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MISSOURI 1 : North St. Louis; Northeast St. Louis County

The majority of downtown St. Louis and the eastern portion of St. Louis County make up the 1st, a mixture of poor center-city communities and middle-class suburbs. While its suburbs have sprawled and prospered, the city of St. Louis has continued on a downward population spiral, and a sizable portion of the city is filled with rundown, crime-ridden neighborhoods.

Most of St. Louis' popular attractions, such as Forest Park and the Gateway Arch, are included in the 1st, as are many of the area's larger companies. Washington U.'s hospital is a key piece of the health care industry. Large companies, including a Boeing plant near the St. Louis Airport that makes fighter planes, employ many city residents, but suburbanites in the 2nd and 3rd districts fill most of the higher-paying positions. A growing gambling industry also has developed along the Mississippi River.

Downtown St. Louis has remained fairly stable, while the areas just north and west have witnessed a sharp rise in crime. The city hopes a nearly $1 billion long-term revitalization plan and a new downtown convention center will help reverse the trend.

The 1st is the state's most Democratic district. Local and city races almost always favor Democratic candidates. The city and suburbs regularly battle for funding; education is perhaps the hottest issue for center-city residents, whose public schools have been suffering for years.

Major Industry
Manufacturing, airlines, higher education

Population
568,285 (1990)

Cities
St. Louis (pt.), 221,526; University City (pt.), 40,058 (1990); Ferguson, 21,126 (1997)

People
99% urban; 14% age 65+ (ranks sixth of nine in state; top third nationally); 40% married couples, 17% married couples with children; 20% college educated (ranks second of nine in state; middle third nationally); 60% white collar (ranks third of nine in state; middle third nationally), 22% blue collar (ranks eighth of nine in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Race
46% white, 52% black, 1% Asian; 1% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$24,963 (ranks sixth of nine in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Forest Park; Laclede's Landing; Missouri Botanical Gardens; Composer Scott Joplin grew up in St. Louis; Trans World Airlines Dome, home of the Rams football team.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company