Note: This discussion about what we define as St. Louis and area ZIP codes was part of a response to JuiceInDogtown in the crime thread, and since it took on a life of its own, I thought it should be split into a separate topic.

JuiceInDogtown wrote:That's exactly what I get miffed about, and that's why companies that locate their little eye center in Chesterfield and call it "St. Louis Eye Center" (just an example). Something like Six Flags, where people will be driving from 100 miles away to makes sense, but something built for locals (like a doctors office) should not be associated with the city. There's a reason they didn't locate in the city. But, apparently when I argue that, it upsets some people

I understand what you're saying, as it used to bug me a bit as well, but I don't think it's that big of a deal.



Like you said, it makes sense for an attraction like Six Flags to identify itself with St. Louis because it's a regional draw. In the case of the St. Louis Eye Center example, perhaps they have or hope to establish multiple locations around the area. A lot of people don't think about/care about/distinguish the difference between area jurisdictions. To them St. Louis County is also St. Louis- or maybe even the entire metropolitan area. Or, maybe the center was established by someone that really cares about St. Louis but happened to locate in Chesterfield to be close to clients, for less expensive rent, a higher traffic count, or some other reason(s). And if we get an MLS team, it will be a 'St. Louis' team located in Collinsville, Ill., not unlike the two New York NFL teams that play in New Jersey.



I don't mind if someone from the hinterlands wants to identify themselves or their business with St. Louis, as long as they don't needlessly badmouth or spread misleading information about the city that gave their area and the entire region its national and international identity in the first place.

What's wrong with a company located in SAINT LOUIS County using Saint Louis in their name?

Moorlander wrote:What's wrong with a company located in SAINT LOUIS County using Saint Louis in their name?

I don't think it's wrong to use St. Louis in a company name per se as you can't really trademark that. What I don't like is when people use St. Louis as a mailing address out in Ballwin, Webster Groves, etc. There is a difference in towns, it's like using Kansas City as your address when your house is in Blue Springs.

^ I don't think those residents have a choice. I grew up in Des Peres but had a KWood zip code. We were told to use Saint Louis not Des Peres as our mail was routed through the Kwood PO. I now live in Clayton, but much of my mail comes in as Saint Louis. When you type in my address in google or on a venders website, it often defauts to Saint Louis not Clayton.

Moorlander wrote:^ I don't think those residents have a choice. I grew up in Des Peres but had a KWood zip code.

Loser! 63131 rules! (j/k )



I currently live in the Kirkwood zip - 63122 - and have had the same issues with mail defaulting to St. Louis.

Moorlander wrote:^ I don't think those residents have a choice. I grew up in Des Peres but had a KWood zip code. We were told to use Saint Louis not Des Peres as our mail was routed through the Kwood PO. I now live in Clayton, but much of my mail comes in as Saint Louis. When you type in my address in google or on a venders website, it often defauts to Saint Louis not Clayton.

I think the US Postal Service and other carriers like FedEx and UPS default to Saint Louis for all 631xx ZIP codes, although I've seen the occasional computer generated address for Clayton or Kirkwood.



When I lived in Maryland Heights, my ZIP was 63043, and I had mail addressed to me in Maryland Heights, Creve Coeur, Hazelwood, and St. Louis. Maryland Heights wasn't an incorporated community until 1985, so maybe that had something to do with the confusion, I don't know. There are large unincorporated areas of St. Louis County like Affton, Oakville, and Spanish Lake, so it makes sense that they would use a Saint Louis address since there's no municipal jurisdiction there.

If you go to the USPS website, you can find a list of "acceptable" and "unacceptable" city names for each zip code.



For example, 63122:

Actual City name in 63122

SAINT LOUIS, MO



Acceptable City names in 63122

KIRKWOOD, MO



Not Acceptable

DES PERES, MO

GLENDALE, MO

OAKLAND, MO

WARSON WOODS, MO

I especially like how "WEBSTER GRVS, MO" is an acceptable city name for 63119.

Mill204 wrote:Keeping the thread off-topic, if you go to the USPS website, you can find a list of "acceptable" and "unacceptable" city names for each zip code.



For example, 63122:

Actual City name in 63122

SAINT LOUIS, MO



Acceptable City names in 63122

KIRKWOOD, MO



Not Acceptable

DES PERES, MO

GLENDALE, MO

OAKLAND, MO

WARSON WOODS, MO

I especially like how "WEBSTER GRVS, MO" is an acceptable city name for 63119.

You hear that, DeBaliviere? Your municipality is unacceptable according to the USPS!

Does it really matter? I don't understand the significance.

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:

innov8ion wrote:Does it really matter? I don't understand the significance.

Same here.

As long as people get their mail, I don't see how it matters much. If it makes a suburbanite feel better to add 'St. Louis' to their business or even just to put it on their mail as their return address- that's fine with me as well.



Aside from the discussion about ZIP codes, it's clear that area residents define what is 'St. Louis' differently. To me it's the city proper, and anything else is Greater St. Louis or the metro area, but I don't get my nose out of joint if people refer to St. Louis County as St. Louis because not everyone knows about or cares about that imaginary line a few hundred feet west of Skinker Boulevard.

It has long been understood that any zip code prefix of 631... can be considered "St. Louis" but I always like to put the actual suburb's name just for shits and giggles. Another reason St. Louis suburbs can say St. Louis as opposed to their specific municipality names is because most of them are in St. Louis County. It's a pretty solid identifier.