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Coordinates: 38°40′N 90°0′W / 38.667°N 90.000°W / 38.667; -90.000
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{{more citations needed|date=March 2012}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Metro East
| name = St. Louis Metro East
|settlement_type=[[Geography of Illinois|Region of Illinois]]
| settlement_type = [[Geography of Illinois|Region]]
|image_skyline =
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
|image_map=Granite City - City Hall.JPG
| imagesize =
|image_map1=OFallon Public Library.jpg
|image_caption= '''Belleville'''
| image_caption =
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=240|zoom=7|frame-coord={{coord|38.5000|-90.0000}}
| map_caption= '''Granite City'''
| type1=shape|id1=Q957490|title1=Crawford County (part Sullivan city), MO|stroke-color1=#C41E3A|stroke-width1=0.5|fill1=#C41E3A|fill-opacity1=0.4
| map_caption1= '''O'Fallon'''
| type2=shape|id2=Q490383|title2=Franklin County, MO|stroke-color2=#C41E3A|stroke-width2=0.5|fill2=#C41E3A|fill-opacity2=0.4
|subdivision_type = Country
| type3=shape|id3=Q489993|title3=Jefferson County, MO|stroke-color3=#C41E3A|stroke-width3=0.5|fill3=#C41E3A|fill-opacity3=0.4
|subdivision_name = {{USA}}
| type4=shape|id4=Q484582|title4=Lincoln County, MO|stroke-color4=#C41E3A|stroke-width4=0.5|fill4=#C41E3A|fill-opacity4=0.4
|subdivision_type1 = State
| type5=shape|id5=Q489873|title5=St. Charles County, MO|stroke-color5=#C41E3A|stroke-width5=0.5|fill5=#C41E3A|fill-opacity5=0.4
|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Illinois}}
| type6=shape|id6=Q498034|title6=St. Louis County, MO|stroke-color6=#C41E3A|stroke-width6=0.5|fill6=#C41E3A|fill-opacity6=0.4
|population_metro= 702,579
| type7=shape|id7=Q497634|title7=Warren County, MO|stroke-color7=#C41E3A|stroke-width7=0.5|fill7=#C41E3A|fill-opacity7=0.4
| type8=shape|id8=Q109526|title8=Bond County, IL|stroke-color8=#0C2340|stroke-width8=0.5|fill8=#0C2340|fill-opacity8=0.4
| type9=shape|id9=Q111633|title9=Calhoun County, IL|stroke-color9=#0C2340|stroke-width9=0.5|fill9=#0C2340|fill-opacity9=0.4
| type10=shape|id10=Q110555|title10=Clinton County, IL|stroke-color10=#0C2340|stroke-width10=0.5|fill10=#0C2340|fill-opacity10=0.4
| type11=shape|id11=Q490986|title11=Jersey County, IL|stroke-color11=#0C2340|stroke-width11=0.5|fill11=#0C2340|fill-opacity11=0.4
| type12=shape|id12=Q491447|title12=Macoupin County, IL|stroke-color12=#0C2340|stroke-width12=0.5|fill12=#0C2340|fill-opacity12=0.4
| type13=shape|id13=Q486448|title13=Madison County, IL|stroke-color13=#0C2340|stroke-width13=0.5|fill13=#0C2340|fill-opacity13=0.4
| type14=shape|id14=Q488522|title14=Monroe County, IL|stroke-color14=#0C2340|stroke-width14=0.5|fill14=#0C2340|fill-opacity14=0.4
| type15=shape|id15=Q486507|title15=St. Clair County, IL|stroke-color15=#0C2340|stroke-width15=0.5|fill15=#0C2340|fill-opacity15=0.4
| type16=shape|id16=Q498014|title16=St. Francois County, MO|stroke-color16=#156000|stroke-width16=0.5|fill16=#156000|fill-opacity16=0.4
| type17=shape|id17=Q378438|title17=Marion County, IL|stroke-color17=#FBBF00|stroke-width17=0.5|fill17=#FEDB00|fill-opacity17=0.4
| type18=shape|id18=Q38022|title18=City of St. Louis|stroke-color18=#720000|stroke-width18=0.5|fill18=#720000|fill-opacity18=0.4
}}
| map_alt = Map of Greater St. Louis
| map_caption = Interactive Map of St. Louis–St. Charles–<br>Farmington, MO–IL [[Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
St. Louis, MO–IL [[Metropolitan Statistical Area|MSA]]
{{leftlegend|#C39290|[[St. Louis, Missouri|City of St. Louis]]}}
{{leftlegend|#C41E3A|Greater St. Louis (Missouri)}}
{{leftlegend|#0C2340|Metro East (Illinois)}}
Other Statistical Areas in the St. Louis CSA
{{leftlegend|#156000|Farmington, MO [[μSA]]}}
{{leftlegend|#FEDB00|Centralia, IL μSA}}
{{Col-end}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = [[File:Flag of United States.svg|border|23px]] [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[File:Flag of Illinois.svg|border|23px]] [[Illinois]]
| subdivision_type2 = Largest city
| subdivision_name2 = [[Belleville, Illinois|Belleville, IL]]
| subdivision_type3 = Other cities
| subdivision_name3 = {{Plainlist|&nbsp;- [[O'Fallon, Illinois|O'Fallon, IL]]<br />&nbsp;- [[Granite City, Illinois|Granite City, IL]]<br />&nbsp;- [[Edwardsville, Illinois|Edwardsville, IL]]<br />&nbsp;- [[Alton, Illinois|Alton, IL]]<br />&nbsp;- [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis, IL]]<br />
}}
| timezone = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset = −6
| timezone_DST = [[Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = −5
| elevation_m = 142–390
| elevation_ft = 466–1,280
| area_code = 217, 314, 447, 557, 573, 618, 636, 730
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code_type =
| area_codes =
| website =
| population_total = 681,678
| population_as_of = 2020
}}


}}'''Metro East''' is a region in [[southern Illinois]] that contains eastern and northern suburbs and exurbs of [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], United States. It encompasses five [[Southern Illinois]] counties (and parts of three others) in the [[Greater St. Louis|St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The region's most populated city is [[Belleville, Illinois|Belleville]], with 45,000 residents. The Metro East is the second largest urban area in [[Illinois]] after the [[Chicago metropolitan area]] and, as of the 2000 census, the population of the Metro East statistical area was 599,845 residents, a figure that had risen to above 700,000 in 2010. The significant growth in the Metro East is mainly due to people in smaller outlying towns in Illinois moving to the area for better economic/job opportunities.
The '''Metro East''' is an urban area in [[Southern Illinois]], United States that contains the eastern and northern suburbs and exurbs of [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]]. It encompasses eight counties in the [[Greater St. Louis]] area and constitutes the [[Illinois statistical areas|second-most populous urban area]] in [[Illinois]]. The region's most populated city is [[Belleville, Illinois|Belleville]], with 42,404 residents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Belleville city, Illinois |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bellevillecityillinois/PST045223 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref>
[[Image:Belleville, IL Metro East.jpg|thumb|right|MetroLink in Belleville Illinois]]


==Geography==
==Geography==
[[File:Granite City - City Hall.JPG|thumb|City Hall of Granite City]]
The Metro East is a loose collection of small and mid-sized cities sitting along the [[American Bottom]] and the bluffs of the [[Mississippi River]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the five counties of the region have a total area of 6,974&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (2,692&nbsp;mi<sup>2</sup>). 6,787&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (2,620&nbsp;mi<sup>2</sup>) of it is land and 186&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (71&nbsp;mi<sup>2</sup>) of it (2.74%) is water.
[[File:OFallon Public Library.jpg|thumb|O'Fallon Public Library]]


The Metro East is a loose collection of small and mid-sized cities sitting along the [[American Bottom]] and the bluffs of the [[Mississippi River]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the eight counties of the region have a total area of 6,974&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (2,692&nbsp;mi<sup>2</sup>). 6,787&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (2,620&nbsp;mi<sup>2</sup>) of it is land and 186&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (71&nbsp;mi<sup>2</sup>) of it (2.74%) is water.
As of the 2010 census, the most populated cities in the region included the following<ref>{{cite web|title=Main|url=https://www.census.gov|work=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=27 May 2012|author=Staff|year=2012}}</ref>

As of the 2020 census, the most populated cities in the region included the following<ref>{{cite web|title=Main|url=https://www.census.gov|work=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=27 May 2012|author=Staff|year=2012}}</ref>


{|
{|
|-valign="top"
|- valign="top"
|
|
'''Principal cities'''
'''Principal cities'''
* [[Belleville, Illinois|Belleville]]
* [[Belleville, Illinois|Belleville]]
* [[O'Fallon, Illinois|O'Fallon]]
* [[Granite City, Illinois|Granite City]]
* [[Granite City, Illinois|Granite City]]
* [[O'Fallon, Illinois|O'Fallon]]
* [[Edwardsville, Illinois|Edwardsville]]
* [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]]
* [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]]
* [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]]
* [[Collinsville, Illinois|Collinsville]]
* [[Collinsville, Illinois|Collinsville]]
* [[Edwardsville, Illinois|Edwardsville]]
|
|
'''City populations'''<ref>2010census</ref>
'''City populations'''<ref>2010census</ref>
* 44,478
* 42,404
* 29,849
* 32,289
* 28,281
* 27,549
* 27,865
* 26,808
* 27,006
* 25,676
* 26,016
* 24,366
* 24,293
|}
|}


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As of the 2010 census, there had been a major shift in population from the older [[rust belt]] industrial cities in the Mississippi River bottom, such as East St. Louis and Alton, to the more suburban [[satellite cities]], such as, Belleville, Edwardsville, and O'Fallon sitting on the bluffs. This is mainly due to continued [[white flight]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Metro East growing more diverse, census data show|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/article_242bc24c-3f89-5d34-a6bd-39d04804510c.html?print=1|access-date=27 May 2012|newspaper=STL Today|date=20 February 2011|author=DOUG MOORE|author2=JEREMY KOHLER|author3=NICHOLAS J.C. PISTOR}}</ref>
As of the 2010 census, there had been a major shift in population from the older [[rust belt]] industrial cities in the Mississippi River bottom, such as East St. Louis and Alton, to the more suburban [[satellite cities]], such as, Belleville, Edwardsville, and O'Fallon sitting on the bluffs. This is mainly due to continued [[white flight]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Metro East growing more diverse, census data show|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/article_242bc24c-3f89-5d34-a6bd-39d04804510c.html?print=1|access-date=27 May 2012|newspaper=STL Today|date=20 February 2011|author=DOUG MOORE|author2=JEREMY KOHLER|author3=NICHOLAS J.C. PISTOR}}</ref>


As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 599,845 people, 229,888 households, and 160,260 families residing in the five Metro East counties.
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 599,845 people, 229,888 households, and 160,260 families residing in the eight Metro East counties.


The most common language is English, although various other languages are spoken. German speakers exist in southeastern Madison, and Clinton, and southern and eastern St. Clair Counties. Spanish is spoken in the [[Fairmont City, Illinois|Fairmont City]] area, and in parts of Clinton County. The largest concentration of African-Americans is in [[Madison, Illinois|Madison]], [[Venice, Illinois|Venice]], western [[Granite City, Illinois|Granite City]], [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]], [[Washington Park, Illinois|Washington Park]], [[Belleville, Illinois|Belleville]], [[Cahokia, Illinois|Cahokia]], [[Alorton, Illinois|Alorton]] and [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]]. Secondary languages tend to be cultural or reminiscent of ancestry, and not related to the general business of the area.
The most common language is English, although various other languages are spoken. German speakers exist in southeastern Madison, and Clinton, and southern and eastern St. Clair Counties. Spanish is spoken in the [[Fairmont City, Illinois|Fairmont City]] area, and in parts of Clinton County. The largest concentration of African-Americans is in [[Madison, Illinois|Madison]], [[Venice, Illinois|Venice]], western [[Granite City, Illinois|Granite City]], [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]], [[Washington Park, Illinois|Washington Park]], [[Belleville, Illinois|Belleville]], [[Cahokia, Illinois|Cahokia]], [[Alorton, Illinois|Alorton]] and [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]].
[[Image:Map of Illinois highlighting Metro-East.svg|thumb|Map of Illinois highlighting Metro East]]


== List of counties ==
== List of counties ==

*[[Bond County, Illinois|Bond]]
*[[Calhoun County, Illinois|Calhoun]]
* [[Bond County, Illinois|Bond]]
*[[Clinton County, Illinois|Clinton]]
* [[Calhoun County, Illinois|Calhoun]]
*[[Jersey County, Illinois|Jersey]]
* [[Clinton County, Illinois|Clinton]]
*[[Macoupin County, Illinois|Macoupin]]
* [[Jersey County, Illinois|Jersey]]
*[[Madison County, Illinois|Madison]]
* [[Macoupin County, Illinois|Macoupin]]
*[[Monroe County, Illinois|Monroe]]
* [[Madison County, Illinois|Madison]]
*[[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair]]
* [[Monroe County, Illinois|Monroe]]
* [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair]]


==List of cities, towns, and villages==
==List of cities, towns, and villages==
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=== Clinton County ===
=== Clinton County ===
{|
{|
|-valign="top"
|- valign="top"
|
|
*[[Albers, Illinois|Albers]]
*[[Albers, Illinois|Albers]]
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=== Jersey County ===
=== Jersey County ===
{|
{|
|-valign="top"
|- valign="top"
|
|
*[[Brighton, Illinois|Brighton]] ^ (also in Macoupin County)
*[[Brighton, Illinois|Brighton]] ^ (also in Macoupin County)
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=== Madison County ===
=== Madison County ===
{|
{|
|-valign="top"
|- valign="top"
|
|
*[[Alhambra, Illinois|Alhambra]]
*[[Alhambra, Illinois|Alhambra]]
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|
|
*[[South Roxana, Illinois|South Roxana]]
*[[South Roxana, Illinois|South Roxana]]
* [[St. Jacob, Illinois|St. Jacob]]
*[[Troy, Illinois|Troy]]
*[[Troy, Illinois|Troy]]
*[[Venice, Illinois|Venice]]
*[[Venice, Illinois|Venice]]
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=== St. Clair County ===
=== St. Clair County ===
{|
{|
|-valign="top"
|- valign="top"
|
|
*[[Alorton, Illinois|Alorton]]
*[[Alorton, Illinois|Alorton]]
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*[[Scott Air Force Base|Scott AFB]]
*[[Scott Air Force Base|Scott AFB]]
*[[Shiloh, Illinois|Shiloh]]
*[[Shiloh, Illinois|Shiloh]]
* [[Summerfield, Illinois|Summerfield]]
|
|
*Smithton, Illinois
*[[Smithton, Illinois|Smithton]]
*[[Swansea, Illinois|Swansea]]
*[[Swansea, Illinois|Swansea]]
*[[Washington Park, Illinois|Washington Park]]
*[[Washington Park, Illinois|Washington Park]]
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=== State routes ===
=== State routes ===
{|
{|
|-valign="top"
|- valign="top"
|
|
*[[Illinois Route 3]]
*[[Illinois Route 3]]
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*[[Interstate 270 (Illinois)|I-270]]
*[[Interstate 270 (Illinois)|I-270]]


=== Light rail ===
=== Public transit ===
[[Image:Belleville, IL Metro East.jpg|thumb|right|MetroLink in Belleville Illinois]]
The Metro East is connected with Missouri by the [[MetroLink (St. Louis)|Metro Link]] [[light rail]] train. The Metrolink includes 11 stations on the Illinois side of St Louis, from the East St. Louis Riverfront, through Belleville Illinois, and ending at Scott Air Force Base. It links the Metro East to downtown St. Louis, area universities, downtown Clayton, and the major commercial airport, Lambert St. Louis International.
Public transit service in St. Clair County is provided by [[Metro Transit (St. Louis)|Metro Transit]] in partnership with the [[St. Clair County Transit District]]. Service includes local bus lines and the [[MetroLink (St. Louis)|MetroLink]] [[light rail]] system. MetroLink has 11 stations in Illinois between the East St. Louis Riverfront and Scott Air Force Base. It links the suburban Metro East to [[St. Louis Lambert International Airport]] on the [[Red Line (St. Louis MetroLink)|Red Line]] and [[Shrewsbury, Missouri]] on the [[Blue Line (St. Louis MetroLink)|Blue Line]]. Intermediate stops include downtown St. Louis, area universities and hospitals, and downtown Clayton.

In 2019, the [[St. Clair County Transit District]] was awarded $96 million in Illinois infrastructure funding to build a {{convert|5.2|mi|km|adj=on}} extension of the [[Red Line (St Louis MetroLink)|Red Line]] from [[Shiloh-Scott station|Shiloh-Scott]] to [[MidAmerica St. Louis Airport]] in [[Mascoutah]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlinkmann |first=Mark |date=June 14, 2019 |title=Illinois to pay for long-sought MetroLink extension to MidAmerica Airport |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/illinois-to-pay-for-long-sought-metrolink-extension-to-midamerica-airport/article_473ea616-75fc-57d1-a131-6ae83a69eea2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102130441/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/illinois-to-pay-for-long-sought-metrolink-extension-to-midamerica-airport/article_473ea616-75fc-57d1-a131-6ae83a69eea2.html |archive-date=November 2, 2021 |access-date=September 20, 2022 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}}</ref> This extension will include two {{convert|2.6|mi|km|adj=on}} segments, a double-track and a single-track segment, along with a station at the airport.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 2022 |title=Trajectory for Transit in 2022 Points to Need for Continued Collaboration |url=https://cmt-stl.org/trajectory-for-transit-in-2022-points-to-need-for-continued-collaboration/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203020428/https://cmt-stl.org/trajectory-for-transit-in-2022-points-to-need-for-continued-collaboration/ |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=February 2, 2022}}</ref> Construction on the extension began in 2023 with Metro expecting to begin operations in early 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2021 |title=When will MetroLink extension to MidAmerica Airport be complete? How much will it cost? - MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) {{!}} Mascoutah, IL |url=https://flymidamerica.com/when-will-metrolink-extension-to-midamerica-airport-be-complete-how-much-will-it-cost/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172751/https://flymidamerica.com/when-will-metrolink-extension-to-midamerica-airport-be-complete-how-much-will-it-cost/ |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |access-date=September 20, 2022 |website=flymidamerica.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Cella |first=Kim |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Construction Underway on MetroLink Extension Project in St. Clair County |url=https://scctd.org/construction-underway-on-metrolink-extension-project-in-st-clair-county/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107030341/https://scctd.org/construction-underway-on-metrolink-extension-project-in-st-clair-county/ |archive-date=November 7, 2023 |access-date=November 7, 2023 |website=St. Clair County Transit District |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2023-12-28 |title=Construction underway on 5-mile MetroLink extension from Scott AFB to MidAmerica Airport |url=https://www.stlpr.org/economy-business/2023-12-28/metrolink-5-mile-extension-scott-air-force-base-to-midamerica-airport-underway |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204194500/https://www.stlpr.org/economy-business/2023-12-28/metrolink-5-mile-extension-scott-air-force-base-to-midamerica-airport-underway |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=STLPR |language=en}}</ref>


St. Clair County (East St. Louis, Washington Park, Fairview Heights, Swansea, O'Fallon, Cahokia, Belleville, Shiloh, and Scott AFB) shares public transit with the St. Louis metropolitan area, including bus and rail. Madison County has a public transit system that includes bus services and bikeways converted as part of a [[Rail Trail|Rail to Trail]] conversion.<ref>[http://www.mct.org/MCTInfo/MCT_Overview.aspx Madison County Transit Overview<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Additionally, [[Madison County Transit]] operates local bus service in that county with routes that serve downtown St. Louis transit centers.<ref>[http://www.mct.org/MCTInfo/MCT_Overview.aspx Madison County Transit Overview<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==Major employers==
==Major employers==
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*[[Charter Communications]]
*[[Charter Communications]]
*[[Illinois Department of Transportation]]
*[[Illinois Department of Transportation]]
*[[Korte Construction]]
*[[Monsanto]]
*[[Monsanto]]
*[[U.S. Steel|National Steel]]
*[[U.S. Steel|National Steel]]
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*[[Wood River Refinery]]
*[[Wood River Refinery]]


==Tourist attractions==
==Notable attractions==


*[[National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows]], Centreville, near Belleville; operated by the [[Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate]]
* [[National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows]], Centreville, near Belleville; operated by the [[Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate]]
*[[Brooks Catsup Bottle]], Collinsville
* [[Brooks Catsup Bottle]], Collinsville
*[[Belle Clair Fairgrounds and Expo Center]], Belleville
* [[Belle Clair Fairgrounds and Expo Center]], Belleville
*[[Cahokia Mounds]], Collinsville, on Madison-St. Clair County line
* [[Cahokia Mounds]], Collinsville, on Madison-St. Clair County line
* [[GCS Ballpark]], Sauget
*[[Confluence Crush Roller Derby]], Belleville (at Belle Clair Fairgrounds)
* [[Gateway International Raceway]], Madison
*[[GCS Ballpark]], Sauget
* [[Eads Bridge]], historic bridge, among East. Louis, on the East St. Louis, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri border, over the Mississippi River
*[[Gateway International Raceway]], Madison
* [[Pere Marquette State Park]], Grafton
*[[Eads Bridge]], historic bridge, among East. Louis, on the East St. Louis, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri border, over the Mississippi River
* [[St. Clair Square]], Fairview Heights
*[[Pere Marquette State Park]], Grafton
* [[Robert Wadlow]] Statue, Alton
*[[Raging Rivers Water Park]], Grafton
* [[Horseshoe Lake (Madison County, Illinois)|Horseshoe Lake]], Pontoon Beach, Madison, and Granite City
*[[The Game (indoor sports facility)|The Game]], Glen Carbon
*[[St. Clair Square Mall]], Fairview Heights
* [[Alton Square Mall]], Alton
*[[Robert Wadlow]] Statue, Alton
* [[Carlyle Lake]], Carlyle
* [[National Building Arts Center]], Sauget
*[[Horseshoe Lake (Madison County, Illinois)|Horseshoe Lake]], Pontoon Beach, Madison, and Granite City
*[[Alton Square Mall]], Alton
*[[Carlyle Lake]], Carlyle


==Residents, historic figures, and contributors==
==Residents, historic figures, and contributors==
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*[[Yadier Molina]], Caseyville, Cardinals Baseball catcher (resides there only during baseball season, and is originally from Puerto Rico)
*[[Yadier Molina]], Caseyville, Cardinals Baseball catcher (resides there only during baseball season, and is originally from Puerto Rico)
*[[Jake Odorizzi]], Highland, MLB Pitcher
*[[Jake Odorizzi]], Highland, MLB Pitcher
*[[Van Allen Plexico]], Smithton, author and professor
*[[Peter Sarsgaard]], Belleville/Scott AFB, actor (''Magnificent Seven'', ''Jarhead'', ''Green Lantern'')
*[[Peter Sarsgaard]], Belleville/Scott AFB, actor (''Magnificent Seven'', ''Jarhead'', ''Green Lantern'')
*[[John Shimkus]], Collinsville, Congressman from [[Illinois's 15th congressional district]] (1997–2021)
*[[John Shimkus]], Collinsville, Congressman from [[Illinois's 15th congressional district]] (1997–2021)
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*''[[In the Heat of the Night (film)|In the Heat of the Night]]'' - feature-length film, shot in Belleville, Illinois ([[40th Academy Awards|1968 Oscar winner for Best Picture of 1967]])
*''[[In the Heat of the Night (film)|In the Heat of the Night]]'' - feature-length film, shot in Belleville, Illinois ([[40th Academy Awards|1968 Oscar winner for Best Picture of 1967]])
*''[[Things Are Tough All Over]]'' (uncredited) - feature-length film, shot on the East St. Louis riverfront (1982)
*''[[Things Are Tough All Over]]'' (uncredited) - feature-length film, shot on the East St. Louis riverfront (1982)
*''[[King of the Hill (film)|King of the Hill]]'' - feature-length film, shot in Alton, Illinois (1993)
*''[[King of the Hill (1993 film)|King of the Hill]]'' - feature-length film, shot in Alton, Illinois (1993)
*''[[A Will of their Own]]'' - feature-length TV film, shot in Belleville, Illinois (1998)
*''[[A Will of their Own]]'' - feature-length TV film, shot in Belleville, Illinois (1998)
*''[[The Big Brass Ring]]'' - feature-length film, shot in Alton, Illinois (1999)
*''[[The Big Brass Ring]]'' - feature-length film, shot in Alton, Illinois (1999)

Latest revision as of 04:12, 2 July 2024

St. Louis Metro East
Region
Map
Interactive Map of St. Louis–St. Charles–
Farmington, MO–IL CSA
Country United States
State Illinois
Largest cityBelleville, IL
Other cities
 - O'Fallon, IL
 - Granite City, IL
 - Edwardsville, IL
 - Alton, IL
 - East St. Louis, IL
Elevation
142–390 m (466–1,280 ft)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total681,678
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code(s)217, 314, 447, 557, 573, 618, 636, 730

The Metro East is an urban area in Southern Illinois, United States that contains the eastern and northern suburbs and exurbs of St. Louis, Missouri. It encompasses eight counties in the Greater St. Louis area and constitutes the second-most populous urban area in Illinois. The region's most populated city is Belleville, with 42,404 residents.[1]

Geography

[edit]
City Hall of Granite City
O'Fallon Public Library

The Metro East is a loose collection of small and mid-sized cities sitting along the American Bottom and the bluffs of the Mississippi River. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the eight counties of the region have a total area of 6,974 km2 (2,692 mi2). 6,787 km2 (2,620 mi2) of it is land and 186 km2 (71 mi2) of it (2.74%) is water.

As of the 2020 census, the most populated cities in the region included the following[2]

Principal cities

City populations[3]

  • 42,404
  • 32,289
  • 27,549
  • 26,808
  • 25,676
  • 24,366

Demographics

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there had been a major shift in population from the older rust belt industrial cities in the Mississippi River bottom, such as East St. Louis and Alton, to the more suburban satellite cities, such as, Belleville, Edwardsville, and O'Fallon sitting on the bluffs. This is mainly due to continued white flight.[4]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 599,845 people, 229,888 households, and 160,260 families residing in the eight Metro East counties.

The most common language is English, although various other languages are spoken. German speakers exist in southeastern Madison, and Clinton, and southern and eastern St. Clair Counties. Spanish is spoken in the Fairmont City area, and in parts of Clinton County. The largest concentration of African-Americans is in Madison, Venice, western Granite City, East St. Louis, Washington Park, Belleville, Cahokia, Alorton and Alton.

List of counties

[edit]

List of cities, towns, and villages

[edit]

Notes:

  • ^ means part of city in another county/counties
  • Bold indicates county seat

Clinton County

[edit]

Jersey County

[edit]

Madison County

[edit]

St. Clair County

[edit]

Colleges and universities

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]

State routes

[edit]

U.S. routes

[edit]

Interstate freeways

[edit]

Public transit

[edit]
MetroLink in Belleville Illinois

Public transit service in St. Clair County is provided by Metro Transit in partnership with the St. Clair County Transit District. Service includes local bus lines and the MetroLink light rail system. MetroLink has 11 stations in Illinois between the East St. Louis Riverfront and Scott Air Force Base. It links the suburban Metro East to St. Louis Lambert International Airport on the Red Line and Shrewsbury, Missouri on the Blue Line. Intermediate stops include downtown St. Louis, area universities and hospitals, and downtown Clayton.

In 2019, the St. Clair County Transit District was awarded $96 million in Illinois infrastructure funding to build a 5.2-mile (8.4 km) extension of the Red Line from Shiloh-Scott to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah.[6] This extension will include two 2.6-mile (4.2 km) segments, a double-track and a single-track segment, along with a station at the airport.[7] Construction on the extension began in 2023 with Metro expecting to begin operations in early 2026.[8][9][10]

Additionally, Madison County Transit operates local bus service in that county with routes that serve downtown St. Louis transit centers.[11]

Major employers

[edit]

Notable attractions

[edit]

Residents, historic figures, and contributors

[edit]

Media in the Metro East

[edit]

St. Louis area TV stations

[edit]
  • Note: This list is for the entire Metro East area; however, the low-powered stations may not reach the entire five-county Metro East area. WSIU, despite not being based from the St. Louis DMA, is available in Clinton, Washington, and most of St. Clair.

Champaign-Urbana/Decatur/Springfield area TV stations

[edit]
  • Note: This list is for Jersey County; however, the majority of these stations are not available for most Jersey County residents. These stations are more likely to be available in Greene and Macoupin counties, which border Jersey County.

Paducah/Cape Girardeau/Harrisburg area TV stations

[edit]
  • Note: This list is for St. Clair, and Clinton counties; however, the majority of the stations, with the exception of WSIU and WPXS and possibly KFVS, are not available for a majority of the St. Clair, and/or Clinton County residents. These stations are more likely to be available in Washington County and the Centralia area.

Daily newspapers

[edit]

Radio stations

[edit]
  • Note: stations listed are licensed and have offices in Metro East counties only. Stations that can be heard in the Metro East but not listed have offices outside the Metro East counties.
  • WSIE 88.7 FM (Edwardsville), jazz/public radio
  • WLCA 89.9 FM (Godfrey), alternative/college radio
  • WRXX 95.3 FM (Centralia), pop
  • KXBS 95.5 FM (Bethalto), hip-hop
  • WDLJ 97.5 FM (Carlyle), classic rock
  • KATZ-FM 100.3 FM (Alton), urban
  • WJAF 103.7 FM (Centralia)
  • WNSV 104.7 FM (Nashville), Hot AC
  • WAOX 105.3 FM (Staunton), Hot AC
  • WSMI 106.1 FM (Litchfield). country
  • WILY 1210 AM (Centralia), oldies
  • WJBM 1480 AM (Jerseyville), talk
  • KFTK 1490 AM (East St. Louis), talk
  • WQQW 1510 AM (Highland, Belleville), classic hits
  • WBGZ 1570 AM (Alton), news/talk
  • WSDZ 1260 AM (Belleville), urban gospel

See also: Radio stations in Illinois

The Metro East in film

[edit]
  • Note, the following is a partial list of films shot, often partially, sometimes with significant production, within the Metro East. All data can be rechecked via the Internet Movie Database.

"Uncredited" means a Metro East location was not credited within the database, but was clearly shot on Metro East soil upon watching the film itself.

Metro East in fiction

[edit]

Laurell K. Hamilton has used the Metro East as a setting in several books from the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series. In the Merry Gentry series, fairies of the Unseelie Court have made their home in Monk's Mound.

Robert J. Randisi set one of his Joe Keough mysteries, East of the Arch (2002), in the Metro East communities of East St. Louis and Fairview Heights.[12]

Awards

[edit]

The 2010 issue of Family Circle magazine named Edwardsville third in their "Top 10 Best Towns for Families".[13]

Area codes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Belleville city, Illinois". www.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  2. ^ Staff (2012). "Main". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  3. ^ 2010census
  4. ^ DOUG MOORE; JEREMY KOHLER; NICHOLAS J.C. PISTOR (20 February 2011). "Metro East growing more diverse, census data show". STL Today. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  5. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ^ Schlinkmann, Mark (June 14, 2019). "Illinois to pay for long-sought MetroLink extension to MidAmerica Airport". STLtoday.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "Trajectory for Transit in 2022 Points to Need for Continued Collaboration". January 19, 2022. Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "When will MetroLink extension to MidAmerica Airport be complete? How much will it cost? - MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) | Mascoutah, IL". flymidamerica.com. July 14, 2021. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  9. ^ Cella, Kim (November 1, 2023). "Construction Underway on MetroLink Extension Project in St. Clair County". St. Clair County Transit District. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "Construction underway on 5-mile MetroLink extension from Scott AFB to MidAmerica Airport". STLPR. 2023-12-28. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  11. ^ Madison County Transit Overview
  12. ^ East of the Arch: A Joe Keough Mystery: Robert J. Randisi: 9780312283988: Amazon.com: Books
  13. ^ "10 Best Towns for Families: 2010" Archived 2017-11-21 at the Wayback Machine, Family Circle, Retrieved on 2010-08-07.
[edit]

38°40′N 90°0′W / 38.667°N 90.000°W / 38.667; -90.000

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