Portage Des Sioux is a farmland community along the Mississippi River
A drive through a corridor of cornfields leads to the town of Portage Des Sioux. The community perched on the Mississippi River welcomes folks with a sign that points to all the essential spots in town, including two harbors and a waterfront saloon. The town is home to about 350 residents, with another 300 spread among the surrounding farmland, but its river access allows for a relaxed way of life that would make Huckleberry Finn envious.
Housing ranges from 19th-century farmhouses to 21st-century options
Though Portage Des Sioux is laid out on a grid of streets, the homes are spaced on roomy lots with enough space for a boat, shed or golf cart. Some lots are occupied by 1860s farmhouses, while others were filled in more than a century later by 2000s neo-eclectic homes. Fixer-uppers can be bought for less than $100,000, but typical price tags will fluctuate from the low $100,000s and the mid-$200,000s. With six months of supply and the average house sitting on the market for 133 days, the market doesn’t move fast in this community next to the swift waters of the Mississippi. Speaking of which, Schneider Real Estate agent Nick Wagenknecht says floods aren’t uncommon, a fact homebuyers should keep in mind.
Orchard Farm School District serves the area
The region is covered by the Orchard Farm School District, rated an A-minus by Niche. Children at A-rated Orchard Farm Elementary School learn via Singapore mathematics, an approach that originated in Singapore and has been shown to result in higher test scores for students in the U.S. and abroad. Orchard Farm Middle School earns a grade of A-minus for its academics while also extending plentiful extracurricular opportunities from film club to cross country. Teens currently attend B-plus-rated Orchard Farm High School, but a fresh option will be available in 2024 when the district opens a new high school meant to alleviate crowded classrooms.
Outdoor sites include Portage Des Sioux Nature Area and Combs Park
Just off Main Street, residents can cross a wood-plank bridge into the Portage Des Sioux Nature Area, a peaceful trail through the trees where the only man-made structures are benches that overlook the river and the surrounding bluffs. Or they can step out their front door and walk to Combs Park, where a row of swings and a jungle gym define the pocket park.
Community offers dining along the river
Many won’t lose sight of the Mississippi River, even when eating. Take in views of the water with tacos and mojitos at the Longshot Marina’s saloon and tiki bar. The marina hosts more than 40 outdoor concerts each year, offering shows to enjoy in between meals and boat outings. Shopping runs will likely take residents 15 miles south to the city of St. Charles, where a Schnucks supermarket, Walmart and Target line its highways.
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