In the early decades of the 20th century, city officials in the U.S. began collecting data like they never had before. In St. Louis, starting around 1915, planners fanned out across the city and obtained detailed information about the use and ownership of every property standing. From this, the city developed its first systematic planning and zoning policies. Some neighborhoods were designated for new industrial and manufacturing use, with nightclubs, liquor stores, and various less desirable businesses tossed in. On the surface, the goal was economic efficiency, based around distinct…
