An escape from the city, full of recreation opportunities
Fresh air in Edwardsville can come in multiple forms. It could look like a bike ride along the area’s extensive, paved trail network or a boat ride through Dunlap Lake. Perhaps it’s a trip to the playgrounds at Edwardsville Township Community Park or bird watching at the Watershed Nature Center. This Illinois suburb is packed with ways to unwind, yet still only 30 miles northeast of St. Louis, the region’s major city.
This community of about 26,700 is full of well-kept homes with yards, part of properties that sell for less than the national average. There are houses here that date back to the 19th century, but plenty of modern options, too.
Plus, with standout public schools, Edwardsville provides a well-rounded alternative for people who may work in St. Louis but want to retreat to a quieter setting.
Residents of Edwardsville display a genuine kindness, creating a welcoming environment for all.
The MCT Trails in Edwardsville offer miles of scenic biking and hiking paths.
Many of the residents who live on Dunlap Lake in Edwardsville have a boat and dock.
Explore diverse habitats at the Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville.
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Numerous architectural styles for less than the national average
Edwardsville may be a relatively small area, but it’s packed with houses that can suit a wide range of tastes and needs. This is one of the oldest cities in Illinois, officially established in 1819, and those eyeing a classic option can find a lot of houses that date back to the 1800s — particularly at the center of town. But the area is also dotted with 21st-century homes in tranquil subdivisions.
Those who want to live by the water are covered as well. “Another area gem is the beautiful Dunlap Lake community with a 138-acre lake for boating activities,” says Realtor Jim Reppell of Re/Max Alliance, who has 35 years of industry experience. The lake is private and surrounded by a mix of midcentury split-level and ranch-style homes and modern new traditional houses.
Traditional single-family homes make up most of Edwardsville’s housing stock, and properties sell for an average of $353,577, an increase of 5% year over year and a tad higher than some other nearby suburbs on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River. But it’s less than multiple St. Louis suburbs on the Missouri side of the river. Listings in Edwardsville are selling after about a month and a half on the market, which is on par with the national average.
Historic brick homes can be found a few blocks from Main Street in downtown Edwardsville.
Residents of Edwardsville take pride in their homes and maintain them well, regardless of price.
Waterfront properties in Edwardsville are a hot commodity.
Edwardsville, IL, is widely recognized for its warm and welcoming community atmosphere.
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A distribution gateway
Distribution and logistics are key industries in the city. The more than 800,000-square-foot Gateway Commerce Center is in Edwardsville, and companies including Hershey, Walgreens, FedEx, Unilever and Amazon have warehouses there. With a workforce of more than 4,000, Amazon is one of the largest employers in Madison County. Another major employer is Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, with some 3,500 employees.
The Gateway Commerce Center houses many warehouses employing residents from Edwardsville.
The Hershey distribution center in Edwardsville is one of the larger employers in the area.
Edwardsville is home to many big name businesses making shopping quick and easy.
The large companies in the Gateway Commerce Center employ thousands of Edwardsville residents.
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Trail system provides plenty to explore
One of the Edwardsville area’s key assets for recreation is the Madison County Transit trail system. The trails run a whopping 138 miles through the county and 120 miles of them are paved. They’re popular with cyclists, but are also open to runners, walkers and rollerbladers. “The MCT Trails feature 22 tunnels and 49 bridges and connect beautiful, wooded areas with entertainment in downtown Edwardsville,” Reppell says.
The city has 20 parks to choose from, including the Edwardsville Community Township Park, where there are a pair of playgrounds, four tennis courts and even a skate rink. The Watershed Nature Center, meanwhile, offers more than three dozen acres of woods and prairie to retreat to while looking out at some of the 150 species of birds that live in the nature center. And the secluded Dunlap Lake gives residents of that area a place to not only boat, but also swim, fish and even ice skate when it’s cold enough.
Locals can comfortably enjoy the city’s outdoor attractions for much of the year, from late spring to early fall. The area has relatively moderate weather, with average temperatures topping out at 78 degrees in July and dropping to 31 degrees in January. The city sees an average of a foot of snow each year.
Trails like the Watershed Trail play a large part in the Edwardsville community.
Take a peaceful stroll along the trails at Watershed Nature Center, Edwardsville.
Edwardsville Township Community Park has a small jet affixed to a stand.
The Watershed Nature Center is a great spot for bird watching in Edwardsville.
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Drive downtown for food and more
Much of Edwardsville’s local entertainment opportunities are clustered in the city’s downtown, particularly along and near the walkable Main Street. This is where people can find tea and coffee shops, bar and grills, and more. It’s also where the historic Wildey Theater is located, a spot that opened as an opera house and meeting space in 1909. The theater still hosts a regular schedule of concerts, just about every weekend. Locals can find more chain restaurants and stores to the south, along Troy Road, including in the Edwardsville Crossing Plaza that features a Dierbergs grocery store, T.J. Maxx, Petco, Best Buy and Ross Dress for Less.
Residents can spend some of their free time at the city’s assortment of community events, too. Among them is the Edwardsville Route 66 Festival downtown in June, which has been running for almost 30 years and includes a car show, a 10K run, and food and art vendors.
Enjoy a walk through downtown Edwardsville along the brick and tree lined streets.
Many local businesses like The Intelligecer have called downtown Edwardsville home for years.
Wildey Theater is downtown Edwardsville's primary spot for plays and movies.
Unleash your creativity with the vast selection at Michaels in Edwardsville.
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I-55 is a connection to the rest of the region
Interstate 55 is the closest major highway, and is the way commuters in town can cross the Mississippi River and reach Downtown St. Louis, roughly a 30-mile trip. The roadway also connects locals to the 144-bed Anderson Hospital, in nearby Maryville. Interstate 270 is the quickest way for travelers to get to the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, also about 30 miles away. Lambert is considered the primary of five St. Louis-region airports and offers direct flights to more than 30 cities. People traveling within town can take advantage of the Madison County Transit bus system, which has 28 total routes.
Edwardsville schools are excelling
The public school district is one of Edwardsville’s defining characteristics. The system, formally known as Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7, boasts an A overall grade on Niche. The district serves about 7,200 students and encompasses 10 elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school. “The school district has state-of-the-art facilities like the Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center,” Reppell says. The aquatic center, which houses the area’s only Olympic-sized pool, is part of the district’s 47-acre sports complex that also includes a turf football field, multiple ball diamonds and multipurpose fields. Also, construction is underway on a roughly $100 million project to renovate Lincoln Middle, which is set to be completed in 2025.
The B-plus-rated Metro-East Lutheran High School is among the area’s private schools, and it offers classes in topics from studio art to theology.
The city’s public Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has an enrollment of 12,000, including undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. Nursing is the school’s most popular major.
Crime
Edwardsville posted a population-adjusted crime rate of 25.7 per 100,000 in 2023 according to the FBI's Crime Explorer. The mark is significantly lower than the one recorded across Illinois, 147.9, and the country, 115.4, over the same period.
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