St. Peters, MO

Mississippian mound builders inhabited the area that became St. Peters before Europeans arrived. Remains of a village were uncovered during Interstate 70 construction in 1954, and nearby Mound Drive was named for the earthworks. A Spanish census documented a land grant in 1791, while the city’s name came from a Jesuit mission. St. Peters is now a northwestern St. Louis suburb along Interstate 70; the 2020 census counted 57,732 residents. Its park system encompasses more than 1,000 acres of parks and trails, and the 236,000-square-foot Rec-Plex stands beside City Hall. The city also contains Mid Rivers Mall, St. Charles County’s largest shopping center, and the Spencer Road Branch, the largest and busiest library in the county system.