history history missouri began settlement area native american mound builders lived culture 9th century 15th century followed migrating tribal groups starting late 17th century french explorers arrived spain took trading company led established settlement february attracted french settlers leaving illinois britain took control east mississippi city grew population location trading post mississippi_river western fur trade lucrative city played small role american revolutionary war connection east mississippi south north missouri west located main base trade 1840s destination massive immigration irish germans native born americans reacted fear newcomers adopting sentiments missouri slave state city proximity free states caused center filing freedom suits slaves gained freedom suits years 1850s scott case interpretations changed supreme_court ruled ruled unconstitutional contributing tensions causing american_civil_war war small skirmish outskirts held union control war city expanded railroad connections industrial activity suffered corresponding rise pollution river waterfront early 1870s constructed mississippi_river city established large parks including local political economic disputes city separated independent city limited geographic area success 20th 21st centuries small tax base late 19th century home major_league_baseball teams blues music flourished city african americans making major contributions jazz city hosted world fair summer olympics attracting millions visitors infrastructure fair basis major city institutions early century african americans migrated south city industrial jobs great migration escape great depression high unemployment world war city hosted war industries employed thousands workers war federal highway subsidies postwar development encouraged outward migration residents moved gain newer housing significantly reduced city middle class population city efforts create new attractions construction focus civil rights movement gain non segregated jobs skilled trades litigation civil rights act unions city worked replace housing new public housing projects combination factors resulted unsuccessful demolished late 20th century starting 1980s continuing following century construction increased areas particularly downtown city crime reduction progress continued struggle crime perceptions crime city saw modest population growth showed decline exploration louisiana earliest settlements middle built 10th century people culture constructed dozen platform area future european american city related center culture large complex east mississippi_river culture ended unknown reasons 14th century sites time speaking groups migrated eastern lived villages missouri rivers groups competed northeastern tribes groups confronted earliest european explorers extensive european exploration near confluence missouri mississippi rivers began nearly century city officially founded jesuit priest traveled south mississippi_river june passed future site reached mouth turning years later french explorer led expedition south mouth mississippi gulf_of_mexico claiming entire valley france named mississippi river basin louisiana king region near confluence ohio mississippi rivers named series forts mississippi valley french built settlements illinois french trading companies built towns including fort missouri european town missouri west mississippi fighting french indian war north american seven years war halted settlement building economy remained weak ongoing war britain defeated france following year city founding early history arrival new_orleans new governor louisiana june led changes colonial policies quickly moved grant trade stimulate economy new set august build fur trading post near confluence missouri mississippi rivers settlement established site south confluence west bank mississippi february group men arrived site provided detailed plans village including street grid market area french settlers began arrive settlements east bank mississippi fears british control given transfer eastern land great_britain treaty paris local french lieutenant governor moved began awarding land grants peace negotiations end seven years war spain gained control louisiana according secret treaty travel times spanish took official control transfer spanish confirmed french land grants spanish soldiers provided local security occupation settlers farming nearly acres km2 cultivation fur trading major commercial focus residents lucrative agriculture period residents particularly religious spite roman catholic faith church constructed acquired resident priest making catholic religious customary component life french settlers brought black indian slaves majority domestic servants worked agricultural laborers spanish prohibited indian slavery louisiana practice entrenched french compromise spanish governors ended indian slave trade allowed retention current slaves children born census determined population village including whites males females african slaves indian slaves reported technical grew slowly spanish commanders replaced american revolution beginning american revolutionary war spanish governor new_orleans assisted american rebels weapons food blankets tents ammunition spanish lieutenant governors aided particularly forces illinois campaign official entry spain american revolutionary war june americans french british began preparing invasion attack mississippi outposts warned plans residents began town british indian forces attacked town forced retreat fortifications indian forces spite defeat british allies destroyed agricultural lands cattle stock killed residents wounded captured prisoners murdered capture subsequent counterattack launched british forts midwest ended threat attack town british defeated french families evaded anglo american rule moving spanish controlled land west bank including wealthy merchants families family create dominated society families marital ties spanish government officials including lieutenant governors transfer france united_states towns near expanded small farmers sold lands farmers moved towns district population lived village spanish government secretly returned louisiana territory france october treaty san spanish officially transferred control october spanish administrators remained charge time french ownership shortly afterward team american purchased louisiana including march flag spain lowered government buildings according local tradition flag france raised march french flag replaced united_states expansion growth civil war government religion initially governor governed included district organizational law forbade foreign slave trade reduced influence region wealthy petitioned congress review system july congress reorganized territorial capital territorial governor division missouri capital population city expanded slowly expansion increased desire incorporate town allowing create local approval territorial legislature november elected board passed slave codes created volunteer fire department created improve street quality enforce town board created town jail established fortifications built end war population began expanding quickly expansion land donated population increase stirred interest missouri congress passed missouri compromise authorizing missouri admission slave state state constitutional convention general_assembly met shortly incorporated city december mayor city board replaced earlier early city government focused improvements health conditions addition street paving program voted streets transfer louisiana united_states spanish ended subsidies catholic_church result catholics resident priest arrival early january arrival replaced original log chapel brick church recruited priests established seminary separate diocese created bishop received services ministers late spanish required american territory purchase baptist missionary built protestant church methodist ministers reached town early years purchase formed congregation began bible reading society december members organized church built chapel late year fourth protestant group root founded 1830s 1840s faith groups came including jewish congregation area organized followers arrived organized church despite events pre civil war era population culturally catholic organized religion commerce growth commerce focused fur trade operations led family alliance role major trading post city departure point lewis american immigrant families began arriving opening new businesses including printing banking starting published newspaper west mississippi missouri gazette july groups merchants formed banks town led closure effect subsequent depression slowed commercial activity businesses began recover largely introduction arrive docked august north city northernmost port large pike ships soon transformed inland port goods available economic recovery largely result new power new banks retail stores opened starting late 1820s early 1830s fur trade continued major industry 1830s joined fur trading company smith later known west american travel overland california new fur trade companies pioneered trails west beaver fur lost popularity 1840s continued hub buffalo hide construction county courthouse late 1820s encouraged growth addition western lots ninth street new city hall adjacent river military post far north city moved nearer city built south year 1830s included dramatic population growth increased roughly reached doubled doubled infrastructure education improvements large rapid population growth cholera significant problem major cholera epidemic killed nearly people leading new sewer system draining mill pond removed outskirts reduce contamination year large fire broke spread boats destroyed large portion center city landing significantly improved 1850s engineering planning constructed illinois direct water missouri eliminate sand bars threatened landing infrastructure improvement city water system begun early 1830s continually improved expanded 1840s 1850s early remained wealthy merchants purchased books private libraries early schools fee based conducted lessons french substantial educational effort came authority catholic_church opened later renamed college applied state charter december chartered university west mississippi_river medical school opened faculty included founder moses founder medical journal west mississippi_river later president university primarily seminary students general public 1840s catholic_church offer large scale instruction schools founded second university city 1850s boys girls later merged public education provided began creation elementary schools system quickly expanded 1840s system schools served nearly students district opened high school considerable fanfare high school known public high school west mississippi_river nearly students enrolled district district opened normal school later entertainment options increased pre civil war period early theatre production opened including musical accompaniment late 1830s member orchestra briefly played orchestra opened played concerts slavery immigration missouri admitted slave state 1840s number slaves increased percentage relative population declined 1850s number percentage declined roughly free blacks slaves lived working domestic servants crew slaves allowed earn wages able save money purchase freedom relatives occurred relatively frequently surrounding rural areas attempted escape attempted gain freedom freedom suits freedom suit filed suits filed civil war famous wife case heard old courthouse suit based having traveled lived master free states state ruled favor appeal resulted ruling court ruled slaves counted citizens basis national debate slavery economic expansion 1830s irish german immigration increased substantially particular writings encouraged german immigration irish motivated irish potato famine failed irish uprising irish settlers came reputation catholic city sentiment increased late 1840s leading mob attacks riots riots derived popular outrage resentment human taking place discovery human remains prompted rumors grave mob residents attacked medical college destroying interior facilities worst riot took place local militia end fighting people killed wounded buildings damaged regulations elections prevented fighting future elections american civil war war core leadership shifted irish families new group dominated anti slavery germans new class leaders led effort create local militia loyal union missouri governor hinted local militia allied union army forces leadership cleared confederate outside city known marched town group citizens attacked union militia forces costing civilian lives entirety civil war pressure considered city borderline people confident abolition concerned economic effect losing free work force addition developing city war lead utter destruction ruin necessity ammunition survived transformed leader cities military threats union control guerrilla activity continued rural areas duration war union general placed city martial law august suppress dismissal union army forces continued suppress pro confederate demonstrations war significantly damaged commerce especially confederacy blockaded mississippi shutting connection eastern markets war slowed growth 1860s increase residents fourth city status decades civil war grew nation fourth largest city new_york_city philadelphia chicago experienced rapid infrastructure transportation development growth heavy industry period culminated world fair summer olympics held concurrently infrastructure parks education civil war infrastructure suffered neglect cholera epidemic struck fever response improved water system established regulate industries park system expanded 1860s 1870s creation railroads railroad connections southwest texas improved 1870s formation addition connecting west railroads began demand connections east mississippi work bridge mississippi continued despite setbacks disease bridge formally opened july accommodate increased rail traffic new railroad terminal constructed large consolidate train service location replacement station called opened september chicago illinois greater volume traffic railroads met city united_states rail platform expanded operated passenger rail terminal 1970s education public education systems expanded students respectively established public united_states instruction proposals free library system originated prior civil war conflict established 1870s 1880s variety local fee based libraries consolidated school library system school system library system independent entity racially segregated schools operated secretly illegally 1820s integrated group formed colored schools established schools public finances black pupils appropriated funding black schools facilities conditions poor considerable effort protest black community high school classes began offered high school black students west mississippi inequality remained rampant schools radical historians 1960s anti bureaucratic new left emergence bureaucratic school systems argue purpose suppress upward aspirations working class historians emphasized necessity building non standardized systems reforms according historian born necessity confronted problems managing rapidly expanding increasingly complex institutions found bureaucratic solution remove schools bitterness spite ward politics argues space generation public education left highly system dedicated training children basic skills literacy special discipline required urban citizens replaced largely highly organized efficient structure specifically designed teach students specialized skills demanded modern industrial society terms programs entailed introduction instruction doubling period schooling broader concern welfare urban youth separation missouri state created boundaries city existed county starting 1850s rural county voters began exert political influence questions taxation court county court given power assess collect property tax revenue city property providing financial county government city government revenues power transfer city began favor options greater representation county court charter changes city county consolidation urban form independent city missouri state constitutional convention delegates region agreed separation plan city reorganized boundaries proposed final plan separation new city charter size city include new rural parks useful missouri mississippi confluence mouth fraudulent election initially showed rejection plan december showed voters approved separation industrial commercial growth leading industries included flour tobacco processing industries including manufacture paint bricks iron 1880s city grew population percent making country fourth largest city ranked fourth measured value manufactured products factories existed 1890s manufacturing growth slowed dramatically subsequent depression grain mills considerably productive valuable flour industries suffered similar declines introduction railroad helped spread fortune industrial success completion manufacturers products consumers east_coast faster small industry took arrival germany introduced beer quickly city popular choice industry expanded rapidly late 1850s city largest industry pioneered railroad cars beer transport company market beer home whiskey heart whiskey ring early 1870s conspiracy began federal tax officials avoid paying taxes breakup ring conspirators charged fraud including grant private secretary early conspirators convicted fraud defendant acquitted company headed family headquartered city world largest brewery remained fixture city economy 21st century city home largest lead mining concern country headed family headquartered downtown insurance companies founded reduce impact fires city rapid pollution brick firing produced air pollution paint making created lead dust beer liquor produced grain worst pollution coal dust smoke infamous 1890s greatest number complaints industries engaged rendering produced spite pollution control hindered desire promote growth controls began regulations enforced strictly areas little encouraging factories concentrate industrial districts addition industrial growth 1880s 1890s period significant growth downtown commercial building retail district centered fourth street washington avenue banking business centered south fourth olive streets 1890s significant retailers businesses moved westward new buildings constructed result movement building designed tallest building city time construction remains example early skyscraper design culture september opened musical orchestra choir organization provided annual concerts renamed starting 1890s district known area near present day center home known jazz composers lived played including addition early players composer moved missouri associated composed music city moving chicago sport baseball began played years following civil war team known founded founding member national_league hometown favorite defeating later chicago_cubs opener original club closed unrelated national_league team founded team repeatedly changed shortening settling team moved milwaukee adopted louis relation previous 1950s home major_league teams notable residents field literature included poets playwright world fair beginning 1850s hosted annual agricultural mechanical park connect regional manufacturers 1880s connection agriculture declined new music hall built house industrial exhibits attempted host world exposition project awarded chicago hosted exposition delegates states selecting site world fair celebrating centennial purchase company directors selected western half fair site sparking real estate construction boom rail service area improved new system implemented improve water supply fair consisted temporary exhibition palaces permanent exhibit palace fair fair celebrated american world cultures exhibits historical french fur trading filipino villages concurrently summer olympics held campus decline inner city urban renewal civic improvements segregation policies early 1900s 1910s began building program created parks deteriorating residential neighborhoods parks commissioner professional tennis player continued development recreational facilities early 1910s expanding tennis facilities building public hole golf course northwest forest park constructed early 1910s leadership mayor 1890s attempted control air pollution problems little success damage buildings flora issue visible 1920s problems came head sky lasted weeks ban burning low quality coal solved problem december addition natural gas heating assisted making transition cleaner late 1940s world fair demonstrated viable means transportation october second international balloon racing event held city airplane flight occurred late year airfield established nearby missouri october hosted president president fly airplane departing field local entrepreneur purchased expanded facilities renamed departed route new_york begin solo non stop flight atlantic_ocean early city purchased airport making owned airport united_states remains area primary airport enforced variety laws area generally lower level racial violence fewer black community stable relatively concentrated near railroad yards informal discrimination existed housing market end civil war pass residential segregation ordinance ordinance quickly court private restrictive real estate transactions limited ability white owners sell blacks form racial discrimination overturned real estate limitations unconstitutional court case based sale house black family despite racist attitudes acted haven police fleeing blacks bridge shelter food provided city government represented led congressional investigation events eventually sponsored anti bill response influx refugees general effects great migration blacks rural south industrial cities black population increased rapidly decade world war period louis german irish communities urged neutrality outbreak world war contributed entry war result german suffered discrimination war elements german culture commerce dramatically affected war leading world war population started decrease men needed work artillery plants factories closer atlantic world war nationwide prohibition alcohol brought heavy losses industry industries light manufacturing clothing automobile manufacturing chemical production filled gap economy relatively healthy 1920s suffered comparable cities early years great depression manufacturing output fell percent slightly national average percent output remained low world war unemployment depression high urban areas exception table black workers cities suffered significantly higher unemployment white counterparts aid unemployed city allocated funds starting relief operations addition city relief aid new deal programs employed thousands civic improvement construction jobs reduced number persons direct relief aid late 1930s world war world war location large ammunition factory wright aircraft factory area factories produced uniforms rations chemicals manhattan_project refined starting atomic bomb scientists ties including start war german italian japanese interrogated arrested fbi investigated charges area residents engaged civil defense drills supported war effort scrap drives war bond purchases produced notable soldiers war including grew won medal honor combat pacific home african american pilot shot enemy aircraft destroyed multiple ground targets june outbreak war african american workers gained greater acceptance industry previously discrimination remained problem black workers war city officials passed municipal integration ordinance allowing african americans eat city owned private lunch black sailor uniform refused service privately owned lunch counter action prompted peaceful sit protests downtown changes segregation policies lunch resulted admitted black students starting august casualties war listed missing killed action end war led closure factories major beginning continuing august late returning soldiers encountered chronic housing job shortage city bill allowed veterans purchase homes pursue higher education encouraged sub war reduced city population sub population loss internal population migration westward feature earliest days accelerated rapidly late 19th century starting 1890s system commuter railroad stations enabled travel suburban towns bordering city downtown towns grew rapidly extensive movement towns doubled population restrictions immigration outward migration city grew percent period 1930s city population declined small time grew nearly percent nearly percent new residential construction region occurred outside city limits late 1930s planners unable combat problem annexation city reached highest recorded census population reaching population peaked early 1950s approximately residents new highway construction increased automobile ownership enabled population began long decline factor city population loss white flight began earnest late 1950s continued 1960s 1970s city population declined percent city declined percent decline white population declined primarily massive outward migration primarily suburbs net percent white city residents moved addition city white death rates exceeded birth rates early 1970s white population city decreased significantly particularly child bearing age black population saw natural increase percent 1960s gain loss migration decade overall percentage black city residents rose percent black population declined size nearly residents representing significant black migration city period moved suburban developments urban renewal projects arch early urban renewal efforts coincided efforts plan memorial honor later include famous gateway arch work began early 1930s acquisition demolition block area memorial stand remnant street grid preserved north bridge known building area remain old cathedral demolition continued outbreak world war area began parking lot project stalled design competition memorial launched finnish architect design inverted weighted curve won competition groundbreaking occur arch topped october museum visitors center completed underneath structure opening addition attracting millions visitors arch ultimately spurred million downtown construction 1970s 1980s concurrent plans build 1930s plans create housing city despite efforts civic improvement starting 1920s significant housing projects built world war houses shared outdoor toilets thousands lived crowded unsafe conditions starting cleared area selling land developers constructed middle class apartment buildings nearby city cleared acres km2 residential neighborhood known mill creek valley displacing thousands residential mixed income development known town created area early 1960s eventually demolished expansion majority people displaced mill creek valley poor african american typically moved historically stable middle class black neighborhoods issued bonds financed completion project new high rise housing projects famous largest opened northwest edge downtown included story buildings nearly units built units public housing opened enthusiasm local leaders media new tenants beginning problems plagued projects quickly apparent little recreational space healthcare facilities shopping centers employment opportunities scarce crime rampant particularly complex demolished housing projects remained relatively occupied 1980s spite lingering problems crime housing projects urban renewal bond issue totaled million bonds provided funds purchase land build downtown later interstate interstate interstate highway street bridge opened traffic mississippi_river openings arch bridge accompanied opening new stadium cardinals moved early season construction stadium required demolition ending decades old presence chinese immigrant community government consolidation attempts city population decline beginning 1920s accelerating 1950s local government leaders attempts consolidate services pre great depression annexation attempt city failed opposition county voters world war efforts consolidation successful attempts consolidation resulted creation metropolitan sewer district city county water sewer company formed year city county mass transit agency rejected voters followed failed charter revision unified city county county population grew local subdivisions began incorporating cities towns producing separate municipalities 1960s regional planning advocates succeeded creation east west gateway coordinating council group given power approve deny applications federal aid cities recent developments present crime prevention projects late 1970s urban decay spread described historian suburban development premier example urban abandonment fourth largest city america gateway west seventh ghost self contained inhabitants census counted old neighborhoods collections burned buildings homes vacant lots air juvenile crime remaining industries warehouses aging factories grown lots adjoining half rail yards like elderly couple longer sure purpose life children moved away neighborhoods face future election city youngest mayor problems significant cities major development projects incomplete city economic base developed projects early terms office assisted operation provided city graffiti cleanup instituted safety program address crime known blocked access certain streets provided low cost security measures crime declined starting despite small resurgence continued decline 1990s school voluntary transfers segregation public schools ended brown area continued employ tactics ensure facto segregation 1960s 1970s lawsuit challenging segregation led settlement agreement school districts agreed accept black students city voluntary basis state funds transport students provide integrated education agreement called white students county voluntarily attend city schools effort city remaining schools despite opposition state local political leaders plan significantly schools percent black students city attended black schools percent late 1990s voluntary transfer program largest program united_states enrolled students renewed agreement districts agreed continue participation albeit opt clause allowed districts reduce number incoming transfer students starting addition districts permitted reduce available seats program districts reduced availability percent annually year extension voluntary transfer program approved year extension approved allowing new place school year participating districts critics transfer program note plan transfer black students county transfer white students city criticism program city schools removing talented students county schools despite issues program continue transfer students reach graduation group transfer students allowed program end school year new construction rehabilitation new construction projects initiated downtown levels unseen early 1960s tallest building city designed built new retail projects began shape amtrak abandoned passenger rail terminal reopened festival marketplace direction baltimore developer year downtown developers opened louis centre enclosed story shopping mall costing million stores square feet retail space late 1990s mall fallen favor expansion missouri mall flagship store closed mall closed beginning developers began convert mall parking structure adjoining building apartments hotel retail city sponsored major expansion 1980s focused efforts retaining professional sports teams end city purchased arena seat venue professional ice hockey home early 1990s worked business groups develop new ice hockey arena known site city promise developer adjacent opera house arena opened original arena demolished renovations opera house begin years initial development plan named corporate contributor reopened october performances jay_leno january owner national_football_league team known announced team team replaced nfl franchise moved departed arizona played game stadium edward jones dome october starting early 1980s rehabilitation construction projects began remain incomplete movie theater closed completely restored reopened performing arts venue areas undergo washington avenue historic district extends washington avenue edward jones dome west dozen blocks early 1990s manufacturers moved large office buildings street end decade residential developers began convert buildings prices square foot increased dramatically area nearly apartments built washington avenue projects remain development converted offices apartments retail movie theater effect increasing downtown population central business district washington avenue district doubling population downtown projects include renovation started completed seven adjacent buildings vacant early 1990s complex included variety tenants including branch branch variety government offices renovation spurred development adjacent plaza linked new million residential building called roberts tower new residential construction downtown 1970s early began pushing construction new stadium broader trend major_league_baseball stadium building early plans new park settled state local leaders cardinals owners according agreement state city issue bonds construction cardinals agreed build development known village site new stadium opened groundbreaking took place february population crime issues starting early 1990s home substantial immigrant community second largest united_states city began increase immigrants mexico vietnam immigrants reported moving particularly south neighborhood low cost living compared american cities despite increase foreign born population region roughly national average population began growing following half century decline census estimates successfully challenged population figures revised upward challenges data permitted spite gains 2000s showed decline slightly percent given losses industry jobs significant persistent problems crime perceptions crime named world report dangerous city united_states data published addition named city highest crime rate united_states data reported fbi critics analyses note division crime reports area appear inflated reporting crime differs greatly depending involved fbi cautioned data form ranking presents simplistic view crime rate city youth killed guns second highest united_states according data released rate deaths metropolitan statistical area fifth city rate
History of St. Louis