Why Our Name?

One of St. Louis’ early nicknames was “Mound City” because of the number of Native American Mounds scattered throughout the region. The earliest inhabitants far predate any European contact with the western hemisphere. Some 40,000 people lived here, centered at prehistoric Cahokia (in Southern Illinois).

That culture died out for unknown reasons, but they left behind remnants of their society in Illinois and some two dozen mounds in present-day north St. Louis. So many that the city was often called “Mound City!” Then later in the nineteenth century, city fathers had them razed for new streets and city developments.