St. Louis, MO Overview
Saint Louis, MO is the center point of Missouri’s tourism, cuisine, and entertainment. Whether you are just visiting for a day, or are a full-time resident, there are always activities and events to enjoy, year-round.
A Brief Look At St. Louis History
In the early years of St. Louis, around the 1760s, the King of France awarded Pierre Laclede Liguest and his son, Auguste Chouteau, the land that is now known as St. Louis. In 1964, the land was deemed as a fur trading post because of the excellent proximity to the Mississippi River in addition to other rivers in Missouri. Most of the first settlers were French and they often would trade fur with the Spanish who resided in the surrounding areas. As apart of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the land became apart of the United States of America.
In 1803, Lewis and Clark launched their quest to the west coast and the starting point was St. Louis. As time passed, more groups of people migrated to the area, however, the population remained primarily French until the 19th century. In the mid-1800s, St. Louis became a destination that was attractive to many immigrants that were eager to create their own American Dreams. In fact, from 1840-1860 the population grew exponentially, welcoming new German and Irish citizens.
In the late 1800s, the current St. Louis city limits were established and the city continued to gain rapid population growth. Moving into the 1900s, the city was a great spot for industrial companies due to the proximity to railroads and waterways and it was listed in the nation’s top 5 largest cities. In 1904, St. Louis hosted both the World’s Fair and the Olympics. During this year, more than 20 million people visited the city.
By 1950, St. Louis’s population had grown to 856,000 and the city was running out of room for all the inhabitants. Due to the lack of space within city limits, the growth of suburbs began to rise, which allowed for more room and more citizens. In the late 1900s, professional sports teams were introduced to the city which brought more urbanization and tourism.
Today, St. Louis is growing into its 4th century as a city and is a hub for tourism in Missouri. From concerts to baseball games, there are always new actives to partake in and new areas to explore!
Downtown St. Louis
Downtown St. Louis is truly the heart of the whole city! In the downtown area, there are always new events and festivals happening in addition to dining and shopping. Downtown is also the home of the Gateway Arch Nation Park, a great tourist destination! The Gateway Arch is a symbol of the United States western expansion and is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson’s efforts of expanding and opening up the west to pioneers.
