St Charles is a beautiful and very historic city sitting on the banks of the Missouri River. Its population is about 61,000. It is 20 miles west of St Louis. St Charles was recently ranked as one of the top 100 places to live in the country by Money magazine. It has beautiful neighborhoods, enjoys a low crime rate and prides itself on its friendliness. Those moving to St Charles can expect to live a good quality of life there. The weather can be hot and humid in the summer, and there is snow and fairly cold temperatures in the winter.
Economy:
St Charles has a higher than state average income with a lower than average cost of living. Its unemployment rate is slightly lower than the state average. It has a stable mix of industry and business, and is considered to be a good place to move to. It has won many awards since 2007 for being one of the best places to live for its job market, its cost of living, its low crime rate and its home values.
History:
St Charles was first settled in 1765 by Louis Blanchette, a French fur trader. Under the control of the Spanish government, it was called San Carlos, but this was changed to St Charles in 1804. Following the Louisiana Purchase, which included the area, Lewis and Clark stopped in St Charles in 1804 before beginning their journey to explore the west. St Charles was the state capital from 1821 to 1826. Daniel Boone was an early resident there. From 1804 until 1956, the Katy railroad enabled passengers to travel from St Charles all the way to Galveston Texas.
Tourism:
St Charles has a rich history, which it has carefully preserved. There are many historical sites to visit, including the home of Daniel Boone, The Augusta Historical Museum, the Frenchtown Historical Museum and many more. The Katy Trail State Park has a 225 mile bike trail. Historic St Charles Main Street has red cobblestone streets and a museum dedicated to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, as well as many shops and restaurants. There is an annual Spring Art Walk held every April. Lewis and Clark Heritage Days are held in May. The Festival of the Little Hills is held in August and is St Charles' biggest event of the year. There are many vineyards surrounding St Charles.