Manufacturing helped birth Granite City, and it remains a key attraction to this southwestern Illinois community. Now a suburb of St. Louis, Granite City earned its name because it was an area known for producing graniteware for cooking in the late 19th century. Steel production has been key to the economy across the decades since, and job opportunities remain a draw. A budding downtown district is giving the population of 27,500 more and more to do in their off time. And this area is conveniently close to St. Louis. “That’s enticing for those who want to move away from the congestion of the city,” says Realtor and Granite City native Angie Uram of Global Real Estate Group with Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors.
Granite City’s proximity to the Mississippi River has been pivotal in its industrial growth.
The Granite City sign welcomes visitors on Hwy 203.
I-55 leads to and from St. Louis to Granite City.
Granite City, IL, celebrates its history while eagerly embracing the future.
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Housing ranges from classic to modern
Granite City is flush with bungalows that date back to the early 19th century and midcentury ranch-style homes, priced anywhere from $15,000 to $300,000 based on condition and size. But buyers can also find some new traditional-style options built within the last 20 years, with price tags from $160,000 to $275,000. Most houses in Granite City come with yards, which get bigger on some of the community’s outskirts. “You have a little more land than you do in St. Louis for the most part,” Uram says. “And more attractive prices.” Properties sell for an average of $129,770, an increase of 11% year over year but still 76% less than the national average and 63% lower than the St. Louis average. Listings tend to sell after 45 days on the market, which nearly matches the national average. “It seems like a lot of the buyers are downsizing, or they’re first-time buyers who were renting and are now able to buy a house,” says Realtor Lisa Whitacre of 360 Prime Realty Group, who’s also a Granite City native.
Brick ranch homes are plentiful in Granite City.
New traditional homes are becoming popular as new residents move to Granite City.
Granite City's oldest homes stand as a testament to the city’s rich historical tapestry.
You can see the city’s history reflected in the architecture of Granite City homes.
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Steel mills are the backbone of Granite City
The city’s biggest employer has been Granite City Works, a steel mill that dates to the late 19th century and has the capacity to produce 2.8 million tons of steel annually. The mill’s primary operations were paused indefinitely in late 2023, though, leading to layoffs. The mill remains paused as it parent company decides on its future. Production was consolidated to other plants owned by U.S. Steel and operations remain idled with U.S. Steel in the process of being acquired by the Japanese-based Nippon Corportation. But Granite City is also home to the 350-acre Northgate Industrial Park, which includes companies such as Heidtman Steel, Precoat Metals and H & S Machine & Tools, Inc. ASF-Keystone is a major employer in town, producing railroad car components. Granite City is also just about 10 miles from Downtown St. Louis, for those who commute to the big city for work.
Granite City Steel Works is central to jobs in Granite City.
Northgate Industrial Park is home to many manufacturing companies in Granite City.
Precoat Metals calls Northgate Industrial Park home in Granite City.
The Granite City Steel Building has been a longstanding pillar of the local economy.
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Granite City public schools blanket the area
Students in Granite City can enter Granite City Community Unit School District No. 9, which has a C-plus rating on Niche. The district has eight traditional school campuses and an educational support school. To keep classroom numbers manageable, schools cover only two grades from prekindergarten through eighth grade.
Metro East Montessori is one of the few private schools in the city. The school teaches prekindergarten through sixth grade and has a student-teacher ratio of 6-to-1.
There’s a Southwestern Illinois College campus in Granite City. The school has programs in topics ranging from aviation maintenance technology to nursing.
Metro East Montessori School aligns with Illinois state standards.
Granite City High School has a C+ grade on Niche.
Community Unit School District #9 is synonymous with quality education in Granite City.
Southwestern Illinois College in Granite City is a university option.
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The Mill is helping to power downtown revitalization
Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson has helped push a downtown revitalization effort in recent years. The work has included the establishment of The District, an entertainment corridor anchored by The Mill. The venue was part of a more than $2 million renovation at the site of the former United Methodist Church, and hosts concerts and performances each month since opening in 2022. Restaurants have popped up in the area as well. “Downtown is becoming more established,” Uram says. Grocery shopping and other big-box stores are available to the east, along Nameoki Road.
Downtown Granite City serves as a site for multiple annual events. The annual Labor Day Parade is one of the more well-attended events. “All of the community gets together, and it’s a fantastic event,” Uram says. The parade runs from downtown up to Wilson Park. Wilson hosts a series of outdoor movie screenings and concerts during the summer.
Hot latte ready to go from friendly staff at Chocolate Covered Creations Cafe in Granite City.
The Mill is helping to power downtown revitalization in Granite City.
Historic Route 66 elements are highlighted in downtown Granite City.
Granite City residents find groceries at good prices in Aldi.
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Wilson Park has a wide assortment of features
Wilson Park stretches 74 acres and includes two pools, an ice rink, a disc golf course, and tennis, pickleball and basketball courts. The 45-acre Worthen Park has a football field and a dog park. Both offer playground equipment, too.
Indoor recreation options in Granite City, which experiences warm summers and chilly winters, include the Brown Recreation Center and Lincoln Place Community Center. Brown offers an indoor track, while Lincoln Place offers yoga and cardio classes.
The indoor ice rink is available for teams and open skate in Wilson Park.
Pickleballers enjoy the courts in Wilson Park.
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Madison County Transit isn’t hard to track down
Depending on traffic, residents who commute to St. Louis can take Illinois Route 203 and Interstate 55 to get there in under 20 minutes,or 10 miles. Illinois Route 3 links to Interstate 70 for drivers heading 16 miles to the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, where travelers can take non-stop trips to more than 70 destinations. There are several stops in the Madison County Transit bus system within Granite City.
Crime is on the decline
The violent crime rate in Granite City is slightly higher than the rates across Illinois and the country, according to 2023 data from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer. However, in early 2024, Granite City police reported a 15% drop in overall crime from 2022 to 2023.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
