Part 10/12:
Today, only about 17,000 residents remain—a 73.7% decline. The city’s history is intertwined with both industrial boom and natural calamity, with the flood shaping its identity.
2. East St. Louis, Illinois: The Industrial Crossing
Once a major hub for meatpacking, steel, coal, and aluminum industries, East St. Louis blossomed with a population of about 82,000 in 1950. Yet, industrial decline, systemic issues, and suburban shifts caused this number to plunge to around 17,000, a 79% decrease.
Its strategic river position made it vital for commerce, but economic decline and social issues have left it struggling, with many residents fleeing to neighboring Missouri for better opportunities.