Introduction
Two Frenchmen, Pierre Laclede Liguest and Auguste Chouteua, selected the site of St. Louis to be a fur trading post in 1764. Between that time and 1803, the land changed ownership twice, from the French to the Spanish in 1770, and from the Spanish to the United States in 1803—as a result of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The majority of the population remained French despite increased New England and other East Coast emigrants. As the United States expanded westward under the mindset of the Manifest Destiny, St. Louis became a hotspot for commerce and trade—bringing in thousands of immigrants. [2]
St. Louis became officially recognized as a city in 1823. Between 1840 and the early 19th century, a variety of immigrants settled in St. Louis: Germans, Irish, Italians, Serbians, Lebanese, Syrians, and Greeks. In 1876, St. Louis established both its borders (which exists to this day) and a home rule charter. Following the Civil War, St. Louis continued to grow, becoming a major site of manufacturing. Despite booms in the local rail industries, St. Louis lost to Chicago in becoming the largest rail hub. [2]
In 1904, both the World’s Fair and the Olympic games were held in St. Louis. The events attracted many people to the city, making 1904 one of the best years for St. Louis. As a result of the industrial revolution, St. Louis became a site for the manufacturing of automobiles. Between the first and second World War, many African Americans migrated to St. Louis—whether it be due to racial hostility in their hometowns or the chase of the American Dream. The population of St. Louis peaked at 856,000. During the years that followed the 1950s, St. Louis’s population dropped significantly, to about 450,000. [2]
In 1946, the mayor of St. Louis, Aloys P. Kaufmann, requested for a comprehensive plan to be drafted. A year later, the planning commission submitted a comprehensive plan that would become the first plan St. Louis adopts. Given the timing of the event, the plan integrated many post-war ideas including urban renewal and new highways. Mayor Kaufmann hoped that the plan would bring prosperity and growth to the city. During the 1950s, however, an increasingly large population led to crowding problems, causing an exodus to neighboring suburbs—areas that the city of St. Louis, despite trying, failed to call its own. [3], [4]
As the population continues to decline into the 21st-Century, the urban planners and designers of St. Louis are looking for ways to improve the housing and transportation aspects of the city. Some examples of the urban planning done within the last decade can be observed here. In 2006, St. Louis received the World Leadership Award in recognition of its’ profound efforts in urban renewal.
St. Louis became officially recognized as a city in 1823. Between 1840 and the early 19th century, a variety of immigrants settled in St. Louis: Germans, Irish, Italians, Serbians, Lebanese, Syrians, and Greeks. In 1876, St. Louis established both its borders (which exists to this day) and a home rule charter. Following the Civil War, St. Louis continued to grow, becoming a major site of manufacturing. Despite booms in the local rail industries, St. Louis lost to Chicago in becoming the largest rail hub. [2]
In 1904, both the World’s Fair and the Olympic games were held in St. Louis. The events attracted many people to the city, making 1904 one of the best years for St. Louis. As a result of the industrial revolution, St. Louis became a site for the manufacturing of automobiles. Between the first and second World War, many African Americans migrated to St. Louis—whether it be due to racial hostility in their hometowns or the chase of the American Dream. The population of St. Louis peaked at 856,000. During the years that followed the 1950s, St. Louis’s population dropped significantly, to about 450,000. [2]
In 1946, the mayor of St. Louis, Aloys P. Kaufmann, requested for a comprehensive plan to be drafted. A year later, the planning commission submitted a comprehensive plan that would become the first plan St. Louis adopts. Given the timing of the event, the plan integrated many post-war ideas including urban renewal and new highways. Mayor Kaufmann hoped that the plan would bring prosperity and growth to the city. During the 1950s, however, an increasingly large population led to crowding problems, causing an exodus to neighboring suburbs—areas that the city of St. Louis, despite trying, failed to call its own. [3], [4]
As the population continues to decline into the 21st-Century, the urban planners and designers of St. Louis are looking for ways to improve the housing and transportation aspects of the city. Some examples of the urban planning done within the last decade can be observed here. In 2006, St. Louis received the World Leadership Award in recognition of its’ profound efforts in urban renewal.
References:
[1] http://www.131bw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/080917-F-4603R-019.jpg
[2] "A Brief History of St. Louis." About St. Louis. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Aug. 2014.<https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/visit-play/stlouis-history.cfm>.
[3] "Introduction." Comprehensive City Plan 1947. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2014.<https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/archive/1947-comprehensiveplan/introduction.shtml>.
[4] "The 1947 Comprehensive Plan." Comprehensive City Plan 1947. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Aug. 2014. <https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/archive/1947-comprehensive-plan/index.shtml>.
CREATED BY: ANDREW HINKLE, BROOKE BERMUDEZ, BRIANA RAMIREZ, JACKY CHEUNG, JORDAN GELLATLY