St Charles

About St. Charles

Located just 25 miles northwest of St. Louis, St. Charles is the second-largest city in the larger metropolitan area. The city is considered one of the top places to live in Missouri, thanks to its history, vibrant community, waterfront location and affordable cost of living.

The History of St. Charles

Historians have traced Native American settlement in St. Charles as far back as 13,000 years. It's the oldest city on the Missouri River, founded in the late 1760s by French-Canadian fur trader Louis Blanchette. He called the settlement Les Petites Côtes, which translates to "The Little Shores." It became a lively trading post and rest stop for travelers, and was an important river port in westward expansion, counted as the last "civilized" stop on the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 1800s. St. Charles was also home to pioneer and adventurer Daniel Boone for some time.

St. Charles was Missouri's first state capital, from 1821 to 1826.

Jobs in St. Charles

The St. Charles area is home to international, national and local businesses in a variety of industries. Entertainment, hospitality and gaming provider Ameristar Casino is the city's largest employer, followed closely by aeronautics manufacturer The Boeing Co., energy provider SunEdison, customer relationship management company Client Services and call center software provider Aspect.

The area's largest industries include trade and transportation, education and health services, professional and business services and government. These industries offer many options if you're looking for a job in the area, as does the fast-growing industry of leisure and hospitality.

St. Charles Schools

City of St. Charles School District operates the public elementary, middle and high schools of the city. The city is also home to many private schools, including many faith-based campuses.

Resources for Moving to St. Charles

Here's some useful information to make your move to St. Charles as easy as possible:

• Utilities: St. Charles' main energy providers are Laclede Gas and AmerenUE. The city manages water and sewer services, including billing.
• Garbage and Recycling: Republic Services provides trash and yard waste collection services for St. Charles. You can contact the company to request information about a recycling collection option.
• Transportation: The St. Charles Area Transit system (nicknamed SCAT) operates five bus routes through the city.

St. Charles Housing

If you're looking for affordable homes in St. Charles, you can find numerous single-family homes in the city center and along St. Charles' east side. St. Charles' high-value homes are typically located near Wapelhorst Park and Bogey Hills Country Club on the city's south side, as well as near McNair Park on the city's north side. The St. Charles housing market is fairly affordable, with a median home price that's fairly even with the national average.