St. Louis

St. Louis is located in Missouri and is often referred to as the "Gateway City." The city is located just downstream from where the Missouri and Mississippi rivers flow together.MSN Encarta: St. Louis (City)

St. Louis had been under both Spanish and French control at various times, before the United States received St. Louis from the French in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase.USGenNet : "Three Flags Over St. Louis" In August of 1876, the people of the city of St. Louis decided to secede from St. Louis county, establishing a home rule charter. The city quickly grew in both the number of businesses and in population, becoming the fourth largest city in the U.S. by the end of the nineteenth century.St. Louis Heritage: About St. Louis: History

On May 27, 1896, St. Louis experienced a tornado which killed over 250 people and caused an estimated $10,000,000 in damage.Tornado Project: Descriptions of the Top Ten US Killer Tornadoes The city of St. Louis has been hit by 10 tornadoes during the period from 1871 through 2007, while the metropolitan area surrounding the city has experienced over 75 tornadoes during the same period.Trip Atlas: St. Louis Tornado History

The World's Fair in 1904 was planned to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase. It covered 1272 acres, and drew over 20,000,000 visitors to the city.St. Louis Heritage: Physical Growth of the City of Saint Louis MSN Encarta: St. Louis (City)