Best Web Design in St. Charles, MO (2026)

Web Design for St. Charles, Missouri

St. Charles is the third-oldest city in Missouri, founded around 1769 as the French fur-trading village of Les Petites Cotes on the Missouri River just northwest of St. Louis. It served as Missouri's first state capital from 1821 to 1826 and was the last established town Lewis and Clark visited before their expedition headed west in 1804. Its cobblestoned Main Street historic district, one of the longest in the nation, hosts nationally known festivals including the Christmas Traditions celebration and the Festival of the Little Hills.

AppWT works with St. Charles, MO businesses from Livonia, Michigan, mostly online and travelling as needed.

About St. Charles

Also known as. Les Petites Cotes (The Little Hillsides). Missouri's First State Capital. Part of the 'Golden Triangle' (St. Charles County).

History. Founded circa 1769 as Les Petites Cotes ('The Little Hillsides') by French-Canadian fur trader Louis Blanchette; dedicated in 1791 as San Carlos Borromeo after a church built there, named for Saint Charles Borromeo. The third-oldest city in present-day Missouri, its waterfront served as a river port for westward trade and trade with Native American tribes on the upper Missouri. Lewis and Clark completed final preparations here in May 1804; William Clark arrived May 16 and the expedition launched up the Missouri on May 21, the last 'civilized' stop for over two years. Home of pioneer Daniel Boone and his family; Boone's Lick Trail through the countryside grew into routes that fed the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. Served as Missouri's first state capital from 1821 to 1826, chosen over eight other cities; legislators met in rented rooms above a hardware store until Jefferson City's capitol was ready in 1826.

Local economy. Casino gaming is a top employer through Ameristar Casino (about 1,620 employees), on the riverfront. Healthcare anchors the economy via SSM St. Joseph Health Center. Aerospace and defense manufacturing through a large Boeing presence. Higher education centered on Lindenwood University, founded 1827 and one of the oldest colleges west of the Mississippi, enrolling thousands of students. St. Charles County government and the local school district are among the largest employers.

Culture and community. The Christmas Traditions festival, running from the day after Thanksgiving through the Saturday after Christmas, is one of the nation's largest holiday celebrations, featuring 30-plus costumed 'Legends of Christmas' characters and Victorian carolers on Main Street. The Festival of the Little Hills, held the third full weekend of August since 1971, packs Main Street with crafts, food, and Lewis and Clark reenactments. Oktoberfest near the river celebrates the area's German heritage with beer, vendors, and a parade. Missouri Tartan Day (Scottish heritage, with bagpipers and a caber toss) and the Missouri River Irish Festival reflect the mix of settler cultures. Riverfest brings Fourth of July fireworks over the Missouri River. The Family Arena hosts indoor sports and concerts, including the St. Louis Ambush indoor soccer team.

What makes St. Charles distinct. St. Charles claims to be the site of the first Interstate Highway construction project in the nation (1956), a distinction also claimed by Kansas and Pennsylvania. The city government met above a hardware store during its years as state capital, one of the humblest capitol settings in U.S. history. Sister-city ties include Ludwigsburg, Germany (since 1996). Lindenwood University was founded in 1827 by Major George Sibley and his wife Mary as a school for girls, making it among the oldest higher-education institutions west of the Mississippi.

St. Charles Landmarks and Local Life

• Historic Main Street district - one of the longest and best-preserved brick-paved historic streets in the country
• First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site - the restored building where the legislature met 1821-1826
• Katy Trail State Park - a 225-mile rail-trail whose eastern trailhead runs through the riverfront
• Lindenwood University - founded 1827
• The Family Arena - an 11,000-seat county venue built in 1999
• St. Charles Borromeo Church and the Foundry Art Centre in a former railroad-car factory