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| SLCEC Regional Facts & Information |
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| St. Louis County ranks as one of the top urban counties in the United States in terms of quality of life and business climate. Whether it is our central geographic location, strong support for businesses, highly productive workforce, prominence in advanced manufacturing and advanced technologies, low cost, or cultural amenities; St. Louis County is an excellent place for employees to live and companies to grow and generate wealth. |
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| Ease of Commute |
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One of the advantages of locating a business in St. Louis County is the ease with which employees can commute throughout the metro area. Less traffic congestion translates into a lower cost of doing business as workers arrive on-schedule and the distribution of commodities is efficient and timely. According to a 2000 survey from the Texas Transportation Institute, St. Louis is below most urban areas of similar size in terms of Annual Average Hours Delayed in Traffic Per Year. |
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| Urban Area |
Annual Delay Per Peak
Road Traveler (hours)
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Rank
(1=Worst) |
| Los Angeles |
136 |
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1 |
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| San Francisco |
92 |
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2 |
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| Dallas-Forth Worth |
74 |
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6 |
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| Atlanta |
70 |
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9 |
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| Chicago |
67 |
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11 |
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| Detroit |
55 |
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19 |
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| Minneapolis |
54 |
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20 |
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| Cincinnati |
43 |
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30 |
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| Indianapolis |
43 |
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30 |
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| St. Louis |
43 |
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30 |
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| Public Transportation |
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| The Bi-State Development Agency owns and operates the St. Louis region's public transportation system. This system includes MetroLink, a light rail system; MetroBus, the region's bus system; and Call-A-Ride, a para transit van system. These systems combined to carry over 52 million passengers and travel over 28 million miles in 2000. |
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| Low Crime Rate |
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| As a large urbanized area with over 2.6 million people, Greater St. Louis has a low incidence of crime. According to the US Department of Justice’s most recent Crime in the United States report, the St. Louis region ranks below the national average in metro crime rate. St. Louis’ low crime ranks it 17 th (13 th lowest) in the nation out of 29 metros areas who made their crime data available. |
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| • St. Louis MSA Overall Crime Rate: 4,626 per 100,000 residents |
| • National Average: 4,875 per 100,000 residents |
| • Rank: 17 th (13 th lowest) out of 29 metro areas |
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| When compared to other large urban counties, St. Louis County’s crime rate per 100,000 residents is among the lowest in the nation. For example, there were just 30 homicides reported in 2003 out of a population of over 1 million people. Overall, there has been a 25% decrease in crime since 1991, and St. Louis County is now at its lowest level of crime since 1973. |
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| Well Educated Population |
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| St. Louis is noted for its world-class education, both public and private. At the high school level, St. Louis County has 23 public high school districts that scored above the State average on assessment tests. St. Louis’ private high schools achieve a high standard of excellence. For example, St. Louis University High School ranked 9th nationwide 2001 among all schools for average ACT test score.
St. Louis continues this excellence at the baccalaureate level, where Washington University and St. Louis University both carry prestigious national academic reputations. In the most recent US News and World Report ranking, Washington University was ranked 9h in the nation, tied with the prestigious Dartmouth College and ahead of such institutions as Columbia, Brown, and the University of Chicago. St. Louis University ranked 24th in the nation in the report’s listing of “Schools that offer the Best Value.”
With respect to technical training, engineering degrees may be obtained at the high school, community college, and university levels. Fourteen high schools engaged in the Engineering Academy. |
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| Engineering Academy Features and Benefits |
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- Unique School-Business Partnership
The St. Louis Regional Engineering Academy is a unique partnership between 14 high schools, the St. Louis Community College, Institutions of Higher Education, Economic Development, and St. Louis Businesses who employ a technically trained workforce. The academy begins training future engineers in high school with a rigorous math and science based technical curriculum that prepares students for success at the post-secondary level. Corporate supporters in need of technically trained workers such as Boeing, Ameren, GKN Aerospace, Sunnen Products Co, Centocor (Johnson and Johnson), Tyco/Mallinckrodt, and others ensure the curriculum meets the demand of industry by participating in an industry advisory board.
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- Enhancing Student Achievement
A large focus in today's public education environment includes enhancing student achievement. The St. Louis Regional Academy of Engineeering improves student performance by increasing rigor, requiring 4-years of college preparatory math and science, and applying real world industry based applications to student lessons. The Regional Academy of Engineering reaches draws upon a diverse student body from high schools of all over St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis, including districts with large minority student populations that are typically underrepresented in the engineering field.
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- Keeping St. Louis Competitive in a Global Economy
While the number of Americans qualified for Science and engineering jobs is leveling off, the number of technically trained workers in St. Louis prepared for jobs of the future will decrease by over one-half within the next 10-years due to retirements occurring in our aging workforce. The St. Louis Regional Engineering Academy will help fill this shortage so that in 6-8 years after completing post-secondary education students will add value to local companies in search of engineers. Because the continuing retention and growth of St. Louis based companies will depend on access to technically trained workers, and the future competitiveness of St. Louis in a global economy is predicated on maintaining an advantage in pioneering scientific and technological advancements, the academy plays a critical role in maintaining and enhancing the St. Louis region's economy, job base, and overall quality of life.
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| St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley offers a comprehensive associates degrees in engineering. At the university level, there are seven schools in the St. Louis area which offer Engineering programs: Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Rolla, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Washington University. In the 2000-2001 school year, the universities listed above conferred: |
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| • 2,282 Engineering Bachelor’s degrees |
| • 858 Engineering Master’s Degrees |
| • 221 Engineering Doctor’s Degrees |
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| Population as of 2000 Three Years and Older Enrolled in School |
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| Level |
Persons Enrolled |
| Nursery school, preschool |
23,858 |
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| Elementary and high school |
178,980 |
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| College or graduate school |
64,556 |
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| Total persons enrolled |
267,394 |
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Enrollment in elementary and high schools increased nearly 12 percent between 1990 and 2000 while the number of adults with less than a high school diploma dropped by 30 percent.
Career training in IT and Engineering beginning in St. Louis County high schools and continues through local community colleges and universities. |
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| Cost of Living Comparison |
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| St. Louis County offers a high quality of life at an affordable price. According to the 2002 3rd quarter report from the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Organization (ACCRA), the cost of living in St. Louis is slightly above the national average but less expensive than many major cities. Costs factored into the index include expenses for groceries, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation and other miscellaneous goods and services. Listed below is the cost of living in St. Louis compared to randomly selected major cities. |
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| COST OF LIVING INDEX |
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| Metropolitan Area |
(US Average =100) |
New York ( Manhattan) |
237.3 |
Chicago , IL |
135.7 |
Los Angeles |
135.2 |
Detroit , MI |
109.3 |
Denver , CO |
108.6 |
Cleveland , OH |
104.2 |
Phoenix , AZ |
100.8 |
| St. Louis , MO |
100.7 |
Dallas , TX |
98.0 |
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| Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, Q3 2002 |
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| Entertainment & Culture |
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| The St. Louis region has a quality of life matched by few other areas of the country. Known for its diverse entertainment and culture, St. Louis offers all of the big city amenities while maintaining its small town feel. Some of the area highlights include: |
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| • Long history of world-famous blues and jazz music |
| • One of the top-rated symphony orchestras in the world
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| • Wide variety of museums, theater, and major league sporting events
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| • Ethnic cuisine from all over the globe
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| • Extensive parkland systems and outdoor recreation
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| St. Louis’ Rich Musical History |
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From Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag to Nelly’s Hot in Herre The St. Louis region has always been progressive in popular music. Other famous St. Louis area musicians include Chuck Berry, Ike & Tina Turner, Miles Davis, Oliver Sain and Johnnie Johnson. |
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| Blues & Jazz Societies, Festivals & Venues |
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| St. Louis Blues And Jazz Hall Of Fame
St. Louis Blues.net
St. Louis Blues Society
The Big Muddy Blues Festival
St. Louis Jazz Festival Scott Joplin House
The Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation
BB's Jazz Blues and Soups
Backstreet Jazz & Blues
Beale on Broadway
Broadway Oyster Bar
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| Cultural & Theatrical Institutions |
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| Center of Contemporary Arts (COCA)
Dance St. Louis
Edison Theatre
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
Grand Center
Grand Center Arts & Entertainment District
Grandel Square Theatre
Home of the St. Louis Black Repertory Company and the
Grandel Theatre Cabaret as well as Off Broadway On-Grand
The Muny
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Powell Hall Home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Saint Louis International Film Festival
Sheldon Concert Hall |
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| Museums & Historical Points of Interest |
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American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog
Camp Dubois Lewis and Clark State Historic Site
City Museum
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
International Bowling Museum
Grants Farm
The Magic HouseMissouri History Museum/Missouri Historical Society
National Baseball Hall of FameSaint Louis Art Museum
St. Louis Gateway Arch and Jefferson National Expansion Museum
National Park Service
St. Louis Science Center
St. Louis Union Station
St. Louis Walk of Fame
The St. Louis Zoo |
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| Cuisine |
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| The St. Louis area’s rich and diverse culture can be experienced through it’s many assorted restaurants. We have it all from Italian to Lebanese, from Cuban to Indian, and from Thai to Greek. |
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Dining St. Louis
Sauce Magazine
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| Parks & Outdoor Recreation |
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The St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation has 72 parks and sites comprising over 12,365 acres. Almost all the parks include picnic shelters; athletic fields and courts; creative playgrounds; as well as a wide range of trails for walking, running, hiking, cycling, rollerblading and horseback riding. Some parks include lakes and access to the Mississippi, Missouri and Meramec rivers for sightseeing, fishing, boating, sailing or model boating; Olympic-size pools and a water park; ice rinks; gymnasiums and weight rooms; golf, Frisbee golf and fitness courses; archery and firearm ranges; model airplane fields; horse stables; hayrides and campgrounds.
Recreational, educational and historic activities, programs, tours, galleries, exhibits and special events abound in St. Louis County Parks. A huge variety of camps, lessons, concerts, fairs, festivals, celebrations and more are offered. Unique attractions include the St. Louis Carousel, the Butterfly House, the wildlife drive in Lone Elk Park, and the Museum of Transportation, which houses one of the largest and best collections of transportation vehicles in the world, according to the Smithsonian Institution. |
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Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Carondelet Park
Castlewood Park
Confluence Greenway Project
Faust Park
- Home of the Butterfly House
Forest Park
Grants Farm
Jefferson Barracks
Katy Trail State Park
Laumier Sculpture Park
Lone Elk Park
Mastodon State Historic Site
Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites
Missouri Botanical Garden
Museum of Transportation
Powder Valley Conservation Center
Queeny Park
Route 66 State Park
St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation
Tower Grove Park
Trailnet
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Sports Teams & Sporting Venues |
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St. Louis – a sports town. We are home to the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, St. Louis Blues as well as many community sports teams. St. Louis also has a network of sports recreation for youth. |
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St. Louis Sports Commission
St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Rams
Gateway Grizzlies
Missouri River Otters
River City Rascals
St. Louis Aces
St. Louis Skyhawks
St. Louis Steamers
Busch Stadium
- Home to the St. Louis Cardinals
The Edward Jones Dome at America's Center
- Home of the St. Louis Rams and the 2005 NCAA Final Four
Savvis Center
- Home to the St. Louis Blues, St. Louis University Billikens, and St. Louis Steamers
GMC Stadium
- Named Ballpark of the Year by DigitalBallparks.com, and home of the Gateway Grizzlies
St. Charles Family Arena
- Home of the Missouri River Otters, the Showme Believers, St. Louis Rotweilers
T. R. Hughes Ballpark
- Home of the River City Rascals
Gateway International Raceway
Tri City Speedway
The St. Louis Soccer Club/Busch Soccer Park
Fairmount Park
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Golf Courses |
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| The St. Louis region has over 100 golf courses both Public and Private. |
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St. Louis Golf
Last Minute Golfer
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Casinos |
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| Riverboat gaming features slots, blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, and dining as well as live entertainment bringing the night to life. |
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Ameristar Casino St. Charles
Argosy Alton Belle Casino
Casino Queen
Harrah's Casinos at Riverport Casino Center
President Casino on the Admiral
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| Other Points of Interest |
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Budweiser Tours
Raging Rivers
Six Flags St. Louis
Rail Cruise America
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Other Resources |
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St. Louis Attractions
St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission
St. Louis County Missouri
St. Louis RCGA
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