The city that benefited most economically from the fur trade in the United States during the 19th century was probably St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis was a major hub of the fur trade, and it was the starting point for many expeditions to the West by fur traders, known as mountain men. These expeditions were often organized by fur trading companies based in St. Louis, and the furs that were collected by the mountain men were brought back to St. Louis to be sold to European buyers. The fur trade was a major source of income for St. Louis and helped to make the city one of the most important economic centers in the United States at the time.