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Quality of Life in Southwestern Illinois

From the rolling hills and bluffs of the River Bend area to the farming communities in southern St. Clair County, residents in Southwestern Illinois enjoy an affordable, high quality lifestyle filled with an array of choices when it comes to housing, education and cultural and recreational amenities.

Arts and Culture

Southwestern Illinois offers residents and visitors to the region a range of cultural experiences, from the impressive art collections at local universities to the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and related Lewis & Clark Confluence Memorial marks the point of departure for their famous American expedition into the West. The region's prime location, just minutes from downtown St. Louis, also provides easy access to the city's many arts and culture centers. On any given day, the sights and sounds of the Fox Theatre, The Muny, the St. Louis Art Museum, Grand Center and the University City Loop are just a short trip away.

Recreation

Tremendous recreational and sports opportunities are also available in Southwestern Illinois. Race fans can enjoy professional motorsports events at Gateway International Raceway. Located about five miles away from downtown St. Louis in Madison, Illinois, the $25 million facility is one of the newest professional motorsports facilities in the United States. For cyclists and walkers, Madison County Transit offers 75 miles of user friendly bikeways and walking trails. The region is also home to the St. Louis Zoo, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Raging Rivers Water Park, World Shooting and Recreational Complex and more.

Cost of Living

Southwestern Illinois is part of the Greater St. Louis region, which enjoys a low cost of living, relative to other metropolitan areas. According to the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, the region boasts the sixth-lowest cost of living among metropolitan areas throughout the United States.

Housing

The St. Louis region's lower cost of living is even more pronounced in Southwestern Illinois, where home buyers find they can get a lot of house for their money. Southwestern Illinois has seen an unprecedented level of new home construction and sales in recent years. Options for those looking to call Southwestern Illinois home range from starter homes in mature neighborhoods to new homes in a variety of price ranges. In addition, those looking to build their dream home can take advantage of the affordable acreage that can be found in various communities in Madison and St. Clair counties.

Single-Family Home Sales
Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois (RASI)			Greater Gateway Association*
	2000	2005		2000	2005
# of Homes Sold	2,412	3,955	# of Homes Sold	3,161	4,349
Average Price	$102,185	$143,811	Average Price	$89,262	$132,673
* Belleville Area Association = St. Clair, Monroe, Clinton & Randolph counties * Greater Gateway = Madison, Bond, Macoupin, Jersey & Calhoun counties. Source: MarketGraphics/U.S. Census Bureau

Healthcare

Residents of Southwestern Illinois have access to some of the finest healthcare institutions in the nation. More than half a dozen hospitals provide care in Madison and St. Clair Counties alone, including:

There are more than 50 hospitals in total in the Greater St. Louis area. Among these are Barnes Jewish hospital, which was recently ranked #9 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, and St. Louis Children's Hospital, which was ranked as the 7th best children's hospital by Child magazine in 2007. Washington University and St. Louis University both have medical schools, giving St. Louis the added distinction of being one of just a handful of cities nationwide with two major medical schools. These world renowned institutions draw students from around the globe.

Education

Scattered throughout Southwestern Illinois are a variety of distinctive higher education institutions. The region is home to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, McKendree College, Lewis and Clark Community College, and Southwestern Illinois College. Washington University, St. Louis University and Webster University also can be found just across the river. The area also features a selection of public and private schools, which provide high-quality education to help prepare the workforce of tomorrow. Excellent training opportunities also are available for those seeking to enter the trades.

Climate

Southwestern Illinois enjoys a seasonal climate, which transforms its beautiful landscape four times a year. Average temperature in January is 29.5 degrees, while July boasts an average temperature of 80.5.