I recently visited Saint Louis, Missouri.. there is zero urban blight, at least from what I could see. There is a gorgeous section of old homes and converted shoe factories to apartment buildings, that I visited.. just a stunning area.
I wonder if Budweiser is a Union plant? That is their main industry, from what I understand.
Go North of where you were and it is there. It isn’t as bad a some other cities and in places it’s block to block, but there is a lot of it.