Bordered on the east by the mighty Mississippi River, the 3rd includes older, established suburbs and newer, sprawling ones. Large Italian and German neighborhoods continue to present a strong voice. To the south, Jefferson County has been one of the state's fastest-growing areas since 1980. Bedroom communities such as Arnold and Imperial continue to prosper.
Most suburban residents work outside the district.
Anheuser-Busch's headquarters and a relocated Defense Department mapping and imaging facility also provide jobs. On the fringes of Ste. Genevieve County, small farming complements a sizable river trading industry along the docks of the Mississippi, where chemical facilities also are located. A large Catholic contingent gives the district an anti-abortion tilt. The 3rd's communities often fight over education and economic development funding.