More than 2.5 million people live in the Greater St. Louis region, which includes 12 counties covering 6,375 square miles in Missouri and Illinois, making it the 18th largest metropolitan area in the United States, says Realtor Barbara Bartelsmeyer, and it is continuing to add jobs, which means a healthy housing market.

"St. Louis is home to 15 Fortune 1000 companies such as Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., Emerson, May Department Stores and Graybar Electric, and greater St. Louis ranks sixth in the United States as a headquarters location for Fortune 500 companies. In addition to these major corporations, many entrepreneurial businesses flourish in the St. Louis area. In fact, St. Louis ranked 2nd in the U.S. in Entrepreneur magazine's listing of the top places for small business, marking four straight years on that publication's Top 10 list. Inc. magazine placed St. Louis among the Top 10 areas for growing firms. Black Enterprise magazine also named St. Louis as one of six new business meccas for African-Americans."

"The St. Louis region's economy is booming with over 117,000 net new jobs created since January 1995," says Bartelsmeyer. "The region's main industries include aviation, biotechnology, chemicals, electrical utilities, food and beverage manufacturing, refining, research, telecommunications and transportation.

In addition to jobs, St. Louis offers fun and a revitalized downtown. "Three professional sports teams - Cardinals baseball, Rams football and Blues hockey - play in downtown St. Louis venues," says Bartelsmeyer. "Laclede's Landing, a revitalized riverfront district, features additional entertainment opportunities, including riverboat casinos, restaurants, shops and the Gateway Arch Park, which surrounds the famous Gateway Arch. Union Station, formerly St. Louis' train terminal, now houses a comedy club, hotel, specialty shops and restaurants, and a man-made pond for paddle-boating under the old train shed. Grand Street, a center for ethnic restaurants and art galleries; historic Soulard, featuring an open-air farmer's market, beautifully restored homes and the Anheuser-Busch brewery; the Hill, home to Italian neighborhoods, shops and restaurants; and the Central West End, with its eateries, antique shops, and grand old homes are just a few of the neighborhoods visitors love to explore."

She adds, "St. Louis' Forest Park, site of the 1904 World's Fair, outdoes New York's Central Park in size. Frequented by runners, rollerbladers and picnickers, the park also hosts some of the region's favorite cultural and educational institutions: the St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center and the Missouri History Museum. All are free to the public. Even the Municipal Opera (affectionately known as the Muny), a 12,000-seat outdoor amphitheater, offers free seats for its summer theater productions. Five state parks and hundreds of neighborhood parks make St. Louis one of the greenest regions in the nation and a beautiful place to visit.

"St. Louisans don't have to travel far to reach a variety of attractions outside of the city, including the Fairmont Park thoroughbred racing arena, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Gateway International Raceway, Casino St. Charles Riverfront Station, Six Flags over Mid-America and several historic area wineries.

Hospitality is St. Louis' second largest industry. It employs more than 46,000 people, who serve over 6 million visitors a year and bring $8 billion into the local economy. The newly expanded America's Center convention complex welcomes some of the country's largest meeting groups to its user-friendly environs in the heart of downtown St. Louis. The center's Edward Jones Dome, the first multipurpose stadium in America to be built as an integral part of a convention center, is bringing new attention to the complex through its ability to host special events as well as through its major sports tenant: the St. Louis Rams."

Transportation is easy. "With the Metrolink light rail system, four main interstate routes and 575 Bi-State Development Agency buses, Greater St. Louis is an easy region to navigate," says Bartelsmeyer. "The area is home to the 8th largest airport in the world, Lambert St. Louis International Airport, and to several smaller regional airports including Mid-America Airport located in St. Clair County in Illinois. The region is easily accessible by train via the 84 Amtrak passenger trains that pass through each week.

What makes St. Louis a great place to visit also makes it a great place to live, says Bartelsmeyer. "In fact, Fortune magazine recently rated Greater St. Louis the nation's Third Best Place To Live and Work. Greater St. Louis boasts the fourth-lowest cost of living among major metropolitan areas.

"Families find it easy to take root in the region because of its close-knit, friendly communities and variety of educational opportunities," she explains. "The region offers 115 public school districts ranging from outstanding urban magnet schools to excellent suburban systems, over 300 of the finest private schools in the nation and 80 technical and vocational schools, one of which was designated as an exemplary school by the US Department of Education. The St. Louis area's average ACT score of 21.8 is higher than the national average of 21.0. Expansion Management, Money and Redbook magazines and the U.S. Secretary of Education have commended area schools in recent years."

"Twelve universities and four year colleges, including 16th-ranked Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis; eight two-year institutions and numerous professional schools enhance the quality and skills of the region's work force and enrich its intellectual creativity and strength."

Click here to view current Market Conditions in your location.

Published: April 29, 2003

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.