Moving from one century to the next is an appropriate time to reflect upon how past trends frame choices for the St. Louis region's future. These discussions occur in many venues - governmental, corporate, and civic - but they can all be more richly informed by sophisticated analyses of what has been happening within the St. Louis metropolitan area during the past five decades across a range of issues. With specialties including public policy, criminal justice, sociology, education, and nursing, twelve scholars examine issues such as population changes, the region's occupational mix, minority business development, residential segregation, family structure, health trends, and educational equity in public schools. This book will help those in the St. Louis region understand the city's past so that they can better prepare for its future.