St Louis MO (Missouri)

St Louis MO is a Mississippi River cruise port and city in Missouri USA, with population around 320,000 (metro over 2,8 million), ranking it state's 2nd-largest (after Kansas City).

The port city developed along Mississippi River's western bank, forming here the border between the states Missouri and Illinois. The St Louis metro area includes the city plus nearby areas in both states. The town was established in 1764 by Auguste Chouteau and Pierre Laclede. It is named after King Louis IX of France (1214-1270 / aka Saint Louis). First claimed by France, the region was ceded to Spain following France's defeat in the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). The territory east of Mississippi River was ceded to Great Britain. From 1762 until 1803 the current-day Missouri area was part of Spanish Louisiana.

After the USA acquired this territory in Louisiana Purchase, St Louis developed as a major Mississippi river port. In late-19th-century, Saint Louis was ranked the USA's 4th-largest city. In 1877 it separated from the St Louis County, becoming an independent city, thus limiting its political boundaries. In 1904, the city hosted the events Louisiana Purchase Exposition and Summer Olympics.

St Louis architecture exhibits various monumental, commercial and residential architecture. St Louis is famous for the Gateway Arch, which is the tallest monument built in the United States at 190 m (630 ft).

The city operates over 100 parks, with amenities including lakes, picnic areas, concert areas, sports facilities and playgrounds.

As of April 2017, St Louis MO has the highest murder rate in the United States, with a total of 188 homicides in 2015 (which means 59.3 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants).

River transportation is available via the Port of St Louis, which is 31 km (19,3 ml) of riverbank on Mississippi River that handles over 32 million tons of freight per year. The Port is the second largest inland port by trip-ton miles, as well as the third largest by tonnage in the US, with more than 100 docking facilities for barge shipping and sixteen public terminals on the river. In 2012 and 2013 the Port Authority added a couple of new small fire and rescue craft.