Saint Louis

by The Linguist

Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis, commonly referred to as St. Louis, is the second-largest city in Missouri with a population of over 300,000 residents. Founded in 1764, St. Louis was a major port city along the Mississippi River and served as the gateway to the west during the era of Manifest Destiny and western expansion. Today, it continues to be a major economic and cultural hub in the Midwest.

Population

As of the 2020 census, the population of St. Louis was 300,576 making it the 58th most populous city in the United States. The racial makeup of the city is approximately 46.1% Black or African American, 43.9% White, 3.5% Asian, 2.9% from two or more races, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 0.5% American Indian. St. Louis has experienced a decline in population over the past several decades, losing residents to the surrounding suburbs and exurbs.

History

St. Louis was founded in 1764 by French explorers and fur traders Pierre Laclède and Auguste Chouteau who established a trading post on the western banks of the Mississippi River. They named the settlement after King Louis IX of France. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 which acquired the territory from France, St. Louis became part of the United States. It was incorporated as a city in 1822.

In the mid-1800s, St. Louis emerged as a major port and commercial hub, especially for the fur trade and railroads. It served as the “Gateway to the West” for American expansion. St. Louis hosted the 1904 World’s Fair and Summer Olympics cementing its status as an up-and-coming American city. During the early and mid-20th century, St. Louis became a manufacturing powerhouse though like many Midwest cities, experienced a decline due to suburbanization and deindustrialization.

Today, St. Louis is redefining itself as a diversified 21st century city anchored by major corporations, healthcare, biotechnology, financial services, tourism, and more. The iconic Gateway Arch along the riverfront remains a defining symbol of the city.

Economy

St. Louis has a diversified modern economy with strengths in sectors like healthcare, biotechnology, financial services, advanced manufacturing, transportation, and tourism. Major companies headquartered in St. Louis include agricultural giant Monsanto, financial firm Edward Jones, beer maker Anheuser Busch, and Energizer Holdings. Top employers include BJC Healthcare, Washington University in St. Louis, and Walmart.

The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership promotes business growth and investment in the city. Major initiatives focus on growing innovation districts like Cortex and the St. Louis Innovation Community as well as revitalizing neighborhoods. Unemployment hit a 50-year low of 2.9% in 2019 indicating a strong metro economy.

Attractions and Tourism

St. Louis is home to a variety of popular attractions and landmarks. The iconic Gateway Arch towers 630 feet over the city atop the historic riverfront. The Arch is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial which commemorates St. Louis’ role in westward expansion.

Other major attractions include the Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Zoo, Laclede’s Landing entertainment district, St. Louis Science Center, and St. Louis Cathedral dating to 1770. Sports is also a major tourism draw with teams like the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. Annual events like Fair St. Louis and the PrideFest parade also attract crowds.

Popular neighborhoods to explore include Central West End, Cherokee Street, The Hill, Midtown, Lafeyette Square, Soulard, and the Delmar Loop.

Transportation

St. Louis is served by St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) which offers nonstop flights to over 120 domestic and international destinations on major airlines like Southwest, Delta, American, and United. Public transit includes the MetroLink light rail system, MetroBus network, and Downtown Trolley along with ridesharing, taxis, Amtrak trains, and more.

Interstates connecting St. Louis include I-70, I-44, I-55, I-64, and I-70. Major highways include US-61, US-67, and Route 364. The city is also noteworthy for the Eads Bridge, an historic arched bridge over the Mississippi River completed in 1874.

Education

The city of St. Louis is served by a number of public and private school districts educating K-12 students. The St. Louis Public Schools district is the largest with nearly 20,000 students. Other districts include Bayless School District, Brentwood School District, Clayton School District, Hancock Place School District, Kirkwood R-7 School District, Ladue School District, Lindbergh Schools, Mehlville R-9 School District, Parkway School District, Pattonville R-3 School District, Ritenour School District, Rockwood R-6 School District, Valley Park School District, and more.

Higher education institutions located in the city include Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Webster University, St. Louis Community College, and more.

Sports

St. Louis is home to several professional sports teams including:

  • St. Louis Cardinals – MLB baseball team playing at Busch Stadium downtown
  • St. Louis Blues – NHL hockey team playing at the Enterprise Center
  • St. Louis City SC – MLS soccer expansion team debuting in 2023 at CityPark Stadium

Other sports attractions include the Saint Louis FC soccer club, the St. Louis BattleHawks XFL team, and the St. Louis Surge women’s basketball team.

County and Local Government

The city of St. Louis is an independent municipality not part of any county. However, it is surrounded by St. Louis County which contains many suburbs and towns in the metro area. St. Louis County government is located at 41 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105 and can be reached at (314) 615-5000.

The City of St. Louis government is led by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones from the office at City Hall located at 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. The city government can be contacted at (314) 622-3201.

Landmarks and Locations

Here are some of the top landmarks and locations in St. Louis:

  • Gateway Arch – 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102. GPS: 38.6244° N, 90.1842° W
  • Busch Stadium – 700 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO 63102. GPS: 38.6225° N, 90.1928° W
  • St. Louis Cathedral – 4431 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108. GPS: 38.6404° N, 90.2531° W

This covers some of the major highlights about St. Louis, Missouri. With its distinctive history, architecture, culture, cuisine and more, St. Louis has plenty to offer visitors and residents alike.