SAINT LOUIS (ante), the principal city of Missouri, capital of St. Louis co., on thew. bank of the Mississippi river, about 20 m. below its confluence with the Missouri; lat. 38° 37' 28' n., long. 90°15' 16' west. Its fortunate situation has of recent years„ and especially since the development of its railroad system, caused an immense growth in population and general prosperity. Founded in 1764 as a mere trading post with the Indians, by Pierre la Glade Liagueste, who named it after Louis XV: and erected a large house and four stores; it numbered iu 1770 some 40 families, and at the time of its acquisition by the United States in 1803 it held about 1500 inhabitants, and its yearly shipment of furs was valued at $300.000. In 1810 the population was 4,598; in 1840, 16,469; in 1860, 160,773, and in 1870, 310,864. In 1880 the population was 350,522. It was incorporated as a town in 1809, chartered as a city in 1822. The first newspaper was established in 1803; the first bank in 1816. In 1817 the first steamboat arrived here, and in 1851 the first railroad was coin-mile:A. The city suffered severely from cholera in 1832 and in 1849. The latter year was also the year of the great fire which destroyed a large portion of the old town. This was composed mainly of wooden structures which were replaced by more substantial buildings—the favorite material being a sort of limestone found on the spot which though soft when first quar ried is soon hardened by exposure. The city is built on rising ground with gentle undu lations; at the highest point it is about 200 ft. above the level of the river. In the older portion near the river, which is entirely given up to trade, the streets are narrow and crooked; the modern section is laid out regularly in broad streets and avenues. The principal thoroughfares are Grand avenue, which intersects the city from n. to s.; Front street, which extends along the levee; Main street and Second street in which are the principal wholesale houses, and Fourth street, which contains the-chief retail stores and is the fashionable promenade and shopping street. Lindell boulevard and Forest
Park boulevard in the western part of the city are the favorite drives. The handsomest residences are iu Lucas place, in Cheutean avenue, at the w. end of Washington avenue, and in Pine, Olive, and Locust streets. There are nearly 400 m. of paved and mac adamized streets and alleys and 181 in. of river frontage. ''Potal area 624 miles. Besides its many public square% the city is remarkable for the number of its parks, comprising in all nearly 2,500 acres. The largest of these is the Forest park, 4 ro. w. of the court house, containing abotit 1374 acres mostly'covered with primitive trees. O'Fallon park (180 acres) also is remarkable-for its magnificent trees as well as for the fine view which it commands of the Mississippi river; Tower Grove park (277 acres) in the s.w. part • of the city has beautiful green lawns intersected by carriage roads which afford the pleas antest drives in the city; and Shaw's garden (109 acres) immediately adjoining, is exquisitely laid out, contains all the ornamental and fruit trees which can be raised in the climate, and has numerous conservatories filled with rare exotics. Although at present the property of Henry D. Shaw, it is open to the public and the title will vest in the city on the death of the owner. The most beautiful spot in the city, however, is Lafayette park in the s. portion, containinr. only 30 acres, artistically laid out and adorned with statuary; etc. The Fair ground's (83 acres), superintended by the St. Louis agricultural and mechanical association, are attractive on account of their halls of industrial and mechanical exhibits; they contain also a zoological garden claimed to be one of the completest in the world, and an amphitheater with a seating capacity for 40. 000 people. The annual fairs are held here, usually in the first week of October.