St. Louis is an historic city with a lot of good people and great sports fans. As you say the County is beautiful, though the 1800's were a bit premature for urban planning much removed from the Mississippi which was the economic foundation of the city.
Originally French, St Louis was the starting point for Lewis and Clark, fur trappers going northwest up the Missouri (the other great river just north of town), then riverboats from New Orleans up to Minnesota. Then a checkered history as part of a slave State. Later still German, Irish, and Italian immigrants. A great spot for Italian food, favored by Tommy Lasorda, Frank Sinatra and many others. Still later in the 20th century black folks came from the South looking for better lives. A starting point also for jazz. Miles Davis, Josephine Baker, many others. Baseball. Even an NFL championship.
it's not perfect, nowhere is, but it still has a lot of midwestern character and friendliness.