing units and vacant lots throughout the city proper; this blight has attracted much wildlife (such as deer and coyotes) to the many abandoned overgrown lots.[citation needed] As of the 2020 Census, St. Louis has lost 64.8% of its population since the 1950 United States census. During this period, the population of Greater St. Louis, which includes more than one county, has grown every year and continues to do so.

Ethnic origins in St. Louis

According to the 2010 United States census, St. Louis had 319,294 people living in 142,057 households, of which 67,488 households were families. The population density was 5,158.2 people per square mile (1,991.6 people/km2). About 24% of the population was 19 or younger, 9% were 20 to 24, 31% were 25 to 44, 25% were 45 to 64, and 11% were 65 or older. The median age was about 34 years,

The African-American population is concentrated in the north side of the city (the area north of Delmar Boulevard is 94.0% black, compared with 35.0% in the central corridor and 26.0% in the south side of St. Louis[65]). Among the Asian-American population in the city, the largest ethnic group is Vietnamese (0.9%), followed by Chinese (0.6%) and Indians (0.5%). The Vietnamese community has concentrated in the Dutchtown neighborhood of south St. Louis; Chinese are concentrated in the Central West End.[66] People of Mexican descent are the largest Latino group, and make up 2.2% of St. Louis's population. They have the highest concentration in the Dutchtown, Benton Park West (Cherokee Street), and Gravois Park neighborhoods.[67] People of Italian descent are concentrated in The Hill.

In 2010, St. Louis's per-capita rates of online charitable donations and volunteerism were among the highest among major U.S. cities.[68]

As of 2010, 91.05% (270,934) of St. Louis city residents age 5 and older spoke English at home as a primary language, while 2.86% (8,516) spoke Spanish, 0.91% (2,713) Serbo-Croatian, 0.74% (2,200) Vietnamese, 0.50% (1,495) African languages, 0.50% (1,481) Chinese, and French was spoken as a main language by 0.45% (1,341) of the population over the age of five. In total, 8.95% (26,628) of St. Louis's population age 5 and older spoke a mother language other than English.[69]

Historical racial composition 2020[70] 2010[71] 2000[72] 1990[63] 1970[63] 1940[63]
White 43.9% 43.9% 43.9% 50.9% 58.7% 86.6%
—Non-Hispanic 42.9% 42.2% 43.0%[73] 50.2% 57.9%[74] 86.4%
Black 43.0% 49.2% 51.2% 47.5% 40.9% 13.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 5.1% 3.5% 2.0% 1.3% 1.0%[74] 0.2%
Asian 4.1% 2.9% 2.0% 0.9% 0.2% (X)
St. Louis, Missouri – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the U.S. census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1990[75] Pop 2000[76] Pop 2010[77] Pop 2020[78] % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 198,956 142,329 134,702 129,368 50.15% 42.89% 42.19% 42.90%
Black or African American alone (NH) 187,805 177,446 156,389 128,993 47.34% 50.96% 48.98% 42.77%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 874 862 684 614 0.22% 0.25% 0.21% 0.20%
Asian alone (NH) 3,616 6,820 9,233 12,205 0.91% 1.96% 2.89% 4.05%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) N/A 83 62 88 N/A 0.02% 0.02% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 310 647 478 1,773 0.08% 0.19% 0.15% 0.59%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) N/A 5,980 6,616 13,132 N/A 1.72% 2.07% 4.35%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5,124 7,022 11,130 15,405 1.29% 2.02% 3.49% 5.11%
Total 396,685 348,189 319,294 301,578 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Bosnian population

About fifteen families from Bosnia settled in St. Louis between 1960 and 1970. After the Bosnian War started in 1992, more Bosnian refugees began arriving and by 2000, tens of thousands of Bosnian refugees settled in St. Louis with the help of Catholic aid societies. Many of them were professionals and skilled workers who had to take any job opportunity to be able to support their families. Most Bosnian refugees are Muslim, ethnically Bosniaks (87%); they have settled primarily in south St. Louis[79] and South County. Bosnian-Americans are well integrated into the city, developing many businesses and ethnic/cultural organizations.[80]

An estimated 70,000 Bosnians live in the metro area, which is tied with Chicago for largest population of Bosnians in the United States and the largest Bosnian population outside their homeland. The highest concentration of Bosnians is in the neighborhood of Bevo Mill and in Affton, Mehlville, and Oakville of south St. Louis County.[81][82]

Bosnian Muslim Romani people have also settled in St. Louis.[83]

Crime

Since 2014 the city of St. Louis has had, as of April 2017, one of the highest murder rates, per capita, in the United States,[84] with 188 homicides in 2015 (59.3 homicides per 100,000)[85][86] and ranks No. 13 of the most dangerous cities in the world by homicide rate. Detroit, Flint, Memphis, Birmingham, and Baltimore have higher overall violent crime rates than St. Louis, when comparing other crimes such as rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.[85][87] These crime rates are high relative to other American cities, but St. Louis index crime rates have declined almost every year since the peak in 1993 (16,648), to the 2014 level of 7,931 (which is the sum of violent crimes and property crimes) per 100,000. In 2015, the index crime rate reversed the 2005–2014 decline to a level of 8,204. Between 2005 and 2014, violent crime has declined by 20%, although rates of violent crime remains 6 times higher than the United States national average and property crime in the city remains 2 12 times the national average.[88] St. Louis has a higher homicide rate than the rest of the U.S. for both whites and blacks and a higher proportion committed by males. As of October 2016, 7 of the homicide suspects were white, 95 black, 0 Hispanic, 0 Asian and 1 female out of the 102 suspects. In 2016, St. Louis was the most dangerous city in the United States with populations of 100,000 or more, ranking 1st in violent crime and 2nd in property crime. It was also ranked 6th of the most dangerous of all establishments in the United States, and East St. Louis, a suburb of the city itself, was ranked 1st.[89][90] The St. Louis Police Department at the end of 2016 reported a total of 188 murders for the year, the same number of homicides that had occurred in the city in 2015.[91] According to the STLP At the end of 2017, St. Louis had 205 murders but the city recorded only 159 inside St. Louis city limits.[92][93] The new Chief of Police, John Hayden said two-thirds (67%) of all the murders and one-half of all the assaults are concentrated in a triangular area in the North part of the city.[92]

Yet another factor when comparing the murder rates of St. Louis and other cities is the manner of drawing municipal boundaries. While many other municipalities have annexed many suburbs, St. Louis has not annexed as much suburban area as most American cities. According to a 2018 estimate, the St. Louis metro area included about 3 million residents and the city included about 300,000 residents. Therefore, the city contains about ten percent of the metro population, a low ratio indicating that the municipal boundaries include only a small part of the metro population.[94]

Economy

The gross domestic product of Greater St. Louis was $209.9 billion in 2022, up from $192.9 billion the previous year.[17] Greater St. Louis had a GDP per capita of $68,574 in 2021, up 10% from the previous year.[95][96] As of November, 2024, the education and health services industries employed the greatest amount of people in the region, followed by the trade, transportation, and utilities industries and professional and business services.[97]

Major companies and institutions

The Anheuser-Busch packaging plant is in St. Louis.

As of 2024, Greater St. Louis is home to six Fortune 500 companies: Centene Corporation, Reinsurance Group of America, Emerson Electric, Edward Jones, Graybar Electric, and Ameren. An additional ten other area companies are listed on the Fortune 1000: Post Holdings, Olin Corporation, Core & Main, Stifel Financial, Peabody Energy, Arch Resources, Energizer Holdings, Caleres, Spire, and Belden.[19]

Other major corporations headquartered in the region include Anheuser-Busch, Bunge Global, Wells Fargo Advisors, Enterprise Holdings, World Wide Technology, Arco Construction, McCarthy Holdings, Clayco Construction, Apex Oil, Alberici, and Schnuck Market.[98][99] Notable corporations with operations in St. Louis but headquarters elsewhere include Boeing, Bayer, Mastercard, U.S. Bank, and BMO Bank.

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis is one of two federal reserve banks in Missouri.[100]

St. Louis is a center of medicine and biotechnology.[101] The Washington University School of Medicine is affiliated with Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the fifth largest hospital in the world. Both institutions operate the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center.[102] The School of Medicine also is affiliated with St. Louis Children's Hospital, one of the country's top pediatric hospitals.[103] Both hospitals are owned by BJC HealthCare. The McDonnell Genome Institute at Washington University played a major role in the Human Genome Project.[104] Saint Louis University Medical School is affiliated with SSM Health's Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and Saint Louis University Hospital. It also has a cancer center, vaccine research center, geriatric center, and a bioethics institute. Several different organizations operate hospitals in the area, including BJC HealthCare, Mercy, SSM Health Care, and Tenet. Other health care and biotechnology institutions with operations in the region include Pfizer, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Bayer, Sigma-Aldrich, Mallinckrodt, and Multidata Systems International.

Several once-independent pillars of the local economy have been purchased by other corporations. Among them are Anheuser-Busch, purchased by Belgium-based InBev; Missouri Pacific Railroad, merged with the Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific Railroad in 1982;[105] McDonnell Douglas, whose operations are now part of Boeing Defense, Space & Security; Trans World Airlines, which was headquartered in the city for its last decade of existence prior to being acquired by American Airlines; and Ralston Purina, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Nestlé.[106] The May Department Stores Company was purchased by Federated Department Stores, now Macy's, although it still has its regional headquarters in the area. Most of the assets of Furniture Brands International were sold to Heritage Home Group in 2013, which moved to North Carolina.[107][108]

Barnes-Jewish Hospital is affiliated with the Washington University School of Medicine.

Cortex Innovation Community in Midtown is the region's largest innovation hub. Cortex is home to offices of Square, Microsoft, Aon, Boeing, and Centene. Cortex has generated 3,800 tech jobs in 14 years, and once built out, is projected to generate $2 billion in development and create 13,000 jobs for the region.[109] The nonprofit Arch Grants is attracting new startups to the region, while the nonprofit LaunchCode trains future tech workers.[110][111]

According to the St. Louis Business Journal, the top employers in Greater St. Louis as of March 29th, 2023 are:[112]

# Employer # of local employees
1 BJC Health Care 33,797
2 Washington University 21,278
3 Walmart 17,000
4 Boeing Defense, Space & Security 16,681
5 SSM Health 15,631

According to St. Louis's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city only as of 2021 are:[113]

# Employer # of Employees
1 Washington University 19,380
2 Barnes Jewish Hospital 18,920
3 Saint Louis University 9,152
4 City of St. Louis 7,033
5 Defense Finance and Accounting Service 6,051
6 Wells Fargo Advisors 5,801
7 U.S. Postal Service 4,960
8 St. Louis Board of Education 4,131
9 SSM SLUH 3,794
10 State of Missouri 3,259

Arts and culture

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

The same year as the 1904 World's Fair, the Strassberger Music Conservatory Building was constructed at 2300 Grand. Otto Wilhelmi was the architect. In 1911, the conservatory had over 1,100 students.[114] The building is presently in the National Register of Historic Places.[115] A well known graduate was Alfonso D'Artega.[116]

With its French past and waves of Catholic immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries, from Ireland, Germany and Italy, St. Louis is a major center of Roman Catholicism in the United States. St. Louis also boasts the largest Ethical Culture Society in the United States and is one of the most generous cities in the United States, ranking ninth in 2013.[117] Several places of worship in the city are noteworthy, such as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, home of the world's largest mosaic installation.[118]

The St. Louis Art Museum is in Forest Park.

Other churches include the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral west of the Mississippi River and the oldest church in St. Louis; the St. Louis Abbey, whose distinctive architectural style garnered multiple awards at the time of its completion in 1962; and St. Francis de Sales Oratory, a neo-Gothic church completed in 1908 in South St. Louis and the second largest church in the city.

The city is identified with music and the performing arts, especially blues, jazz, and ragtime. The St. Louis Symphony is the second oldest symphony orchestra in the United States. Until 2010, it was also home to KFUO-FM, one of the oldest classical music FM radio stations west of the Mississippi River.[119] Opera Theatre of St. Louis has been called "one of America's best summer festivals" by the Washington Post. Former general director Timothy O'Leary was known for drawing the community into discussions of challenging operas. John Adams's "The Death of Klinghoffer", which touched off protests and controversy when performed by the Metropolitan Opera in 2014, had no such problems in St. Louis three years before, because the company fostered a citywide discussion, with interfaith dialogues addressing the tough issues of terrorism, religion and the nature of evil that the opera brings up. St. Louis's Jewish Community Relations Council gave O'Leary an award. Under O'Leary, the company—always known for innovative work—gave second chances to other major American operas, such as John Corigliano's "The Ghosts of Versailles", presented in 2009 in a smaller-scale version.[120]

The Gateway Arch anchors downtown St. Louis and a historic center that includes: the Federal courthouse where the Dred Scott case was first argued, an expanded public library, major churches and businesses, and retail.[citation needed] An increasing downtown residential population has taken to adapted office buildings and other historic structures. In nearby University City is the Delmar Loop, ranked by the American Planning Association as a "great American street" for its variety of shops and restaurants, and the Tivoli Theater, all within walking distance.[citation needed]

Unique city and regional cuisine reflecting various immigrant groups include toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, provel cheese, the slinger, the Gerber sandwich, and the St. Paul sandwich. Some St. Louis chefs have begun emphasizing use of local produce, meats and fish, and neighborhood farmers' markets have become more popular. Artisan bakeries, salumeria, and chocolatiers also operate in the city.[citation needed]

St. Louis-style pizza has thin crust, provel cheese, and is cut in small squares.[121] Frozen-custard purveyor Ted Drewes offers its "Concrete": frozen custard blended with any combination of dozens of ingredients into a mixture so thick that a spoon inserted into the custard does not fall if the cup is inverted.[122]

Sports

St. Louis hosts the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball and the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. In 2019, it became the eighth North American city to have won titles in all four major leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL) when the Blues won the Stanley Cup championship. It has collegiate-level soccer teams and is one of three American cities to have hosted the Summer Olympic Games. A third major team, the St. Louis City SC of Major League Soccer, began play in 2023.

Professional sports

Pro teams in the St. Louis area include:

Club Sport First season League Venue
St. Louis Cardinals Baseball 1882 Major League Baseball Busch Stadium
St. Louis Blues Ice hockey 1967 National Hockey League Enterprise Center
St. Louis City SC Soccer 2023 Major League Soccer Energizer Park
St. Louis BattleHawks American football 2020 United Football League The Dome at America's Center
St. Louis City 2 Soccer 2022 MLS Next Pro Energizer Park
Gateway Grizzlies Baseball 2001 Frontier League Grizzlies Ballpark
St. Louis Ambush Indoor soccer 2013 Major Arena Soccer League Family Arena
Busch Stadium is in downtown St. Louis.

The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most successful franchises in Major League Baseball.[123] The Cardinals have won 19 National League (NL) titles (the most pennants for the league franchise in one city) and 11 World Series titles (second to the New York Yankees and the most by any NL franchise), recently in 2011.[124] They play at Busch Stadium. Previously, the St. Louis Browns played in the American League (AL) from 1902 to 1953, before moving to Baltimore, Maryland to become the current incarnation of the Orioles. The 1944 World Series was an all-St. Louis World Series, matching up the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park, won by the Cardinals in six games. It was the third and final time that the teams shared a home field. St. Louis also was home to the St. Louis Stars (baseball), also known as the St. Louis Giants from 1906 to 1921, who played in the Negro league baseball from 1920 to 1931 and won championships in 1928, 1930, and 1931, and the St. Louis Maroons who played in the Union Association in 1884 and in the National League from 1885 to 1889. In 1884, The St. Louis Maroons won the Union Association pennant and started the season with 20 straight wins, a feat that was not surpassed by any major professional sports team in the United States until the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors season when they started their NBA season with 24 straight wins.

The Enterprise Center is in downtown St. Louis.

The St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) play at the Enterprise Center. They were one of the six teams added to the NHL in the 1967 expansion. The Blues went to the Stanley Cup finals in their first three years, but got swept every time. Although they were the first 1967 expansion team to make the Stanley Cup Finals, they were also the last of the 1967 expansion teams to win the Stanley Cup. They finally won their first Stanley Cup in 2019 after beating the Boston Bruins in the final. This championship made St. Louis the eighth city to win a championship in each of the four major U.S. sports. Prior to the Blues, the city was home to the St. Louis Eagles. The team played in the 1934–35 season.[citation needed]

St. Louis has been home to four National Football League (NFL) teams. The St. Louis All-Stars played in the city in 1923, the St. Louis Gunners in 1934, the St. Louis Cardinals from 1960 to 1987, and the St. Louis Rams from 1995 to 2015. The football Cardinals advanced to the NFL playoffs four times (1964, 1974, 1975 and 1982), never hosting in any appearance. They did, however, win the 1964 Playoff Bowl for third place against the Green Bay Packers by a score of 24–17. The Cardinals moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1988. The Rams played at the Edward Jones Dome from 1995 to 2015 and won Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. They also went to Super Bowl XXXVI but lost to the New England Patriots. The Rams then returned to Los Angeles in 2016.[citation needed]

The St. Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) played at Kiel Auditorium from 1955 to 1968. They won the NBA championship in 1958 and played in three other NBA Finals: 1957, 1960, and 1961. In 1968 the Hawks moved to Atlanta. St. Louis was also the home to the St. Louis Bombers of the Basketball Association of America from 1946 to 1949 and the National Basketball Association from 1949 to 1950 and the Spirits of St. Louis of the American Basketball Association from 1974 to 1976 when the ABA and NBA merged.[citation needed]

CityPark - St. Louis CITY SC
Energizer Park is in downtown St. Louis.

Major League Soccer's St. Louis City SC began play in 2023 at Energizer Park. Their MLS Next Pro affiliate is St. Louis City 2, which began play in 2022 and also plays at Energizer Park. Formerly, USL Championship's Saint Louis FC played in the area from 2015 to 2020 at World Wide Technology Soccer Park.[citation needed]

The St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL began play in 2020, using The Dome at America's Center as their home field. After a two-year hiatus of the league, the Battlehawks returned in 2023, when the XFL resumed play.[citation needed]

St. Louis hosts several minor league sports teams. The Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League play in the area in Sauget, IL. The St. Louis Trotters of the Independent Basketball Association play at Matthews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club. The St. Louis Ambush indoor soccer team plays in nearby St. Charles at the Family Arena as a part of the Major Arena Soccer League. The St. Louis Slam play in the Women's Football Alliance at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium.

The region hosts INDYCAR, NHRA drag racing, and NASCAR events at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Illinois. Thoroughbred flat racing events are hosted at Fairmount Park Racetrack near Collinsville, Illinois.[citation needed]

College and amateur sports

St. Louis has hosted the Final Four of both the women's and men's college basketball NCAA Division I championship tournaments, and the Frozen Four collegiate ice hockey tournament. Saint Louis University has won 10 NCAA men's soccer championships, and the city has hosted the College Cup several times. In addition to collegiate soccer, many St. Louisans have played for the United States men's national soccer team, and 20 St. Louisans have been elected into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. St. Louis also is the origin of the sport of corkball, a type of baseball in which there is no base running.[citation needed]

Although the area does not have a National Basketball Association team, it hosts the St. Louis Phoenix, an American Basketball Association team.[citation needed]

Club Atletico Saint Louis, a semi-professional soccer team, competes within the National Premier Soccer League and plays out of St. Louis University High School Soccer Stadium.[citation needed]

Chess

The Sinquefield Cup chess tournament is hosted annually in St. Louis.

St. Louis is home to the Saint Louis Chess Club where the U.S. Chess Championship is held. St. Louisan Rex Sinquefield founded the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis (which was renamed as St. Louis Chess Club later) and moved the World Chess Hall of Fame to St. Louis in 2011. The Sinquefield Cup Tournament started at St. Louis in 2013. In 2014 the Sinquefield Cup was the highest-rated chess tournament of all time. Former U.S. Chess Champions Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura have lived in St. Louis. Former women's chess champion Susan Polgar also resides in St. Louis.[citation needed]

Parks and recreation

Forest Park features a variety of attractions, including the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, and the St. Louis Science Center.

The city operates more than 100 parks, with amenities that include sports facilities, playgrounds, concert areas, picnic areas, and lakes. Forest Park, located on the western edge of city, is the largest, occupying 1,400 acres of land, making it almost twice as large as Central Park in New York City.[50] The park is home to five major institutions, including the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, the Missouri History Museum, and the Muny amphitheatre.[50] Another significant park in the city is Gateway Arch National Park, which was known as Jefferson National Expansion Memorial until 2018 and is located on the riverfront in downtown St. Louis. The centerpiece of the park is the 630-foot (192 m) tall Gateway Arch, a National Memorial designed by noted architect Eero Saarinen and completed on October 28, 1965. Also part of the historic park is the Old Courthouse, where the first two trials of Dred Scott v. Sandford were held in 1847 and 1850.

The Jewel Box is a greenhouse and event venue in Forest Park.

Other parks include the Missouri Botanical Garden, Tower Grove Park, Carondelet Park, and Citygarden. The Missouri Botanical Garden, a private garden and botanical research facility, is a National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest botanical gardens in the United States.[50] The Garden features 79 acres of horticultural displays from around the world. This includes a Japanese strolling garden, Henry Shaw's original 1850 estate home and a geodesic dome called the Climatron.[50] Immediately south of the Missouri Botanical Garden is Tower Grove Park, a gift to the city by Henry Shaw. Citygarden is an urban sculpture park located in downtown St. Louis, with art from Fernand Léger, Aristide Maillol, Julian Opie, Tom Otterness, Niki de Saint Phalle, and Mark di Suvero.[125][126] The park is divided into three sections, each of which represent a different theme: river bluffs; flood plains; and urban gardens. Another downtown sculpture park is the Serra Sculpture Park, with the 1982 Richard Serra sculpture Twain.[127]

Government

St. Louis is one of the 41 independent cities in the U.S. that does not legally belong to any county.[128] St. Louis has a strong mayor–council government with legislative authority and oversight vested in the Board of Aldermen and with executive authority in the mayor and six other elected officials.[129] The Board of Aldermen is made up of 28 members (one elected from each of the city's wards) plus a board president who is elected citywide.[130] The 2014 fiscal year budget topped $1 billion for the first time, a 1.9% increase over the $985.2 million budget in 2013.[131] 238,253 registered voters lived in the city in 2012,[132] down from 239,247 in 2010, and 257,442 in 2008.[133]

Structure

Citywide office[134][135] Elected official
Mayor of St. Louis Tishaura Jones
President of the Board of Aldermen Megan Green
City Comptroller Darlene Green
Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler
Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly
License Collector Mavis T. Thompson
Treasurer Adam Layne
Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore
City of St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones in 2017

The mayor is the chief executive officer of the city and is responsible for appointing city department heads including; the director of public safety, the director of streets & traffic, the director of health, the director of human services, the director of the airport, the director of parks & recreation, the director of workforce development, the director of the Community Development Agency, the director of economic development, the director of public utilities, the director of the Civil Rights Enforcement Agency, the register, and the assessor, among other department-level or senior administrative positions. The President of the Board of Aldermen is the second highest-ranking official in the city. The President is the presiding officer of the Board of Aldermen which is the legislative branch of government of the city.

Municipal elections in St. Louis are held in odd-numbered years, with the primary elections in March and the general election in April. The mayor is elected in odd-numbered years following the United States presidential election using a top-two approval voting primary.[136] The aldermen representing odd-numbered wards are up for election at the same time as the mayor. The president of the board of aldermen and the aldermen from even-numbered wards are elected in the off-years. The Democratic Party has dominated St. Louis city politics for decades. The city has not had a Republican mayor since 1949, and the last time a Republican was elected to another citywide office was in the 1970s. As of 2015, all 28 of the city's aldermen are Democrats.[137]

Forty-seven individuals have held the office of mayor of St. Louis, four of whom—William Carr Lane, John Fletcher Darby, John Wimer, and John How—served non-consecutive terms. The most terms served by a mayor was by Lane, who served 8 full terms plus the unexpired term of Darby. The current mayor is Tishaura Jones, who took office April 20, 2021, and is the first African-American woman to hold the post. She succeeded Lyda Krewson, the first female mayor of the city, who retired in 2021 after serving for four years. The longest-serving mayor was Francis Slay, who took office April 17, 2001, and left office April 18, 2017, a total of 16 years and six days over four terms in office. The shortest-serving mayor was Arthur Barret, who died 11 days after taking office.

Although St. Louis separated from St. Louis County in 1876, some mechanisms have been put in place for joint funding management and funding of regional assets. The St. Louis Zoo-Museum district collects property taxes from residents of both St. Louis City and County, and the funds are used to support cultural institutions including the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Art Museum and the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Similarly, the Metropolitan Sewer District provides sanitary and storm sewer service to the city and much of St. Louis County. The Bi-State Development Agency (now known as Metro) runs the region's MetroLink light rail system and bus system.

St. Louis City Sheriff's Department
{{{badgecaption}}}
AbbreviationSTL-SO
MottoProfessionalism, Honesty, Integrity, and Courage
Agency overview
Formed1876
Employees216
Annual budgetUS$11,972,997.00 [FY 2025][138]
Jurisdictional structure
Legal jurisdictionSt. Louis, Missouri
Governing body22nd Judicial Circuit
Operational structure
HeadquartersCivil Courts Building, 10 N Tucker Blvd 8th Floor, St. Louis, MO 63101
Deputies165
Agency executive
  • Vernon Betts (D), Sheriff of St.Louis
Parent agencyBoard of Aldermen's Committee on Public Safety, 22nd Judicial Circuit
Divisions
5
  • Civil Process Information
  • Court Information
  • Land Tax Sales
  • Conceal and Carry Firearm Permit
  • Sheriff's Office Events
  • Eviction Procedures and Policy
  • Courtroom Security
Facilities
Justice CentersSt. Louis City Justice Center, 200 S. Tucker Blvd, St. Louis, Missouri
Marked and UnmarkedsFord Transport Vans, Chevrolet Transport Vans, Ford Police Interceptor
Planes0

The City of St. Louis Sheriff's Office (STLSO or STLCSO) primarily provides security services for the courtrooms, and serves court documents and issues gun carry permits. In 2022, it gained the ability to make arrests and traffic stops.[139]

State and federal government

United States presidential election results for St. Louis, Missouri[140]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 19,342 16.53% 94,458 80.75% 3,179 2.72%
2020 21,474 15.98% 110,089 81.93% 2,809 2.09%
2016 20,832 15.72% 104,235 78.68% 7,420 5.60%
2012 22,943 15.93% 118,780 82.45% 2,343 1.63%
2008 24,662 15.50% 132,925 83.55% 1,517 0.95%
2004 27,793 19.22% 116,133 80.29% 712 0.49%
2000 24,799 19.88% 96,557 77.40% 3,396 2.72%
1996 22,121 18.13% 91,233 74.78% 8,649 7.09%
1992 25,441 17.26% 102,356 69.44% 19,607 13.30%
1988 40,906 26.96% 110,076 72.55% 732 0.48%
1984 61,020 35.20% 112,318 64.80% 0 0.00%
1980 50,333 29.48% 113,697 66.59% 6,721 3.94%
1976 58,367 32.47% 118,703 66.03% 2,714 1.51%
1972 72,402 37.67% 119,817 62.33% 0 0.00%
1968 58,252 26.37% 143,010 64.74% 19,652 8.90%
1964 59,604 22.28% 207,958 77.72% 0 0.00%
1960 101,331 33.37% 202,319 66.63% 0 0.00%
1956 130,045 39.14% 202,210 60.86% 0 0.00%
1952 144,828 38.00% 235,893 61.89% 427 0.11%
1948 120,656 35.10% 220,654 64.19% 2,460 0.72%
1944 134,411 39.54% 204,687 60.22% 821 0.24%
1940 168,165 41.79% 233,338 57.98% 948 0.24%
1936 127,887 32.23% 260,063 65.54% 8,880 2.24%
1932 123,448 34.57% 226,338 63.38% 7,319 2.05%
1928 161,701 47.67% 176,428 52.01% 1,065 0.31%
1924 139,433 52.70% 95,888 36.24% 29,276 11.06%
1920 163,280 57.77% 106,047 37.52% 13,325 4.71%
1916 83,798 51.72% 74,059 45.71% 4,175 2.58%
1912 46,509 33.14% 58,845 41.93% 34,973 24.92%
1908 74,160 52.76% 60,917 43.34% 5,473 3.89%
1904 57,547 49.70% 51,858 44.79% 6,387 5.52%
1900 60,597 48.64% 59,931 48.11% 4,046 3.25%
1896 65,708 56.16% 50,091 42.81% 1,197 1.02%
1892 35,528 49.94% 34,669 48.73% 942 1.32%
1888 33,656 53.40% 27,401 43.48% 1,969 3.12%

St. Louis is split between 8 districts in the Missouri House of Representatives: the 76th, 77th, 78th, 79th, 80th, 81st, 82nd, and 84th districts.[141] The 5th Missouri Senate district is entirely within the city, while the 4th is shared with St. Louis County.[142]

At the federal level, St. Louis is the heart of Missouri's 1st congressional district, which also includes part of northern St. Louis County.[143] A Republican has not represented a significant portion of St. Louis in the U.S. House since 1953. The city shifted from Republican voting to a Democratic stronghold at the presidential level since 1928. George H. W. Bush in 1988 was the most recent Republican to win even a quarter of the city's votes in a presidential election.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri are based in the Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse in downtown St. Louis. St. Louis is also home to a Federal Reserve System branch, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) also maintains major facilities in the St. Louis area.[144]

The Military Personnel Records Center (NPRC-MPR) located at 9700 Page Avenue in St. Louis, is a branch of the National Personnel Records Center and is the repository of over 56 million military personnel records and medical records pertaining to retired, discharged, and deceased veterans of the U.S. armed forces.[145]

Education

Colleges and universities

Brookings Hall is at Washington University in St. Louis.

The city is home to three national research universities, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, as classified under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has been ranked among the top 10 medical schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report for as long as the list has been published, and as high as second, in 2003 and 2004. U.S. News & World Report also ranks the undergraduate school and other graduate schools, such as the Washington University School of Law, in the top 20 in the nation.[50][146]

St. Louis Metropolitan Region is home to St. Louis Community College. It is also home to several other four-year colleges & universities, including Harris–Stowe State University, a historically black public university, Fontbonne University, Webster University, Missouri Baptist University, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (the former Saint Louis College of Pharmacy), Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE), and Lindenwood University.

In addition to Catholic theological institutions such as Kenrick-Glennon Seminary and Aquinas Institute of Theology sponsored by the Order of Preachers, St. Louis is home to three Protestant seminaries: Eden Theological Seminary of the United Church of Christ, Covenant Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America, and Concordia Seminary of the St. Louis-based Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.

Primary and secondary schools

St. Louis University High School was founded in 1818. Its current building was built in 1924.

The St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS), which covers the entire city,[147] operate more than 75 schools, attended by more than 25,000 students, including several magnet schools. SLPS operates under provisional accreditation from the state of Missouri and is under the governance of a state-appointed school board called the Special Administrative Board, although a local board continues to exist without legal authority over the district. Since 2000, charter schools have operated in the city of St. Louis using authorization from Missouri state law. These schools are sponsored by local institutions or corporations and take in students from kindergarten through high school.[148] In addition, several private schools exist in the city, and the Archdiocese of St. Louis operates dozens of parochial schools in the city, including parochial high schools. The city also has several private high schools, including secular, Montessori, Catholic and Lutheran schools. St. Louis University High School – a Jesuit preparatory high school founded in 1818 – is the oldest secondary educational institution in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River.[149] The state-operated K-12 boarding school Missouri School for the Blind is in St. Louis.

Media

The former St. Louis Post-Dispatch building is in downtown St. Louis.

Greater St. Louis commands the 24th-largest media market in the United States.[150] All of the major U.S. television networks have affiliates in St. Louis, including KTVI 2 (Fox), KMOV 4 (CBS, with MyNetworkTV on channel 32.1), KSDK 5 (NBC), KETC 9 (PBS), KPLR-TV 11 (The CW), KNLC 24 (MeTV), KDNL 30 (ABC), WRBU 46 (Ion), and WPXS 51 Daystar Television Network. Among the area's most popular radio stations are KMOX (AM sports and talk, notable as the longtime flagship station for St. Louis Cardinals broadcasts), KLOU (FM oldies), WIL-FM (FM country), WARH (FM adult hits), and KSLZ (FM Top 40 mainstream).[151] St. Louis also supports public radio's KWMU, an NPR affiliate, and community radio's KDHX. All-sports stations, such as KFNS 590 AM "The Fan" and WXOS "101.1 ESPN" are also popular. KSHE 95 FM "Real Rock Radio" has broadcast rock music since November 1967 - longer than any other radio station in the United States.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the region's major newspaper. Others in the region include Ladue News, West Newsmagazine, the Webster-Kirkwood Times, and the Call Newspapers which all serve parts of St. Louis County. Three weeklies serve the African-American community: the St. Louis Argus, the St. Louis American, and the St. Louis Sentinel. St. Louis Magazine, a monthly magazine, covers topics such as local history, cuisine, and lifestyles, while the weekly St. Louis Business Journal provides coverage of regional business news. St. Louis was served by an online newspaper, the St. Louis Beacon, but that publication merged with KWMU in 2013.[152] The primary alternative newspaper was the Riverfront Times before it was closed in 2024.[153]

Many books and movies have been written about St. Louis. A few of the most influential and prominent films are Meet Me in St. Louis and American Flyers,[154] and novels include The Killing Dance, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Runaway Soul, The Rose of Old St. Louis, and Circus of the Damned.

Because St. Louis was a prime location for immigrants to move to, much of the early social work depicting immigrant life was based on St. Louis, such as in the book The Immigrant in St. Louis.[citation needed]

Transportation

Interstate 64 crosses the Mississippi in Downtown St. Louis.

Road, rail, ship, and air transportation modes connect the city with surrounding communities in Greater St. Louis, national transportation networks, and international locations. St. Louis also supports a public transportation network that includes bus and light rail service.[citation needed]

Roads and highways

Four interstate highways connect the city to a larger regional highway system. Interstate 70, an east–west highway, runs from the northwest corner of the city to downtown St. Louis. The north–south Interstate 55 enters the city at the south near the Carondelet neighborhood and runs toward the center of the city, and both Interstate 64 and Interstate 44 enter the city on the west, running parallel to the east. Two of the four interstates (Interstates 55 and 64) merge south of Gateway Arch National Park and leave the city on the Poplar Street Bridge into Illinois, while Interstate 44 terminates at Interstate 70 at its new interchange near N Broadway and Cass Ave. A small portion of the Interstate 270 outer belt freeway runs through the northern end of the city.[citation needed]

The 563-mile Avenue of the Saints links St. Louis with St. Paul, Minnesota.[citation needed]

Major roadways include the north–south Memorial Drive, located on the western edge of Gateway Arch National Park and parallel to Interstate 70, the north–south streets of Grand Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue, both of which run the length of the city, and Gravois Road, which runs from the southeastern portion of the city to downtown and used to be signed as U.S. Route 66. An east-west roadway that connects the city with surrounding communities is Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, which carries traffic from the western edge of the city to downtown.[citation needed]

Metro light rail and subway

A St. Louis MetroLink Red Line train leaves St. Louis Union Station.
University City-Big Bend Subway Station is along the Blue Line, near Washington University.

The St. Louis metropolitan area is served by MetroLink (known as Metro) and is the 11th-largest light rail system in the country with 46 mi (74 km) of double track light rail. The Red Line and The Blue Line both serve all the stations in the inner city, and branch to different destinations beyond in the suburban areas. Both lines enter the city north of Forest Park on the western edge of the city or on the Eads Bridge in downtown St. Louis to Illinois. All of the system track is in independent right of way, with both surface level and underground subway track in the city. All stations are independent entry, and all platforms are flush-level with trains. Rail service is provided by the Bi-State Development Agency (also known as Metro), which is funded by a sales taxes levied in the city and other counties in the region.[155] The Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center acts as the hub station in the city of St. Louis, linking the city's light rail system, local bus system, passenger rail service, and national bus service. It is located just east of the historic grand St. Louis Union Station.[citation needed]

Airports

This control tower and main terminal are at St. Louis Lambert.

St. Louis is served by two passenger airports. St. Louis Lambert International Airport, owned and operated by the City of St. Louis, is 11 miles northwest of downtown along highway I-70 between I-170 and I-270 in St. Louis County. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state. In 2016, when the airport had more than 255 daily departures to about 90 domestic and international locations, it served more than 15 million passengers.[156] The airport serves as a focus hub city for Southwest Airlines; it was once a hub for Trans World Airlines and a focus-city for American Airlines and AmericanConnection.[156] The airport has two terminals with a total of five concourses. International flights and passengers use Terminal 2, whose lower level holds the Immigration and Customs gates. Passengers can move between the terminals on complimentary buses that run continuously, or via MetroLink for a fee. It was possible to walk between the terminals until Concourse D was closed in 2008.[157]

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is the secondary passenger airport serving the metropolitan area. Located 17 miles east of the city downtown core, the airport serves domestic passengers. Air cargo transportation is available at Lambert International and at other nearby regional airports, including MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Spirit of St. Louis Airport, and St. Louis Downtown Airport.[citation needed]

Port authority

River transportation is available through the Port of St. Louis, which is 19.3 miles of riverbank on the Mississippi River that handles more than 32 million tons of freight annually. The Port is the second largest inland port by trip-ton miles, and the third largest by tonnage in the United States, with more than 100 docks for barges and 16 public terminals on the river.[158] The Port Authority added two new small fire and rescue craft in 2012 and 2013.

Railroad service

An eastbound Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis freight train passes under the Hampton Avenue viaduct.

Inter-city rail passenger train service in the city is provided by Amtrak at the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center downtown. Amtrak trains terminating in the city include the Lincoln Service to Chicago and the Missouri River Runner to Kansas City, Missouri. St. Louis is an intermediate stop on the Texas Eagle route which provides long-distance passenger service between Chicago, San Antonio, and three days a week, to Los Angeles.[159]

St. Louis is the nation's third largest freight rail hub, moving Missouri exports such as fertilizer, gravel, crushed stone, prepared foodstuffs, fats, oils, nonmetallic mineral products, grain, alcohol, tobacco products, automobiles, and automobile parts.[160] Freight rail service in St. Louis is provided on tracks owned by Union Pacific Railroad, Norfolk Southern Railway, Foster Townsend Rail Logistics – formerly Manufacturers Railway (St. Louis), Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, Affton Trucking,[161] and the BNSF Railway.

The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (reporting mark: TRRA) is a switching and terminal railroad jointly owned by all the major rail carriers in St. Louis. The company operates 30 diesel-electric locomotives to move railcars around the classification yards, deliver railcars to local industries, and ready trains for departure.[162] The TRRA processes and dispatches a significant portion of railroad traffic moving through the city and owns and operates a network of rail bridges and tunnels including the MacArthur Bridge (St. Louis) and the Merchants Bridge.[163] This infrastructure is also used by inter-city rail and long-distance passenger trains serving St. Louis.

Bus service

A bus passes under the St. Louis Science Center walkway.

Local bus service in the city of St. Louis is provided by the Bi-State Development Agency via MetroBus, with more than 75 routes connecting to MetroLink light rail transit and stops in the city and region. The city is also served by Madison County Transit, which connects downtown St. Louis to Madison County, Illinois. National bus service in the city is offered by Greyhound Lines, Burlington Trailways and Amtrak Thruway, with a station at the Gateway Transportation Center, and Megabus, with a stop at St. Louis Union Station.

Taxi

Taxicab service in the city is provided by private companies regulated by the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission. Rates vary by vehicle type, size, passengers and distance, and by regulation all taxicab fares must be calculated using a taximeter and be payable in cash or credit card.[164] Solicitation by a driver is prohibited, although a taxicab may be hailed on the street or at a stand.

Notable people

Sister cities

St. Louis has 16 sister cities:[165] Bologna, Italy; Bogor, Indonesia; Brčko, Brčko District, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Donegal, County Donegal, Ireland; Galway, County Galway, Ireland; Georgetown, Guyana; Lyon, France; Nanjing, China; Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina; Saint-Louis, Senegal; Samara, Russia; San Luis Potosí, Mexico; Stuttgart, Germany;[166] Suwa, Japan; Szczecin, Poland;[167] and Wuhan, China.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
  2. ^ Official records for St. Louis were kept at the Weather Bureau Office from January 1874 to December 1892, Eads Bridge from January 1893 to December 1929, and at Lambert–St. Louis Int'l since January 1930.[55]

References

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Further reading

  • Berger, Henry W. St. Louis and Empire: 250 Years of Imperial Quest and Urban Crisis. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2015.
  • Ekberg, Carl J., and Sharon K. Person, St. Louis Rising: The French Regime of Louis St. Ange de Bellerive. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2015.
  • Gordon, Colin. Mapping Decline: St. Louis and the Fate of the American City. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008. ISBN 9780812220940
  • Primm, James Neal. Lion of the Valley: St. Louis, Missouri, 1764-1980 (1998) a major scholarly history online