I'm a teacher, and I've been reading this education book called Savage Inequalities. The first chapter deals with the conditions in East Saint Louis Illinois (schools as well as everyday life). Now the book is written in 1990, and depicts a city that could be compared to a third world country. Many problems with contamination on top of it all. I'm just wondering if things have improved at all since then? I did a search on Yahoo and there seem to be a lot of restaurants/banks/hotels etc. in this area. So I'm hoping this is a sign that things have improved??

I'm just curious, and this isn't intended to start a debate etc.

Thank you!

It's been several years since we were in St. Louis, but the times we were there we tried mightily not to veer off the freeway heading toward East St. Louis. At one time, it had the highest crime rate in the country and the few times we accidentally ended up there we were very uncomfortable.

The simple answer is, "no".
ESL remains a very depressed city with one of the highest homicide rates in the US, high rates of unemployment, drug abuse and all manner of social ills. Part of the reason is that it is across the river from STL Missouri, but in the state of Illinois. So while the state of MO makes an effort to assist with the urban problems in STL, and there are plenty, ESL gets considerably less attention from the Illinois state gov't because ESL is an isolated problem area without much of a redeeming core. Most big cities provide revenue for the state, tourism money, jobs, etc. ESL offers very little value to Illinois, and is seen as a drain of resources.

I live in St.Louis (not East St.Louis) and it is still run down. They do ahve a riverboat casion and hotel there now, but it is not a thriving community. Many run down homes, empty homes, etc.

I mistakenly exited the interstate in East St. Louis last month. I was on a cross country trip and the hotel's directions told me to exit on "kingshighway"-- I was surprised that the exit off I-70 Westbound came before I passed the arch/crossed the river but exited anyway. I have never driven through such a rundown area and was extremely uncomfortable (to say the least)-- there were some check cashing places and cheap motels and liquor stores and I don't remember any other businesses.
To make this more relevent to a travel board-- please realize that there are two "kingshighway" exits- the second one is in Missouri and will get you to Forest Park and the Washington University area. The first will get you to an area where, if you are fortunate, you will never need to be.

I have spent many nights in ESL when I was a trucker. There's a big truck stop just off I-70, and now they've built a big NASCAR track across the street. So, there's definitely some new facilities in ESL in recent years, just not in the "downtown" area.

All I know about East St. Louis is the fact that it is constantly made fun of in the "Simpsons" .It seems like the impression will live on forever atleast in popular culture.

In the early 70's four college friends in our late 20's stayed in ESL for a weekend as we did not know the area's reputation and the rates were so good... The new inn (national chain)was built in a downtown area of slum clearance and was the only inhabited property for a couple of blocks in each direction. The U shapped facility was two or three stories high with solid brick walls facing outward and all windows facing the inner courtyard. The entry to the courtyard was gated from the street. The first evening when we returned late from our day in St. Louis, we were met at the closed gate by a guard who informed us to stay in our car until they got the guard dogs on leash. We've never been back....

If you have ever seen the first "Family Vacation" movie with Chevy Chase, he accidently exits into East St. Louis, too. It is a very common mistake and the highway signage is confusing. I have done it myself.It is scary..and sure wouldn't want to be there at night.ESL replaces Gary Indiana as the creepiest place to live.

If I didn't live so far away, I would buy riverfront property there in a heartbeat.

It is only a matter of time before the area is revitalized. You may think I'm crazy but look at other urban areas that have done the same.

When I was in high school we played East St. Louis Sr High in football at their field in the state playoffs.
I'll always remember that experience. The field was virtually devoid of grass, lots of small rocks and glass chips.
Oh, and the field was surrounded by mounted police on horseback with rifles.
They weren't there to watch the game.
Talk about home field advantage by intimidation (as I recall they won the large school state championship that year).

As for GoTravel's comment, you have to understand that East St. Louis is not like other downtrodden cities. And Gary, Indiana is in the exact same situation, alluded to above. They're both adjacent to large cities which are controlled by different states. Baltimore and Cleveland are great examples of cities which have invested heavily to rescue their once blighted cores. Chicago and St. Louis are not going to rescue Gary and East St. Louis. Nor are their home states. That's the reason those cities will likely never thrive.

Camden, NJ built a nice aquarium; but I still haven't visited it during my numerous visit to Philly.

But who the heck ever thought Harlem would price itself out of middle class range?

But Harlem is in Manhattan, right between the upper west side/central park/columbia university.

Unfortunatly a purchase of East STL riverfront property would not make anybody the midwestern Donald Trump.

STL City on the Missouri side has been trying unsuccessfully for years to attract young suburbanites to the downtown area. The jobs are in the surrounding suburbs, so that's where everyone resides.

To answer amelie's question: ESTL is not exactly third world, but by no means a thriving community. Same could be said about the "heart" of St.Louis City, too, though.

Thanks for all this information. According to the book I'm reading, the area most likely won't ever be developed because of all the contamination in the area. The book reported that the city "glows" at night.

It's pretty sad.

Yes, it is sad. I live in IL not far from ESL and from what I have learned since I've lived here is that it wasn't always that way. Friends of mine grew up there when it was a thriving community.(quite a long time ago!) They now have a very difficult time with resources. The schools have been taken over by the state, after having been on watch and warning lists for many years. The addition of the casino and the Race track has helped but the city itself is very run down. I have also been there for football games(twice) and the description above is still accurate. Jackie Joyner Kersee has tried to help out by opening a youth center in the city(where she grew up). But, yes, sad is the best description.