About the South St. Louis County, and Jefferson County, Missouri Area
 

SOUTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY 

Location - St. Louis County (which is separate than the city of St. Louis) is made up of close to 100 cities and towns. Many of the county's cities and towns are within the metropolitan area of St. Louis, and are within easy access to the city of St. Louis and its many attractions. The city of St. Louis is located in east central Missouri on the Illinois state line. It lies along Interstates 70 and I-55 on the banks of the Mississippi River. 

Air travel to the St. Louis area is serviced by Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, which is located only a few miles from downtown St. Louis. Ten major airlines serving 180 cities worldwide make Lambert an excellent gateway to anywhere you want to travel. Small airports include the St. Louis Downtown Airport, which is the closest airport to downtown St. Louis, only 3 miles from the Gateway Arch. 

A light-rail system, called MetroLink, connects Lambert International Airport with downtown St. Louis. From downtown St. Louis, towns and cities within South Saint Louis County can be accessed by car via the many highways of the area, or via the Metro bus system. 

History and Population - St. Louis is the largest metropolitan area in the state of Missouri, and the eighteenth largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a total, bi-state (several Missouri and Illinois counties) population of 2,603,607 as of 2000. This population includes the city of St. Louis (with 348,189 people), along with several other counties, including St. Louis County (with 1,016,315 people), and Jefferson County (with 198,099 people). 

The county seat of St. Louis is Clayton. The county has a total area of 542 square miles of land and 16 square miles of water. The history of St. Louis goes back to 1764, when the French fur traders Pierre Laclede Liguest and Rene August Chouteau started a trading post on the site of the city of St. Louis. The settlement was named after Louis IX, a French king who was made a saint. 

Special Attractions - There are many attractions within the city of St. Louis and the surrounding areas. One of the largest attractions in the area is St. Louis Union Station, at one time the largest passenger rail terminal in the world, but closed down and then renovated 1985. It now includes a 539-room Hyatt Regency Hotel, a ten-screen movie theater, offices, a lake, a plaza for concerts and special events, specialty shops, and restaurants. The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is another prime attraction in the St. Louis area, and includes the 630-foot tall Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and the old Courthouse. Many baseball fans come to St. Louis to see the Cardinals, St. Louis's Major League Baseball team. 

St. Louis also has many attractions for the young, or the young at heart. These include the St. Louis Zoo, voted by Travel & Leisure Magazine as "One of America's Top Ten Zoos." There is also the St. Louis Science Center, located in Forest Park, with exhibits for children and adults on such things as earthquakes, tornados, volcanoes, and dinosaurs. It also houses the James S. McDonnell Planetarium, one of the nation's largest space education facilities. 

For art lovers there is the St. Louis Art Museum, a world-class art museum with collections from ancient to modern times, spanning American, African, Asian, European continents, with collections of paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and photographs. And for a classical music concert, visit Powell Hall, where you can listen to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Also, during the summer, the orchestra offers free concerts in many of the city parks. One of the world's largest outdoor theaters, the Muny, is located in St. Louis. Here you can see performances of past Broadway productions of musicals such as "A Chorus Line". 

Education - The Greater St. Louis area offers a wide range of public school options in Missouri and Illinois. Although there are many excellent school systems in the metro area, there are several that rank in the top ten percent of all schools in the nation. 

Higher education is served by the St. Louis University, the first university chartered west of the Mississippi River in 1832; the University of Missouri - St. Louis, the largest university in St. Louis and the third largest in the state of Missouri; and Washington University, a medium-sized independent research university counted among the world's leaders in teaching and research. 

Health Care - St. Louis is fortunate to be the home to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, ranked by the U.S. News & World Report as one of America's elite medical centers. Barnes-Jewish Hospital is the largest hospital in Missouri and includes a 1,724-member medical staff, supported by more than 850 residents, interns and fellows, in addition to professional nurses and technicians, and service and support personnel. South St. Louis County is also home to numerous other hospitals, clinics, and specialized healthcare facilities. 

JEFFERSON COUNTY 

Location - Jefferson County is located south of St. Louis County, and on the west side of the Mississippi River and the Illinois state line. 

The city of Imperial is located within Jefferson County, about 25 miles south of St Louis on the I-55 corridor with easy access to Interstates I-270 and I-44. Air travel for Jefferson County residents is provided by the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, located near downtown St. Louis. 

History and Population - The county seat of Jefferson County, Missouri, is Hillsboro. The county population is an estimated 201,826 people, as of 2001. Jefferson County includes a land area of around 657 square miles. 

The city of Arnold, within Jefferson County, is a thriving community and is part of the St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois metro area. As the largest city in Jefferson County with a population of 20,082, Arnold is within close proximity of dining, entertainment, and employment opportunities, yet still retains a small-town feel. The city, incorporated in 1972, has grown over the past years with many new businesses and home developments. Businesses in the area include large national retailers, retail chains, manufacturers, and locally-owned shops. 

Special Attractions - Jefferson county cities and towns have active local governments and neighborhood associations. Throughout Jefferson County during the year you can find local festivals and activities?from art shows to small theater groups. And just a short distance away is the city of St. Louis, with its world-class entertainments, restaurants, concerts, shows, museums, and other attractions. 

Education - Jefferson County public education is served by eleven different school districts. The city of Arnold, within Jefferson County, is served by Fox School District, which includes ten elementary schools, three junior highs, and two high schools. There are also a number of K-12 private or parochial schools located throughout Jefferson County. 

Continuing education is available from Jefferson College in Hillsboro, which offers Associate of Arts degrees, along with various vocational and technical programs; and from University Outreach and Extension, a joint venture between the University of Missouri and Lincoln University, which offers distance learning, online courses, and a variety of credit and non-credit classes. 

Other universities and colleges in the area include the University of Missouri - St. Louis, which offers a large number of undergraduate and graduate programs, and the Missouri Baptist University, which has a branch in Jefferson County, in the city of Hillsboro. 

Health Care - There are many hospitals, clinics, and specialty healthcare services located throughout Jefferson County. Also, the healthcare facilities of St. Louis, including the top-ranked Barnes-Jewish Hospital, are easily accessible to Jefferson County residents. 

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