The city of St. Louis is located on Missouri's eastern border and has a population of roughly 319,294. As of the year 2010, it was the 58th-biggest city in the US. Greater Saint Louis' combined statistical area has a population of about 2,845,298, making it the nation's 16th biggest urban area. It is the 4th largest city in the Midwest, and the largest within the state of Missouri.
St. Louis was founded in the year 1767 by Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau. St. Louis was able to quickly develop into a busy port on the Mississippi, shortly after the Louisiana Purchase. The result of the American Civil War resulted in a population boom within St. Louis, causing it to become the nation's 4th largest city throughout the latter part of the 19th century. It became an independent city from St. Louis Country in the year 1876. The 1904 Olympic Games and the 1904 World's Fair were both held in St. Louis. The city's population continued to grow until the year 1950. Ever since then, the population has begun a to steadily decline.
The most famous architectural landmark in St. Louis is the Gateway Arch, which was constructed in the year 1965 and spans over 630 feet. It was designed by Eero Sarrinen and represents the gateway to the American West. The biggest and oldest outdoor musical theatre in the United States, the Municipal Theatre, is also in the city, housed in Forest Park. Forest park is also home to a large assortment of other cultural attractions, including the Saint Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Science Center and Observatory, the St. Louis Zoological Park, the Municipal Theatre ("The Muny"), and the Missouri History Museum. The Symphony Orchestra of St. Louis, the Shakespeare Company of St. Louis, the St. Louis Repertory Theatre and the Opera Theatre of St. Louis are some of the other attractions that are located within the city.
The economy in the St. Louis Metropolitan area is rather vast, with the retail and service industry employing the largest number of people. The major businesses include life and plant sciences, transportation and distribution, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and financial services. St. Louis remains a main national center of wholesale trade because of its central location within Missouri State along with its fantastic transportation system.
Although declining, the manufacturing sector still plays a major role in the economy of the city. Approximately 20% of the income earned by residents is from this sector. There are also some automobile manufacturing facilities located in the Louis Area. Fenton is home to a couple of DaimlerChrysler plants, Hazelwood has a Ford Motor Company plant and Wentzville has a General Motors plant. St. Louis is home to a Boeing manufacturing plant, which makes JDAM smart bombs and the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Boeing likewise runs its headquarters for it's Phantom Works research and development operation along with it's Integrated Defense Systems division.
Being the 3rd largest inland port within the nation and amongst the twenty-five biggest ports within North America, the city of St. Louis is major shipping St. Louis is major shipping port and is the 3rd biggest inland port within the nation. It is likewise considered one of the twenty-five biggest ports within North America. For the most part it remains ice-free and open throughout the whole year because of it's location on the northernmost point on the Mississippi River. As well, it is likewise the southernmost point that offers lock-free navigation to the Gulf of Mexico.