Atlanta vs. St. Louis: Which City Covers More Land?

Atlanta wins decisively. The Georgia capital sprawls across 136.1 square miles (352.5 km²), while St. Louis occupies 61.9 square miles (160.3 km²)—less than half the area.

Why the Gap?

• Annexation laws: Georgia allows aggressive municipal expansion; Missouri's are restrictive.
• Geography: St. Louis is hemmed by the Mississippi River and St. Louis County municipalities; Atlanta's metro blends into unincorporated Fulton/DeKalb counties.
• Population density: St. Louis packs ~4,800 people/mi² vs. Atlanta's ~3,700—more people in less space.

Metro Context

Both metros are similar in population (~6.1M for St. Louis MSA, ~6.3M for Atlanta MSA), but Atlanta's footprint is far more diffuse, driving longer commutes and higher infrastructure costs.