With a growing population of approximately 103,638, West St. Louis County is nestled amongst beautiful state parks and championship golf courses. This region provides scenic country surroundings, within easy reach of metropolitan St. Louis and all it has to offer. West St. Louis has superior education, outstanding health care and abundant recreational opportunities, all available in a safe, family-oriented environment. You can have the best of all worlds in West St. Louis County.
Location
A metropolitan region adjacent to the city of Saint Louis, West St. Louis County is located in eastern Missouri. The county is part of the St. Louis Metro Area, and is bordered by the Missouri River and Saint Charles County on the north. The Meramec River and Jefferson County form the southern border. The Mississippi River and the city of Saint Louis lie to the east and Franklin County lies to the west.
Geography/Terrain
The entire St. Louis County has a total area of 524 square miles 508 square miles of which is land and 16 square miles of which is water. Western Saint Louis County is where the Ozark Mountains begin, while most of the rest of the county is a level plateau. Because of its rugged landscape, the western part of the county is the least developed. In the southern part of the county, there are 200 to 300 foot high bluffs, rising above the Mississippi River. There is an agricultural floodplain called the Columbia Bottom in the northeast of the county at the where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers meet. Rivers and streams in the area include the River des Peres, Coldwater Creek, Bonhomme Creek, Creve Coeur Creek, Keifer Creek, Grand Glaize Creek, Gravois Creek, and Maline Creek. Creve Coeur Lake is the largest natural lake in the state.
Distance to 3 closest major cities
West St. Louis County is located approximately 7 miles from the city of St. Louis, 88 miles southwest of Springfield, IL, and 234 miles southeast of Kansas City, KS.
Jobs
The West St. Louis County economy is growing, and is made up of a mixture of small to mid-size businesses, manufacturers, and corporate offices. The major employers are the Boeing Company, Washington University in St. Louis, SSM Healthcare, Schnuck Markets Inc., St. John’s Mercy Healthcare, Daimler Chrysler, Special School District, Dierberg’s Markets, Edward Jones, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Monsanto. Educational, health and social services provide 21.7% of the employment in the area, manufacturing provides12.7%, retail trade provides 11.3%, and professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services provide11.1%. The average travel time to work is 24.0 minutes and the rate of unemployment is 5.60%. The median household income in West St. Louis is $74,743.
Housing
Residents of West St. Louis County have a great variety of housing options to accommodate a wide range of tastes and lifestyles. There is everything from rambling country estates to moderately priced homes and apartments. There are single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes and condominiums available, and each of the county’s communities has its own unique housing style. Most homes in the area are considered quite affordable, in the medium price range.
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
There are a total of sixty-three parks maintained by the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation, allowing for some of the best outdoor recreation in the country. Several of the parks have unique special attractions such as museums, walking trails, or wildlife areas. Forest Park in St. Louis covers 1,293 acres, and is larger than Central Park in New York. It is home to the St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Zoo, Science Center, and Jewel Box. Ellisville has 10 parks, which are interwoven through neighborhoods and attached by trails. Manchester has 5 parks, which cover approximately 55 acres of land, and offer a variety of amenities. The City of Valley Park has 4 parks, providing ball fields, picnic areas, and open space recreation areas. Oaks Park is the hidden jewel of the village of Twin Oaks.
The communities in West St. Louis County have wide-ranging recreational programs for all ages. Ballwin offers a municipal golf course, indoor swimming pools, several tennis courts, and a state-of-the-art recreational center. It has recently opened an outdoor family Aquatic Park. The cities of Ballwin, Ellisville, and Manchester provide baseball and softball leagues for all ages. Manchester has comprehensive recreational facilities, including an aquatic center, playgrounds, tennis courts, and sand volleyball courts. Reber Park is the hub of Winchester's recreation with a variety of recreational activities throughout the year. Nearby St. Louis is home to several professional sports teams such as the Cardinals (baseball), the Blues (hockey), and the Rams (football).
The St. Louis area is a golfer’s paradise, with a seemingly limitless number of first-rate courses to choose . The Bellerive Country Club is a private course, which hosted the 1965 U.S. Open and the 1992 PGA Championship. Over the years, it has been ranked among "America's 100 Greatest Courses", "Best in State" and "America's 100 Best Modern Courses". The Bogey Club, Log Cabin Club Sherwood Country Club, Sunset Country Club, Westborough Country Club, and Westwood Country Club are additional private courses available in the St. Louis area. Triple “A” Golf and Tennis Club is a semi-private course. Norwood Hills Country Club has hosted the St. Louis Open, and some PGA and LPGA tournaments. Old Warson Country Club has been rated one of "America's 100 Greatest Courses", "Best in State" and "America's 100 Best Classical Courses.” St. Louis Country Club is one of the first 100 clubs established in the U.S. and hosted the 1947 U.S. Open. It has ranked among the "Best in State,” "America's 100 Best Classical Courses" and one of the "Top 100 Courses in the U.S...” Eagle Springs Golf Course, Emerald Greens, Tower Tee, Ruth Park, Sunset Lakes, The Courses at Forest Park, Normandie, and Quail Creek are excellent public courses in the area.
Special Attractions/Events
There are abundant cultural and recreational activities in the West St. Louis County and throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Activities include performing arts, historic walking tours, professional sport teams, and museums. There are several community celebrations, such as Ballwin Days, which boasts live entertainment, a parade, sports tournaments, carnival rides, and a talent show. Ellisville has "Concerts in the Park" at Bluebird Park on Thursday nights from June through August. On the weekend after Labor Day homecoming is celebrated in Manchester, with midway rides, band concerts, and a variety of contests. The City of Valley Park has many special events throughout the year, such as Valley Days Festival, Winter Festival, and Annual Kids Fishing Derby. Valley Days is held in mid-August, with a parade, rides, music, and even a baby contest.
West County residents have an assortment of excellent restaurants and shopping facilities. Over half of the shopping centers in the region are situated along Manchester Road, which is thought of as the "main street" of the West County area. There is everything here from chic boutiques to supermarkets and car dealerships.
Metropolitan St. Louis is home to a large number of nationally renowned performing arts companies and theaters. The Muny amphitheatre offers musicals, plays, dances, and popular performers from around the country. This 12,000-seat outdoor theater is located in St. Louis' Forest Park. The Gateway Arch and Riverfront, Laclede's Landing, Union Station, and Six Flags over Mid-America are other nearby attractions. The "Fabulous Fox" is a restored 1929 movie palace, where concerts, theatrical productions, ballets, special events, and classic films are shown. The UMB Bank Pavilion, in northwest St. Louis County, has 20,000 seats and presents outdoor concerts by major recording artists.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
St. Louis County was organized in 1812 and was originally a Spanish colonial district. It was named for St. Louis, King of France. In 1876, the city of St. Louis separated itself from the county, as an independent city.
The City of Ballwin was established in 1837, and was named after its founder, John Ball. Ball amended the original plat, which was named "Ballshow," to Ballwin. The City of Clarkson Valley was named after Colonel Charles Clarkson. He was a Kentucky native who moved to St. Louis County after the War of 1812. The community was incorporated as a village in 1950 and became a city in 1988. Winchester is a community that sits between the larger cities of Ballwin on the west and Manchester on the east. Thus, its name Winchester came from the "Win" in Ballwin and the "Chester" in Manchester.
Ellisville has received the National Arbor Day Foundation's designation of "Tree City USA" for 22 consecutive years. The city has 228 acres of parkland, which means there is approximately one acre of parkland for every 40 residents.
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