History of St. Louis

The City metformin weight loss children of St. Louis was founded on February 14th, 1764.  The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers are responsible for the location of the City.  Pierre Laclede Liquest and Gilbert de St. Maxent had been licensed by the French government in New Orleans to carry on the fur trade with Native Americans and all nations west of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

In late 1763 Laclede and Auguste Chouteau, his 13 year old clerk, arrived at Fort Chartres in Illinois during the winter months and stayed until Spring. Come Spring,they journeyed west on Feb 14, 1764 they notched trees to mark the spot where the trading -post, which would eventually be known as St. Louis, was to be located.  Auguste Chouteau was captain of the men when they landed to make the settlement.

Local affairs were handled in turn by the French, Spanish, and American officers.  Under French and Spanish rule there was no self government. In 1804 the Louisiana Territory was transferred to the United States. Population grew rapidly and in 1809 St. Louis was incorporated as a town.  Five elected trustees governed the village, Auguste Chouteau, Edward Hempstead, Bernard Pratte, Peter Chouteau, and Alexander McNair.

St. Louis maintained its French culture.  Early homes where log and straw, porches were typical and streets names were French.  The town remained the center for commerce, especially the fur trade and riverboat traffic.  In August, 1817, the first steamboat, the Zebulon Pike, ventured up the Mississippi and docked in St. Louis.

The town’s population increased  and there was a growing demand that it should have a regular City government.  It’s incorporation as a City was ratified by vote of the people in March of 1823 and the first Mayor was elected in April of the same year.

By the late 1830′s new growth and industry, shot and lead manufacturers, glass manufacturers and a large brick industry, which replaced log and straw homes with brick, were springing up in St. Louis.  Cultural change and growth with a great influx of German and Irish immigrants occurred in the 1850′s and it is estimated that St. Louis reached its peak in size about 1870.

from the good neighbor guide  provide by st louis city government