The St. Louis area has been an economic hub for transportation and shipping for nearly two centuries.  Its location in the center of the US on the Mississippi river gives it some unique geographical and strategic advantages.  Scott Air Force Base is located here as well as numerous Fortune 500 companies’ headquarters.  St. Louis has also traditionally been the home of many of the manufacturing plants for the US auto industry, although recently these plants have closed and the manufacturing sector of St. Louis has taken it on the chin.  Not only has the manufacturing sector really been hurt, but all other sectors save two have shed jobs by the thousands. Read more about St. Louis Employment Analysis