Are you moving to St. Charles, Missouri? Are you considering a move to the area, but you’re still on the fence? In Missouri, St. Charles County is the state’s fastest-growing county and an excellent place to work and live, so now is a great time to relocate to this area.
To help you with relocating, we’ve compiled a guide to moving to St. Charles, Missouri, including the history of the county, the best areas to live, what to do in St. Charles and how you can change your insurance when you move to the area.
In October 1812, St. Charles County was established by a proclamation from Governor William Clark. This county was named after an archbishop of Milan in the 1500s known as St. Charles Borromeo. After Governor William Clark proclaimed the establishment of St. Charles County, five counties were created by reorganizing New Madrid, St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Ste. Genevieve and the Districts of St. Charles.
When first established, the county didn’t have any definite limits. At the time, on the south side of the county was the Missouri River and on the north side was the British Possessions, along with the Pacific Ocean on the West and the Mississippi River on the east.
In 1816, Cedar Creek became the established line between St. Charles County and Howard County. In 1818, St. Charles County was decreased to its current dimensions.
Missouri, sometimes called the Show-Me State, is growing in population as Americans relocate to Missouri from other states. Missouri also touches eight other states, similar to Tennessee, which can make other surrounding states more easily accessible for Missouri residents.
Curious about what to do in St. Charles, Missouri? Some of the places and activities that residents and visitors enjoy visiting are the St. Charles Historic District, the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum, Katy Trail State Park and arts and culture activities.
The St. Charles Historic District spans more than eight blocks in length, where you’ll find more than a hundred historic buildings, including the First Missouri State Capitol, Odd Fellows Hall, the Newbill-McEthiney House, the Old City Hall and a site commemorating Lewis and Clark. The buildings — several of which were constructed in the 1800s — demonstrate a variety of architectural styles.
Looking for a historic place to visit in St. Louis? The Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum opened to commemorate the pioneering journey Lewis and Clark took from St. Charles in 1804. This educational attraction helps visitors discover more about the legacy of these two explorers.
Inside the Boat House, you’ll find pirogues and a replica Keelboat. Re-enactors put on living history demonstrations and re-create the original expedition for visitors.
Among the Missouri State Parks, Katy Trail State Park is one of the best. This is the longest rail-trail in the nation at 240 miles long, and it borders miles and miles of the Missouri River. Katy Trail State Park is a perfect place for a walk, a hike, a jog or a bike ride. You can even bring your horse for some horseback riding.
The park offers much more than a stunning hiking trail. History buffs will enjoy passing through the once-thriving small towns along the railroad that illustrate Missouri’s rich heritage. Near Katy Trail State Park, you can also find the historic Main Street. You can access a shuttle service or a bike rental to explore much more of this beautiful area.
Are you interested in arts and cultural events? St. Charles County has plenty to offer for visitors and residents interested in the arts. Missouri Artists on Main is a two-story gallery where the art of award-winning artists is exhibited and sold. In this 200-year-old building, you can find ceramics, paintings, photography, sculpture, mixed media, folk art, jewelry and vintage clothing.
After a visit to the Missouri Artists on Main, you can head to the Foundry Art Centre, which is in a renovated factory where train cars were manufactured. The Foundry Art Centre brings people and art together by encouraging public participation via performances and exhibitions.
What are the best areas to live in St. Charles, Missouri? If you’re thinking about relocating to St. Charles County, you may want to consider your options about the best areas in the county to work and live.
To the west of St. Louis is the beautiful river city, St. Charles. Here you’ll find history, friendly people, stunning sites and a slower pace than you’ll find in a big city. St. Charles City was originally founded by Louis Blanchette, a French Canadian fur trader, under the name Les Petites Côtes, which translates to the Little Hills.
Back then, St. Charles was the first of the permanent European settlements along the Missouri River and soon became a bustling riverfront trading center. Because of the city’s prominence, St. Charles became the first state capital of Missouri. Today, the city offers an exploration of history for its residents and visitors, along with plenty of shopping, restaurant and entertainment options.
Cottleville has a population of about 5,000 and is among the oldest towns in the county. Cottleville was founded in 1798 and was the site of a famous recruiting camp during the Civil War known as Camp Krekel.
The residents of Cottleville have been working to preserve the history of this town in St. Charles County. Visitors will find various restaurants, shops, pubs, businesses, churches, a grocery store, City Hall, a U.S. Post Office and parks that span a total of 210 acres.
If you’re planning to relocate to St. Charles County, you may want to consider moving to the quaint, historic town of Cottleville.
Another excellent area for someone planning to live in St. Charles County is O’Fallon. Named after the North Missouri Railroad’s president, John O’Fallon, this is now the largest city in the county. The railroad that operated in the early days of O’Fallon’s establishment still operates today.
In O’Fallon, you can enjoy several attractions, festivals and events. The city also contains several parks, including:
O’Fallon has been featured several times on a list of the 100 Best Places to Live by Money magazine. Today, the city spans roughly 30 square miles and has a population of almost 83,000. If you’re looking for an exciting city to live in, O’Fallon has plenty of excitement to offer.
If you move to St. Charles, what methods can you use to get around? While you can get around on your own via car or bike, St. Charles County also maintains an efficient, safe transportation system for residents and visitors.
In St. Charles, the most popular way to get around is by car. The average commute in St. Charles is shorter than the nation’s average. While some residents carpool to work, many commute alone.
Do you prefer to get around by bicycle? You can find many biking trails in St. Charles County, including:
St. Charles County also includes biking trails within the county parks:
If you enjoy biking, you’ll have plenty of trails to choose from in St. Charles County.
From April through December, you can also climb aboard the St. Charles Trolley. This free service operates on a 30-minute loop, and whether you’re traveling for business, to visit friends or to attend an event, you can enjoy this convenient alternative to driving.
Though in operation seven days a week for several months of the year, the St. Charles Trolley is not in service on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.
Among the services in St. Charles, Missouri, the area offers a transit system of five bus routes. This transit system provides transportation to residents and visitors to various locations in St. Charles City and to the North Hanley Station. Every bus includes a wheelchair lift and all riders are provided curb-to-curb service.
Residents of St. Charles County who need transportation to appointments or meetings can request assistance in finding transportation from MO Rides. MO Rides will help residents locate the most affordable option for public transportation in the area.
St. Charles County residents can receive assistance in finding a ride to appointments in the following counties:
MO Rides operates Monday through Friday.
After you let your friends, family and employer know about your planned move, who else do you need to inform? Your relocation checklist should note all of the providers and organizations you need to notify about your move, including:
You should let your health insurance provider know that you’re moving and what your new, current address is. If you neglect to update your account, you may face issues with filing a claim.
Notify the school your children are attending about your move and what your new address will be. Your kids may need to be enrolled in a new school and have all of their academic records transferred.
Notify your dentist, doctor, loan provider and other service providers about your updated mailing address. This way you won’t miss any medical bills or fall behind on your payments.
You’ll also want to inform the IRS of your move and new address. Since your tax returns and related forms can contain sensitive information about you, you don’t want any forms from the IRS being sent to your old address.
Notify the IRS of your change in address by mail, phone or even in person. Be sure to notify the IRS several weeks before you move.
An out-of-state move requires a transfer of your driver’s license. You’ll need to update your auto insurance and your vehicle’s registration relatively quickly after your move. As soon as you can, let the DMV know about your new address.
As with your health insurance provider, you should also notify your home insurance provider and auto insurance provider of your change in address. Ask your home insurance provider if your belongings will be covered in transit.
When you move, you may feel tempted to stay with the same insurance provider. However, your current insurance rate may be affected by your new neighborhood and your new state’s minimum insurance requirement. Or you may find that your current insurance provider simply doesn’t service residents in your new state. Changing insurance when moving is probably your best option.
To start, shop around for the best rates. When you’ve chosen an insurance agency, speak with an agent so they can provide you with the necessary information about purchasing a policy. Before canceling your current policy, make sure you have a new policy in place so you won’t have to worry about a lapse in coverage.
For insurance needs in Missouri, David Pope Insurance Services, LLC can provide you with affordable rates and excellent customer service. Request a quote from us at David Pope Insurance today.
