Granite City, Illinois, is located within the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. At just under 30,000 people, it is the second-largest city in the Metro East and Southern Illinois regions after Belleville. The area was settled long before it was established, and in 1896, the city was officially founded and by two German immigrant brothers named Frederick and William Niedringhaus. They established the area as a company town for their steelmaking factory. The first seven years after incorporation went as planned with rapid growth. During this time, the first mayor, policeman, and School Board of Directors were appointed. Four schools and the 1st Church of the Concordian Lutheran Church were built. Many lots were sold for a new subdivision called Granite Park, today called West Granite, and in 1906 roughly 10,000 people emigrated to the city from Central and Eastern Europe.
Today, Granite City is known for its lower cost of living and several large corporations have operating facilities here. A few big names are U.S. Steel, Precoat Metals, Heidtman Steel, Capri-Sun, and Kraft Foods, and the clothing retailer Glik is also headquartered here.
The city is divided into several different areas. The Wilson Park area is home to Coolidge Middle School, which the city recently renovated, and Wilson Park, which is considered by many to be the crown jewel of the city. Wilson Park is known for its modern, well-kept homes. East Granite is mostly residential subdivisions and churches. West Granite is on the other side of the railroad tracks, with many industrial buildings. The Nameoki Strip section of town is where most of the retail shopping, restaurants, and industries are. It has recently seen infrastructural and societal improvement as a result of revitalization efforts that started in the last decade. The other parts of the city are Bellemore Area and North Granite.
If you’re looking for something to do in Granite City, your search won’t take long to bear fruit. The Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience is a unique, pulse-pounding attraction that allows car racing enthusiasts to choose from various packages, including a ride-along with professional drivers and opportunities to drive high performance cars on their huge dirt track. Drivers from amateur enthusiasts to professionals looking to practice, have torn this track up, so be sure to stop here if you’ve ever wanted to get behind the wheel of a real-life racecar.
If something slower-paced sounds more like your idea of a good time, there are several parks in Granite City. Horseshoe Lake State Park has something for everyone, from boating to camping, hunting and fishing, hiking trails, and more. There are twelve other public parks in the city, with over twenty-three sports fields. ten playgrounds, a dozen picnic shelters, and an aquatic center that includes a waterslide and a wading pool for smaller children.
Alfresco Productions has touched many in the area. What started as on outdoor tearoom now includes an open air market and programs such as Blue Collar Blues and BBQ, and The Six Mile Sculpture Work. The Alfredo Art Center puts on shows throughout the year and holds open auditions. There are also many special events such as the Elf Walk, Magic and Mayhem, and the Young People’s Theater.
While it started as a mandatory place of living, Granite City has blossomed into an industrial powerhouse. Unfortunately, overeager
wildlife chooses to live here as well. In Granite City or the surrounding area, if you’ve got unwanted critters invading your home, contact Veteran’s Pride Wildlife Control.
Contact us today for an estimate.