9 Historic Neighborhoods in St. Louis That Will Transport You To The Past
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Laura Burks Overstreet
Author
St. Louis has many historic neighborhoods, each with their own architecture and personalities. These gems within our city reflect the French, German, Italian, and Irish settlers who brought their own building styles to St. Louis. Many of the neighborhoods still celebrate the history of their founding countries. And all of these neighborhoods are working hard to preserve their architecture and legacies.
The Benton Park neighborhood began in 1866 and is named after the first U.S. Senator from Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton. Many of the first breweries called Benton Park home at the turn of the century. Drawn to the area by the cave systems that were easily accessible at the time. Today Benton Park draws people from all over the area for shopping, visiting the park, and the historic restored homes of the area.
Lafayette Square started as a French controlled village in 1764. In the 1850s, real progress in development of the area began after many years of struggling to create a vibrant neighborhood. Since that time, Lafayette Square has flourished and continues to draw visitors and homeowners with its charming French inspired homes of the area.
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The neighborhood of Soulard is one of the oldest settlements in St. Louis. It is named for Antoine Soulard, who started the community with what is now known as The Soulard Farmer's Market in 1779. Today Soulard is an exciting place to visit and live. New shops, restaurants, bars, and markets blend with the old world charm of the historic preserved buildings.
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Holly Hills is much younger than some of the neighborhoods on this list, with the first homes being built in 1926. Holly Hills is just as lovely a place to live today as it was then. Here you'll find an active neighborhood community, great schools, many churches, and welcoming people to call your neighbors or friends!
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Gravois Park was founded in 1812, and like some many neighborhoods in St. Louis, with an actual park. Gravois Park is home to many stunning architecturally significant and beautiful buildings in St. Louis. The neighborhood is working hard on preserving these landmarks, and neighborhood revitalization through community works.
Another "newer" neighborhood in St. Louis, the Skinker–DeBaliviere neighborhood, got it’s start thanks to the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Officially becoming a neighborhood in 1908, the area of Skinker–DeBaliviere is home to many of our favorite attractions and best institutions.
This unofficial neighborhood of St. Louis was founded mostly by the Irish who came to America in the 1800s. It’s nicknamed "Dogtown" not for any reference to the World's Fair, but from a mining term used often during the time. Dogtown is a great place to live, a lively place to visit anytime, and probably the best place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the USA!
Old North St. Louis started as a village in 1816 and officially became a neighborhood of St. Louis in 1841. Home to our beloved Crown Candy Kitchen and with three areas on the National Register of Historic Districts, Old North St. Louis is a historic jewel within our city.
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Founded in the 1830s by an Italian community mostly from Sicily and Lombardy, The Hill is still known today for its Italian roots. Home to many amazing Italian restaurants and always celebrating Italian history, the Hill is a great place to visit. And true to its home land beginnings, an amazing community to call home.
These are just a few of our great St. Louis neighborhoods. Do you know more about the history of these neighborhoods? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
Looking for more interesting St. Louis history? Check out these crazy street names that will leave you baffled!
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