Why are so many cities around St. Louis named after saints?
ST. LOUIS - Along with the City of St. Louis, several cities in the St. Louis metropolitan area have some variation of a "Saint" name, a curious pattern that often leaves people asking, "Why?"
When the City of St. Louis was founded in 1764, French fur traders Pierre Laclède and Auguste Chouteau established a settlement along the Mississippi River as a trading post. At the time, the land was under French control, and it was customary to name new settlements in honor of French royalty or saints.
The settlers chose “St. Louis” to honor of King Louis IX, a 13th-century crusader and medieval monarch well revered in French Catholic circles.
And over time, a similar trend played out in surrounding communities, where cities were established and named in honor of Catholic saints, reflecting a strong French and German Catholic influence in early settlements around St. Louis, especially near the Mississippi and Missouri river valleys.
So how did all of these "Saint"-named cities around St. Louis come to be? Here's a closer look into the origins of several.
St. Ann
The City of St. Ann, Missouri was originally developed from farmland into a residential community in the 1940s. It was named in honor of Sainte Anne, a Roman Catholic figure traditionally recognized as the mother or Virgin Mary.
St. Charles
The City of St. Charles, Missouri was founded in 1769 by French settlers as “Les Petites Côtes,” a French term for "Little Hills." When Spain controlled the territory, it was also referred to as the settlement of "San Carlos." After the Louisiana Purchase, in 1804, the city's name was anglicized to "St. Charles" after Saint Charles Borromeo, a 16th-century Italian cardinal and Catholic saint.
St. Clair
The City of St. Clair, Missouri was founded in the 19th century and is believed to be named in honor of Arthur St. Clair, a Revolutionary War general and the first governor of the Northwest Territory. Unlike most nearby "Saint" cities, St. Clair's name does not pay homage to a Catholic saint.
St. Jacob
The City of St. Jacob, Illinois was founded in the 19th century and named in honor of local settler, St. Jacob Schultz, who played a key role in developing housing in the area. St. Jacob's name also does not trace origins to a Catholic saint.
St. John
The City of St. John, Missouri was incorporated in the middle 20th century near St. Ann and is named in honor Saint John the Baptist, a common saint of the Catholic Church.
St. Peters
The City of St. Peters, Missouri was founded by French and German immigrants in the late 18th century near St. Charles and incorporated in 1910. It is named in honor of Saint Peter, a Jesuit apostle and a central figure in Christianity.
Ste. Genevieve
The City of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri was founded in the 1730s and is the oldest permanent European settlement in Missouri. It is named in honor of Saint Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. The French abbreviation "Ste." reflects the city's strong French colonial roots. Ste. Genevieve is also the flagship city of Ste. Genevieve County.
St. Ferdinand (Township)
St. Ferdinand Township encompasses part of the modern-day city of Florissant as is also considered one of the oldest settlements in Missouri. It was originally a French colonial territory. It is named in honor of Saint Ferdinand III of Castile, a 13th-century Spanish king canonized as a saint.
St. Francois County
St. Francois County in Missouri was founded in 1821 in the lead-mining region of Missouri. It is believed to be name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, a famous Italian Catholic saint who supported early French exploration.
