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St. Louis (pron. /seɪntˈluːɪs/ in English, /sɛ̃ lwi/ (help·info) in 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 (Greater St. Louis). This area includes counties in the states of Missouri and Illinois. St. Louis is the largest metropolis in Missouri and the 18th largest Metropolis in the United States. The population of Metro St. Louis as of 2005 is approximately 2,786,728 according to the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA).
The city, named after Louis IX of France, is adjacent to but not part of St. Louis County, Missouri, thus giving it a unique situation in comparison to other metropolitan areas. This separation between the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County skews the statistics, especially when St. Louis news events are reported in the media.
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Seal of the City of St. Louis | |
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Location of St. Louis | |
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Flag of St. Louis | |
St. Louis is one of the most historic cities in the United States, known for its long standing French and German heritage and bright Victorian past. While St. Louis has embraced its deep roots as the Gateway to the West, it also has modernized into a globally known contributor in the healthcare and scientific research fields. The St. Louis renaissance can be attributed to large scale construction and renovation efforts seen throughout the city in conjunction with corporate support and strong civic organizational efforts. St. Louis has seen its population increase as a direct result of the committed efforts of St. Louisans to return their city to the grand international status it was once known for dating back to the 1904 World's Fair and first Olympic Games ever held in the United States.
The city has several common nicknames, including the "Gateway City", "Gateway to the West", and "Mound City". It is called "Gateway to the West" because of the many people who moved west starting near St Louis; first, because the lower Missouri River was the first leg of the Oregon Trail, and later, because of wagon trails. The Mound City name originated with the Native American burial mounds that once were common in the city. These were removed to fill sink holes filled with stagnent water that were thought to be a source of Cholera. The city is also sometimes called "St. Louie", or "River City". Alternatively, many young people who live in St. Louis have begun to call it "The Lou". Another popular synonym for St. Louis is "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. |
