Author Documents History of St. Louis Separation
A forthcoming book examines the 1876 split between St. Louis City and St. Louis County.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Remote Work
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Joe Blanner has authored a new book detailing the 1876 separation of St. Louis City from St. Louis County. The Missouri Historical Society expects to publish the manuscript in October 2027.
Why it matters
The work explores the lasting impact of the 1876 split and provides analysis on previous attempts at reunification, including the 2019 Better Together plan. It serves as a comprehensive look at the region's governance and development over the past 150 years.
The manuscript contains 1,800 footnotes and covers a 150-year period following the 1876 vote. St. Louis City covers 66 square miles, while St. Louis County encompasses 88 separate municipalities.
The players
Joe Blanner
He is an equity partner at the law firm McCarthy, Leonard, Kaemmerer & Miller and the author of the upcoming book.
Missouri Historical Society
This organization is responsible for the preservation and publication of historical records and will publish the book in 2027.
Truman Post Young
He was an author who documented the early impacts of the municipal separation in a 1911 journal article.
The details
Joe Blanner, an equity partner at McCarthy, Leonard, Kaemmerer & Miller, conducted his research through the St. Louis Public Library and the St. Louis Mercantile Library. His work builds upon earlier analyses of the division, including a 1911 journal article by Truman Post Young.
Timeline
The official separation between St. Louis City and St. Louis County occurred in 1876.
Truman Post Young published his journal article about the separation in 1911.
The city and county faced a failed attempt at reunification in 1926.
The Better Together unification plan was rejected by voters in 2019.
The Missouri Historical Society plans to release the book in October 2027.
Market Landscape
The study provides necessary historical grounding for the 2019 Better Together plan. It highlights how the region's governance remains fragmented across 88 municipalities compared to the city's concentrated 66 square miles.
Local residents can expect a detailed public record of the factors that have prevented city-county reunification for over a century. The work offers a scholarly perspective on how municipal boundaries continue to shape the administrative landscape for current taxpayers.
The takeaway
Understanding the history of the 1876 separation provides vital context for contemporary discussions on regional governance. Residents interested in civic development can look forward to the 2027 release to better understand the long-term impact of these municipal divisions.
What happens next
The Missouri Historical Society is scheduled to publish the book in October 2027.
Further reading
Find more regional analysis on the Remote Work section of our site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by STLtoday.
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