East Saint Louis, Illinois (IL), United States

Facts & Statistics
Place Name	East Saint Louis
Place Status (Type)	city
Population	40,944 (1990)
Location	St. Clair County, Illinois (IL), United States, North America
Latitude	38°36'N
Longitude	90°07'W

East Saint Louis , city (1990 pop. 40,944), St. Clair co., SW Ill., on the Mississippi R. opposite St. Louis, with which it is connected by 4 bridges (of which one is closed to traffic); 38°36'N 90°07'W. Inc. 1865. Once a major RR and transportation hub, with stockyards (in adjacent Natl. City), warehouses, and important industries, East St. Louis entered a period of serious economic decline beginning in the 1990s. The city was subsequently hit hard with growing unemployment and significant urban flight. Mfg. (fluorides, RR ties, lumber, feed). Riverboat gambling started in 1994 to boost economy, and the state began to take steps to help improve the city's schools and financial prospects. Pop. is now almost entirely Afr.-Amer. Metro Link light RR system (inaugurated 1993) connects East St. Louis with St. Louis. The 1st settlement was in 1765. Cahokia Creek was bridged in 1795, and a ferry across the Mississippi began operation shortly thereafter. East St. Louis was plagued by devastating floods until its 1st dike was completed in 1909. The Old Cathedral (1834) and Old Courthouse (1839) have been preserved. Branch of S. Ill. Univ. here. Frank Holten State Park and Cahokia Mounds State Historical Site (site of prehistoric Indian mounds) are nearby. Riverfront area has been acquired from RRs for extension of Jefferson Natl. Expansion Memorial. Community col.