Our Very Incomplete Guide to South County [PHOTOS]

Affton

Affton High School has produced two of St. Louis' favorite sons: Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and actor John Goodman. Dorsey forever changed the way we think about the # symbol but Goodman gave us Dan Connor and Walter Sobchak. We'll let you figure out which son is St. Louis’ favorite.

Bella Villa

Bordered on all sides by Lemay, you can think of Bella Villa as our own little Vatican City. But we’re not sure the Pope would be happy with the policing there, particularly along Bayless Avenue. According to a Post-Dispatch analysis, Bella Villa is the most prolific ticket-writing municipality per square mile in Missouri.

Concord

A large liminal space. To its north is the part of South County that retains some South City DNA. To its south is the more countrified Arnold. Though we haven't taken an official tally, we think Concord might have the most baseball diamonds of any muni on this list, which is pretty cool.

Crestwood

A sleepy municipality south of I-44, Crestwood once had a happening mall that has since become a barren dirt wasteland. Grants Trail runs through it, and from said trail, you can swing by the Thomas Sappington House Museum, where you can learn more about the pioneers of the 1800s.

Glendale

Located smack dab between blood rivals Webster and Kirkwood, Glendale’s Waspy residents have divided loyalties, depending on which of those two school districts their kids attend. The town is known for its pretty, old homes; quaint shops like Hanneke's Westwood Grocery; and soccer moms who might make a wild night of it when Bon Jovi comes to town.

Grantwood Village

Home to the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site and Grant's Farm, this village was once owned by the family of Grant’s wife Julia until being purchased by August Busch Sr. He made it his family home and, later, a notable regional attraction featuring lovely animals that will charm your kids. The area has a bucolic feel, especially when you are driving down Gravois and see some elk.

Green Park

As promised by the name, there is indeed lush green space with hiking trails in Green Park. The Blake C. Snyder Memorial Park is our favorite spot to take a break when biking on the Grant’s Trail portion of the Great Rivers Greenway.

Kirkwood

If you want to scare Webster Groves residents, raise the specter of “becoming like Kirkwood.” It works like a charm. They will vote down anything that threatens to make them like their neighbor to the south and not only because they’re arch-rivals. What’s wrong with Kirkwood, you may ask? Nothing, according to Kirkwoodians, who have a booming tax base, supported by an increasing number of McMansions; a thriving business district; and Kirkwood Commons, the big-box stores that Kirkwood built on Meacham Park shortly after annexing the predominantly Black neighborhood in 1991. The commons displaced nearly 30 percent of Meacham’s residents and tension between Meacham and Kirkwood contributed to a 2008 Kirkwood City Hall shooting. (Maybe there are a few things in that list that give you a clue what Webster is avoiding. Particularly tearing down charming old homes to build nouveau riche monstrosities.) But the RFT highly endorses a lot of Kirkwood commerce including Britt’s Bakehouse, one of the few gluten-free bakeries in town; the Magic House, which can entertain any child for a preposterous amount of time; and Global Foods Market, where you can get all your international noshes

Lakeshire

Throughout the mid-1980s, the tiny south county municipality of Lakeshire had an ordinance outlawing kids from playing in the streets. Nowadays we assume kids are welcome to play anywhere they would like, though its lone park, Fig Park, appears to be more of a well-tended patch of grass than an actual park.

Lemay

Abutted by the Mississippi, just north of Jefferson Barracks, Lemay is a midsized south county burgh that has its detractors but also its fierce defenders, many of whom have posted to the Only in Lemay Facebook group. Attempting to fight crime in the area, posters to the page have helped reunite people with stolen belongings and even helped police solve a string of armed robberies by a man dubbed “the motor-scooter bandit.”

Marlborough

The Marlborough Trails Apartments, which comprise a good chunk of Marlborough residences, were the party spot back in the swinging 1970s we’ve been told. Nowadays, most of the swinging is done at nearby Tower Tee driving range, which incidentally, recently installed “tracing” technology in its lounge areas so pros and amateurs alike can kick back a few brews while practicing tee shots.

Mehlville

Despite being almost eight square miles and containing close to 30,000 residents, Mehlville is almost entirely distinguished by its school district, which does pretty well in the rankings department but not amazingly. The area, which abuts Jefferson Barracks Park, is otherwise notable for the South County Center and Berix, a restaurant serving arguably some of the best Bosnian food in St. Louis County.

Oakland

Not to be confused with the home of Bay Area gangsta rap pioneer Too $hort, Oakland is a small municipality along I-44 near South Sappington Road. It includes Ursuline Academy, Westborough Country Club and…that’s about it. It’s peaceful and quiet, the perfect place for a slow stroll to admire oak trees.

Oakville

Facebook Marketplace used to be a great way to find local treasures for relatively cheap. (Facebook changed the algorithm, and now it sucks.) One find — a peacock headboard — took this writer into Oakville for the first time. It was way back in 2020, and Trump signs abounded. The vibe was decidedly exurb sprawl with a slightly rural pastiche. It felt very white and census data confirms this. (Oakville is less than 1 percent Black.) Obviously, as three adults worked to fit a headboard in the back of an SUV, no one even mentioned wearing a mask. (This was pre-vaccine.) But the place seemed neighborly: While we were moving the headboard, a neighbor stopped to admire it and seemed fully up-to-date on what the seller had done to repair it. Ultimately, the headboard didn’t work out, so we had to sell it again on Facebook Marketplace and didn’t recoup the original costs, which might have made us a little bitter toward Oakville.

Pacific

Do we claim Pacific, Missouri? It’s primarily in Franklin County but a portion of it extends into St. Louis County. It’s our own little Turkey, the country that is a little bit in Europe, but mostly not. Pacific has a surprisingly exciting history. Set ablaze by Confederate soldiers, the city had to be defended by Union troops back during the civil war. The Union eventually prevailed, forcing out the Confederates (to a town called Union…). In the 20th century, back when Route 66 was a thing, people would stop at Franklin’s Red Cedar Inn, the Al-Pac Motel or Beacon Court to break up their cross-country journeys. Then, from 1960-68, the U.S. Air Force operated the surface-to-air missile site Nike Base SL-60 there to protect middle America from the Red Threat. In the ’80s, Pacific saw a population boom when nearby Times Beach was evacuated and demolished due to dioxin having been sprayed around the town. That’s a lot for a place that has fewer than 8,000 people living there.

Rock Hill

This quintessential suburb boasts iconic Katie's Pizza and Pasta and the second location of Lu Lu Seafood & Dim Sum. The two eateries are a mere five minute mosey from each other. That mosey would be along the very pedestrian unfriendly Manchester Road, but any risk would be totally worth it.

Sappington

Just east of Sunset Hills, Sappington was first settled by the Sappington family in 1804. History-interested visitors can tour the Sappington House Museum and grounds. The area, primarily households and not businesses, does contain Mercy Hospital South.

Shrewsbury

Though it often plays second fiddle to better-known neighbor Webster Groves — and good luck trying to find parking — Shrewsbury residents nonetheless highlight the town’s safe streets and feeling of community. We’ll concede it’s a nice spot, so long as you can park.

Sunset Hills

Sunset Hills may be the region’s most beautiful municipality, full of hills and daunting rock formations on both sides of I-44, which straddles the town. Whereas 30 years ago Sunset Hills was mostly modest older farmhouses and 1950s ranches on large lots with massive old-growth trees, now it’s dotted with imposing McMansions to go with some splendid contemporary homes boasting beautiful views. Just don’t move here if you want diversity.

PHOTO CREDIT: Lindsay Toler

Tesson Ferry Township

Tesson Ferry Township contains Suson Park, the Kennedy Recreation Center and part of the Meramec River and Butler Lake. Aside from greenspaces, the township can brag about the South County YMCA — an excellent outdoor pool — and the South County Antique Mall.