St. Louis is known as the Gateway To The West. Small but a big city...it has its ghettos and it has its rich areas. St. Louis is known as being Country, were just in the middle soaking in all styles from the East to West & North to South.
Being that I am from Alton, IL a Metro East area aka Suburb of the city of St. Louis, it is just a small city. A River town that has a lot of history. Has its bad parts and nice parts. Drugs everywhere, same shit any other city has. Alton is known as one of the most Haunted towns in America.
In Belleville where I live now, its a big city 5-7 mins away from St. Louis. Shit is all gravy here, go out and get drunk, there is a lot of bars around here. Just don't roll down the hill into East STL if you are drinking. LOL
Mid West. Plain & Simple.