Description

St. Louis was one of the largest cities in the United States during Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency. In 1876, the Missouri State Legislature passed an act that allowed for the separation of St. Louis City and St. Louis County. This act paved the way for the formal division, and voters in both the city and county approved the split in August of that year. The St. Louis City-County split of 1876, often referred to as “The Great Divorce,” was a significant event in the history of St. Louis, Missouri, and the surrounding area. It marked the separation of St. Louis City from St. Louis County, turning them into distinct and separate jurisdictions. This division has had lasting implications for the region’s governance, development, and demographics and, to this day, remains a significant historical event in the region’s history, reflecting the complex relationships between urban and suburban areas, as well as the enduring impact of political and economic decisions on the development of cities and counties across the United States. In this presentation, Historian/Curator Nick Sacco from Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site will examine the causes, context, and consequences of the St. Louis City-County split.