LGBTQ+ Facts
St. Louis is an excellent destination for LGBTQ+ residents and visitors. The culture is influenced by larger regional divisions, like racial division and the city/county divide. According to recorded history and resource flow, there has been a priority regarding white individuals when it actually does not align with regional demographics.
Even though there have many cases of injustice in the past, St. Louis is currently known as a safe and welcoming city for LGBTQ+ individuals. The city is progressive and liberal and features several “gayborhoods,” like The Grove. There are also many LGBTQ+ organizations. According to Realtor.com, St. Louis is the 8th most LGBTQ+-friendly city.
Mental Health in St. Louis, Missouri
According to SAMHSA, in the St. Louis MSA, 9.5 percent or 219,000 people ages, 12 or older were diagnosed with a substance use disorder over the past year. In addition, for adults ages 18 or older in the St. Louis MSA, 6.9 percent (140,000 adults) had a major depressive episode in the past year.
In Missouri, there has been a rise in suicide rates among teenagers ages 15 to 19, and researchers believe that social media and lack of sleep may be the contributors. However, there are many resources available in this city that you can access via our LGBTQ and ALL Psychologists for Kids directory.
Top Features
St. Louis is one of the biggest cities in Missouri and is located along the Mississippi River. One of the main attractions is the 630-ft Gateway Arch, built in the 1960s. This site celebrates the early 19th-century explorations of Lewis and Clark and America’s westward expansion. In addition, The Soulard district is a popular destination, where you can find barbecue restaurants and clubs with live blues music.
Facts
- St. Louis is where 7-Up was invented.
- The ice cream cone was first invented in St. Louis
- Some food staples in St. Louis include toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, and Provel cheese.
- The 1904 World’s Fair was held in this city.
- St. Louis was the first American city to host the Olympics.
- Another thing St. Louis was known for was being the largest shoe manufacturing center worldwide.
History/Data
The history of St. Louis started with the settlement of the area by Native American mound builders. They were an integral part of the Mississippian culture from the 9th century to the 15th century, then by other migrating tribal groups.
Beginning in the later part of the 17th century, French explorers started to arrive. In 1763, Spain took over, and then a trading company led by Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau established the settlement in 1764. This settlement drew in French settlers that were leaving Illinois after being defeated in the Seven Years War. The city’s population increased because of its location as a trading post on the Mississippi River, with the western fur trade being very lucrative. In addition, this city played a minor role in the American Revolutionary War and was part of the U.S. through the Louisiana Purchase.
In 2020, the population of St. Louis was 301,578 people. It is the second-largest city in Missouri (following Kansas City) and the 68th largest city in the nation.