Fairview Heights, IL

The community known today as Fairview Heights holds a proud position as one of the largest neighborhoods in St. Clair County, the oldest county in the state of Illinois. Established in 1790 by Arthur St. Clair, the county's boundaries were eventually extended in 1801 to meet the Lake Superior border.

The borders of the county and of the area now known as Fairview heights changed frequently due to the presence of Native American tribes on the land. The influence of the Native American people on this area of the country was quite prevalent. Those looking to find out more about the history of this region can visit the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and Museum. This museum helps highlight the history of the area and allows visitors to see the region’s infamous Cahokia Mounds.

Established, family-friendly dining establishments and specialty restaurants make up the Fairview Heights dining experience.

For St. Louis-style barbeque and classic comfort food dishes, visit Bandana’s Barbeque. All the dishes are prepared with a dry rub and cooked sauceless. Since most meats take between five and 12 hours to cook, it is not abnormal for the establishment to run out of some dishes before close, so come early. Not sure which dish to try? Choose the pick three meat combination to taste several different meats on the menu at a time.

For those with a taste for Italian cuisine, Agostino’s Restaurant serves traditional Italian fare and a variety of a la carte dishes that encourage diners to try a bit of everything. Make sure to save room for dessert as this restaurant uses an old family recipe to make its Italian Wedding Cake.

For the nightlife scene in Fairview Heights, pay a visit to the local bar, Just One More Bar. This bar has an extensive beer and shot list and plenty of gambling machines throughout the establishment. The bar also has its own putt-putt golf hole inside to keep patrons entertained as they enjoy the local drink specials.

Interstate 64/40 runs right through the heart of this Illinois suburb. This interstate provides quick and convenient access to the center of St. Louis City, which is less than 4 miles away. The community’s location makes travel by car easy. The neighborhood is not particularly pedestrian- or bike-friendly, but cabs are prevalent for those who need them. The St. Louis metro area has yet to have the Uber car service.

The Metro Transit system serves the Fairview Heights neighborhood, both through the MetroLink and MetroBus system. The community has its own Fairview Heights Station along the MetroLink system which provides transit to downtown St. Louis. Several MetroBus stops are also dotted around the community, providing quick and convenient access to the rest of the city and neighboring suburbs.

With countless miles of open green space found throughout Fairview Heights, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors in this community and plenty of community events to enjoy outdoors, year-round. In the early spring, join in the Easter Egg Hunt, play in or watch summer ball tournaments, participate in the Fall Festival, and check out the Gas Rodeo and the Salute to the Arts.

At Moody Park, residents can enjoy beautiful views of the community lake, as well as a massive “Recreation Station” built with little ones in mind. The 16,000-square-foot playground is ideal for families looking for space, fun and excitement. The park also has a walking and jogging trail, volleyball courts and two ball diamonds. Pets are not allowed in the park.

Pleasant Ridge Park holds more than 95 acres of open space. This park, built in 1850, is a popular destination for little ones to sled on during the winter months. The park also has a hiking path, restrooms and picnic pavilions.

The public Old Lincoln Trail Park, offers approximately 8 acres of green space, Illinois forestry and a playground for kids. Smaller parks also have a place in the Fairview Heights neighborhood, including Prospect Park, which has its own playground and plenty of picnic tables for families to enjoy.

Life in Fairview Heights typically carries a low to average cost of living both when compared to the rest of Illinois and the national average. Leasing an apartment in the region is typically more expensive than in surrounding areas, with the average one-bedroom apartment costing around $975 per month.

A MetroLink ride to St. Louis city center costs about $2.50, while gas prices typically come in about 8 percent lower than the average in the rest of the country. Residents can expect to pay about $3 for a domestic pint of locally brewed beer and about $6 a pint for craft beers.

Fairview Heights holds a reputation as one of the premier shopping destinations in southern Illinois with trusted well-known brands making up a majority of the area’s shopping scene, particularly at St. Clair Square mall. While the area lacks the small, independent boutique shops found in the smaller cities like Mascoutah or Belleville, the St. Clair Square mall in Fairview Heights includes over 100 stores, including Justice, White House | Black Market, Barnes & Noble and Macy's.

Buy groceries at the Schnucks, a local grocery store located in the center of Fairview Heights that provides affordable prices on fresh kitchen essentials and everyday grocery items, including produce and meat. The grocery store also has its own pharmacy.

For a farmers' market, you'll need to make a short trip to one of the Saturday markets hosted in nearby towns. Two to check out, weather permitting, are the weekly markets in Mascoutah and Belleville.