JEFFERSON COUNTY
County Offices
300 2nd Street
Hillsboro 800-748-3456
www.jeffcomo.org
Chamber of Commerce
One Metropolitan Square
St. Louis 314-231-5555
www.unionmochamber.org
Major Highways
Interstate 55, U.S. Highways 61 and 67, State Highways 21 and 30
Jefferson County is located south of St. Louis County, and on the east side of the Mississippi River and the Illinois state line. Distinguished as one of the fastest-growing counties in the St. Louis metropolitan region, panoramic Jefferson County is home to attractive and comfortable communities of quiet streets and friendly neighbors. The county’s municipalities provide abundant opportunities to live, work, and play in a picturesque environment where agricultural activity still plays a major role. Conveniently located just south of St. Louis, the county offers many cultural and recreational opportunities within its own borders as well as nearby in urban and suburban settings.
Several of the county’s major corridors are leading the way in the development of housing, commerce, and industry. Interstate 55, US Highway 61/67, Highway 21, and Highway 30 are hotbeds of growth, driving the transition from open country and farm fields to a convenient suburban atmosphere. The popularity of this county as a preferred address is still on the rise, and many of the employees in the highly urbanized centers of metropolitan St. Louis return home to the gracious suburban communities of Jefferson County.
Services
Progressive communities have worked to develop first-class healthcare and educational services close to home, including Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Crystal City and Jefferson College in Hillsboro. The hospital reflects the area’s independent spirit, emerging from a desire by community leaders to provide state-of-the-art medical and surgical services within the county. The facility has matured to employ 1,600 people and offer a medical staff of more than 200 physicians.
Quality public and private schools serve area youth from preschool through 12th grade, while the options for higher education include the diversity of programs at Jefferson College. Another project that began with regional initiative, the college allows county residents to launch an affordable start on a four-year degree or take advantage of associate degree programs, certifications, vocational and technical training, and continuing education. Jefferson College features a number of auxiliary services from distance learning to a business & technology center, customized workshops, cooperative high school programs, a new biotechnology program, and NJCAA intercollegiate athletic teams. The college even offers several four-year degree programs in cooperation with St. Louis institutions of higher education.
Lifestyle
The influx of new residents attests to the high quality of life available in Jefferson County. One of the strongest attractions to the area is the explosive growth of residential housing in upscale subdivisions and luxurious custom homes on large, private lots. Young professionals, growing families, and retirees alike can enjoy the fine blend of urban advantages in and near St. Louis with pastoral images and unspoiled countryside.
Residents can participate in recreational opportunities that include biking and hiking on nature trails, exploring world-class museums and visiting historic sites, attending a variety of professional and semi-professional sporting events, and spending an entire day at a famous amusement park. Country clubs, municipal recreational facilities, meticulously groomed golf courses, Sandy Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site, antique districts, and modern commercial development are just a few of the highlights of Jefferson County living.
The city of Arnold serves as the commercial hub of the county, home to the largest of the municipal populations. Businesses in and near Arnold include national retailers and chains, manufacturers, and locally owned shops. Throughout Jefferson County, opportunities for fine dining, outstanding entertainment, and employment are never far from home. Active local governments and neighborhood associations ensure a calendar filled with special events, colorful festivals, and seasonal celebrations. Farmers markets, u-pick farms, and the relaxed pace of rural living add to the appeal of this idyllic home.
Arnold
City Hall
636-296-2100
www.arnoldmo.org
Chamber of Commerce
636-296-1910
www.arnoldchamber.org
The thriving community of Arnold is ideally located about 20 miles south of St. Louis at the confluence of the Meramec and Mississippi Rivers. Distinguished as the largest city in the county, Arnold serves as a hub of commercial activity and urban amenities for the surrounding small towns. Casual and fine dining, entertainment centers, and local industry create a balanced environment that manages to retain a rural flavor and small-town intimacy. Commuters appreciate a location along the Interstate 55 corridor, ensuring quick and easy access to Interstates 44 and 270.
Since its incorporation 1972, Arnold has experienced continual residential and business development. Local employers include large national retailers, medical and professional services, retail chains, manufacturers, and family-owned businesses. Residents enjoy attractive, affordable housing that ranges from well-kept older homes to beautiful new construction. Nearly 400 acres of well-groomed parkland maintained by the Parks & Recreation Department provide facilities and green space for exercise and relaxation. Amenities include playgrounds, picnic shelters, tennis courts, a swimming pool, fishing lakes, and sports fields.
Crystal City, Festus
Municipal Offices
Crystal City Hall
636-937-4614
www.crystalcitymo.org
Festus City Hall
636-937-4694
www.cityoffestus.org
Chamber of Commerce
636-931-7697
www.twincity.org
The “Twin City” community that includes Crystal City and Festus as well as and the surrounding area boasts a rich sense of tradition underlined by a progressive outlook. Neighborhoods harmonize clusters of century-old homes along the tree-shaded, cobblestone Mississippi Avenue. Providing a charming contrast, handsome new subdivisions showcase new construction in contemporary architectural styles. Many locally owned businesses combine with active civic and social groups to form a cohesive and close-knit community spirit. Support for education is strong, and opportunities for higher education are as close as Jefferson College. Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Crystal City provides state-of-the-art healthcare to the entire region.
Several business districts serve the Twin City area, including Festus Main Street, Bailey Road in Crystal City, Truman Boulevard along Highway 61-67, and the Gannon Drive Loop. More than 50 restaurants, a skate center, movie theaters, and lush parks with sports facilities are a few of the local amenities. Local parks feature tennis courts, a swimming pool, scenic ponds, sports fields, and playgrounds. The YMCA of Jefferson County in Festus and offers sports opportunities, workout areas, aerobic programs, a gymnasium, an indoor track, and swimming pool. Popular festivities include the annual IPRA rodeo, free summer concert series in the park, and the three-day celebration of Twin City Days.
DeSoto
City Hall
636-586-3326
www.desotomo.com
Chamber of Commerce
636-586-2281
http://desotomochamber.com/old/index.htm
Referring to itself the “City of Pride,” DeSoto claims a rich history and a bright future. Excellent public and private schools combine with opportunities for higher education at nearby Jefferson College. Adults enjoy golfing and sports leagues while youth programs managed by Parks & Recreation enroll as many as 1,000 children in a diversity of activities. The surrounding area supports outdoor enjoyment from hunting, boating, canoeing, and fishing to hiking and nature study. Unique dining experiences, historic tours, local celebrations, and energetic local clubs draw together neighbors and friends in this welcoming community.
Major employment opportunities near DeSoto include several local business that employ more than 300 people, Jefferson College, Jefferson Memorial Hospital, and Mineral Area College in Park Hills. Commuters to other destinations in the St. Louis area enjoy excellent highway systems for quick trips to the “big city.” The recently renovated historical downtown district now features delightful shops, restaurants, and services in a charming setting. One of the highlights of the district is Melba Theater with its unique architecture and modern equipment. Newcomers can choose from an attractive selection of newer construction and vintage homes in the Desoto area.
Hillsboro
City Hall
636-797-3334
www.hillsboromo.org
Chamber of Commerce
636-648-1102
https://hillsborochamberor.com
Serving as the county seat, the City of Hillsboro is home to a number of government offices and state agencies as well as a college campus. The city park features pavilions, picnic areas, trails, green space for sports, an advanced challenge course, and playground equipment. Residents of Hillsboro and the surrounding countryside enjoy the serenity of a rural setting in close proximity to the cultural venues, professional sports, shopping centers, and fine dining in St. Louis. Throughout the county are opportunities for outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, boating, biking, and hiking.
Housing in Hillsboro not only encompasses the tree-shaded neighborhoods in the heart of town but several upscale residential lakefront developments outside the city limits. This small but progressive and rapid growing community is poised for inevitable development as the new millennium continues to unfold, dedicated to controlled expansion that preserves the area’s rich natural beauty and small-town flavor. Jefferson Memorial Hospital and Jefferson College add to the quality of life, bringing first-rate urban services to the countryside. The two-year Jefferson College now offers four-year programs in cooperation with St. Louis institutions of higher education.
Imperial
County Offices
800-748-3456
www.jeffcomo.org
Chamber of Commerce
636-296-1910
www.arnoldchamber.org
Well-known as the location of the Mastodon State Historic Site, the unincorporated community of Imperial enjoys quick and easy access to expanded amenities in Arnold. Fine dining, entertainment centers, convenient services, local employment, and bustling retail activity are all available close to home. The Fox C-6 School District strengthens the ties between the two communities, providing a quality public education for area youth. Close proximity to Interstate 55 also provides an efficient link to Interstates 44 and 270.
The nearby Meramec and Mississippi Rivers ensure abundant opportunities for water-oriented recreation, although hundreds of acres of well-maintained parkland combine with the 425-acre historic site for a wealth of outdoor activities. The housing selection ranges from elegant custom homes set on deep, lush lots to cozy starter homes in established neighborhoods. Close proximity to the expanded amenities in Arnold adds to the quality of life.
