One of the best things about St. Louis is our diverse neighborhoods. Soulard boasts one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations outside of NOLA; the Hill has some of the best Italian food you will ever taste. In the county, however (the city of St. Louis and county are separated, in case you didn’t know) these “neighborhoods” tend to have a much more varying split of opinions. Ballwin and Rock Hill are both ranked highly in “best areas to live in polls.” Clayton, Ladue and even Chesterfield can be seen as snotty. South County is seen as hoosierish (oh yeah, we also use the word “Hoosier” in place of “Redneck”).
I grew up in South County. I was raised on chain restaurants, mall shopping and respecting those around me. I was lucky to be raised in an area that loves hockey (I don’t quite know why, but we have three rinks in a 5 mile radius) and for the most part, is quite friendly. It’s not the most diverse area – we’re very much a white, Catholic, upper-middle class area (Oakville, anyway), but it’s home. And it’s not just my home – the numbers are in double digits for classmates who headed off to college elsewhere, came back to the area, and married a high-school sweetheart of sorts – even if they were never sweethearts in high school (guilty as charged).
Maybe I was sheltered, but growing up, nothing was better. My parents have a beautiful ranch home in a cul-de-sac that was full of families. Andy & I bought a house less than three miles from both of our parents, in a subdivision full of families. Going out means going to The Sports Pub or Blarney Stone, our local favorites. A nice dinner can involve Texas Roadhouse, Applebees and even TGI Fridays. Does this make me a bad person? No, but to some, it may appear I’m less of a person.
Sucks for them – they’ll never get to see how great I really am.
What do you love/hate most about your hometown?
The Parks Department 