SAINT CHARLES

city, seat of St. Charles county, eastern Missouri, U.S., on bluffs overlooking the Missouri River, there bridged to St. Louis, 22 miles (35 km) southeast. One of the earliest white settlements on the Missouri, it was founded in 1769 by Louis Blanchette as Les Petites Ctes (The Little Hills). The site, transferred to Spain in 1770, was dedicated in 1771 as the village of San Carlos Borromeo after a church of that name was built there. In May 1804 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark began their westward expedition from San Carlos, Anglicized upon their return in 1806 to St. Charles. It was the state's first capital (182126), and the First Missouri State Capitol building is preserved. A trade and shipping centre for farm produce (primarily wheat, corn, oats), Saint Charles also has diversified manufactures (electronic equipment, clothing, beer, and aluminum). It is the seat of Lindenwood Colleges (four coordinated colleges originating in 1827 with the first women's college west of the Mississippi), and of the Convent of the Sacred Heart (1818; likewise the first free school). Fort Zumwalt State Historic Site and Daniel Boone's last home are nearby. Inc. village, 1809; city, 1849. Pop. (1990) 54,555.