Edwardsville, Illinois homes for sale and community information

Located in southern Illinois, the beautiful city of Edwardsville is home to just over 24,000 residents. In 2010, Family Circle named Edwardsville among the top ten towns for families in the U.S. Because it is one of the oldest cities in Illinois, residents and visitors can connect to the rich history of Illinois at any of the carefully maintained historic sites within Edwardsville. Buildings constructed before the Civil War can be found in working condition throughout Edwardsville.

The city houses the extensive campus of the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, as well as the N.O. Nelson Campus of Lewis and Clark Community College, conveniently located near downtown Edwardsville. Whether it’s the family-friendly atmosphere, clean parks or steady employment, you’re bound to love living in Edwardsville, IL.

Shopping and Dining

Since the city of Edwardsville implemented an award winning development plan, the retail district in Edwardsville has seen an increase in both small shops and nationally recognized brands. The growing demand for new flavors has encouraged an eclectic dining scene in Edwardsville: elegant ‘tablescapes’, taco vans, smoke house ribs, sushi boats – there’s always something to satisfy your craving. Stop over at Bigelo’s Bistro on Main Street for a lunch, or check out the rotating menu at Grace Manor Restaurant. There are a number of wineries in the surrounding area, each offering a sumptuous list of wines pressed from locally raised grapes. The Villa Marie Winery and Banquet complex marries Tuscan architectural details to the pastoral setting of sunny Illinois. Springer Creek Winery, known for its raucous parties, was recently inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame. Erato on Main began as a small wine boutique but has since expanded its offerings to include microbrews, tapas and cocktails.

Parks and Recreation

Rain or shine, there is always something to do in Edwardsville. On a nice day, locals head to the parks; there are fifteen different public parks in Edwardsville. Notably, the Watershed Nature Center, transformed from a sewage pond into a self-sustaining habitat through a massive volunteer effort, is now forty acres of wetlands, prairies and wooded land, threaded with bark-chipped trails. In the summertime there are a variety of workshops and classes offered through the Edwardsville Art Center. You can catch the newest movies playing at AMC Showplace on Center Grove Road, but nothing quite compares to the grandeur of the newly restored Wildey Theatre. Built around the turn of the century, the Wildey Theatre now shows cult classics, campy features and hosts live performers. Special events, such as the Route 66 Festival and the Leclaire Park Fest, draw visitors from surrounding areas and give Edwardsville residents a good excuse to get out of the house and enjoy all that their hometown has to offer.

Living

When the city of Edwardsville unveiled its comprehensive plan, it was honored with an “Outstanding Planning Award” by the St Louis Metro Section of the American Planning Association (STLMS-APA). Edwardsville developed a city plan to strengthen green spaces through careful business zoning and to grow employment opportunities through the expansion of historic preservation and land management projects. Residents enjoy biking or running along well maintained paths, shopping at seasonal farm stands at the Goshen Market, and the community has a reputation for valuing its historical heritage. Real estate prices are just under the state average, with median homes hovering around $185,000.

Schools, Health and Transportation

Walking through miles of sunlit woods, it’s easy to forget you’re on a college campus. Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville has 2,660 acres – the greatest acreage of any college in the United States – of woodland atop bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River area. Part of the Southern Illinois University group and routinely ranked among top U.S News “up and coming” colleges, SIUE has a student population of around 14,000 students. For younger students, there are ten different elementary schools, two middle schools and two public high school options within the Edwardsville Community Unit School District.

Edwardsville residents have several clinics available to them, including the Edwardsville Health Center and Heartland Healthcare; Anderson Hospital in nearby Maryville is the nearest acute care facility, and St. Louis offers a broad range of medical specialists and hospitals. There are two Madison County Transit buses that run in Edwardsville, one that shuttles passengers between Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, and another that makes stops around the SIUE campus.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call at (618) 789-5863 or send us an email to explore your options and to find out when is the best time for you to make a move.