By Matt Sepic, KWMU
Fifty years ago, St. Louis was a much different place. The suburbs didn't stretch nearly as far. The city was still the center of economic activity, and the metro area ranked among the top 10 in the country.
There's a new book out that looks at these changes. It's called St. Louis Metromorphosis. University of Missouri-St. Louis political science professors Brady Baybeck and Terry Jones edited the collection of studies.
They look at everything from the economy, to race, homicide and urban development. The city proper has lost a half-million people over 50 years, but Brady Baybeck tells KWMU's Matt Sepic the idea that St. Louis City is a donut hole of despair is a myth.