River City Blues: The Quest for Municipal Home Rule & Economic Security in St. Louis

The Great Divorce in St. Louis, the separation of the City and County of St. Louis in 1876 is one of the most impactful events in the region’s history. Most people will think of the Great Divorce in simple terms like "The County didn't like the City." or "The City didn't want to pay tax money that went to the County alone." Few, however, go further and ask why. Why didn't the City want to pay taxes to the County? The answer is economics. I found in my research compelling evidence that the City leadership believed that the municipal relationship with the County, seen as an extension of its relationship with the State of Missouri, was so detrimental to the City's future growth that a radical change in that relationship was needed. Spending was only growing along with the City of St. Louis itself and had no signs of stopping. Separation became the chosen solution to a County government seen as corrupt and swindling and a government in Jefferson City that had to approve many City civic measures, many tax or funding related, before local enactment could happen. The City felt fact money going to projects that mostly benefited the County and its non-City residents was unfair. Meanwhile, the state legislature, although usually permissive to St. Louis interests, was seen as an unnecessary bottleneck and a potential pain point legislatively as Jefferson City could turn down civic legislation for St. Louis that could be direly needed or have broad public legislative support in St. Louis. Both of these were threats to the future investment and success of St. Louis, City leaders felt. A state constitution change in 1875 made possible for the City to annul its undesired relationship with the forces of Jefferson City. City leaders pounced later that year and began the process that created today's political situation in the St. Louis region. Then all that was left was the County and the City with their very different trajectories. City leaders knew they needed to be able to take the steps to fund development on their own, and felt the option we are currently in to be the one that would assure St. Louis's future growth. While my findings merely scratch the surface of this rabbit hole, the details I have seen give credence that there was a belief among the pro-separation City forces that separating from the County was vital for St. Louis's economic security and future growth.