St. Clair has local flavor just minutes from Union
A fifteen-minute drive from Union , St. Clair is surrounded by forests and farms. With a population of 4,800, the city is far from Franklin County’s smallest. However, residents like Jennifer Pierce say an easygoing community helps maintain its traditional small-town charm. “Everyone knows each other,” says Pierce, the worship leader at St. Clair’s First Baptist Church. “After our wedding, I remember my husband introducing me to everyone – it was like meeting the whole town.” This sense of rural hominess is accented with a wide variety of local businesses, including several well-established eateries. “There are so many good restaurants,” Pierce says. “It’s impossible to pick one.”
Parkway and Lake St. Clair have newer traditional homes
Midcentury and older Cape Cods, bungalows and ranch-style houses are common near the city center, generally priced between $120,000 and $320,000 depending on size and condition. Newer construction is more typical in communities like Parkway and Lake St. Clair, where a New Traditional home can range from $200,000 to $375,000 based on amenities. Lots in the area are frequently a quarter-acre or more, providing more yard space and privacy. Homes closer to the Anaconda area often have multiple acres of land and feature farming outbuildings or cabin-style exteriors.
Local diners and coffee shops replace chain options
Retail and dining are mostly centered around Interstate 44 and State Route 47, including local businesses, fast-food chains and grocery stores like Country Mart and Save A Lot. Family owned restaurants are popular in St. Clair, with coffee shops, pizza joints and diners replacing the usual franchises. Blondie’s Breezeway offers an accessible gourmet menu with options like chili lime shrimp tacos and blackened chicken wraps with cocktails and mocktails. Visitors can enjoy the heated patio or watch one of many weekly live performances. Opened in 2023, Robin’s Rustic Nest has a no-frills menu with diner classics that include all-day breakfast and an all-you-can-eat salad bar.
Parks offer playgrounds, athletic fields and picnic spots
At 24 acres, Orchard Park is the city’s largest. It features many standard amenities, including playground equipment, a trail and picnic pavilions. However, Orchard sets itself apart with a performance stage and multiple athletic fields and courts. These include Reed Field, the site of regular baseball and softball games and tournaments throughout the year. Evergreen Park is particularly popular during the summer months, when its 2,000-square-foot splash pad is going strong.
Freedom Fest brings fireworks and live music each June
Every year, Freedom Fest is celebrated in Orchard Park on the last Saturday of June. The patriotic festivities include live performances, game tournaments, a beer garden and an evening full of fireworks. The Missouri Falcons, an eight-man semi-pro football team in the National Football Association, call St. Clair home. In 2024, the Falcons celebrated a Championship win over the Plow City Horsemen.
St. Clair schools include a new performing arts center
Students are served by St. Clair R-XIII School District, which has a C-plus from Niche. In the summer of 2025, St. Clair High School celebrated the opening of its new 780-seat performing arts center, which features practice rooms, classrooms, dressing rooms and a domed auditorium.
Easy access to Union and St. Louis via Route 47 and Interstate 44
St. Clair is about 9 miles from Union, which commuters reach via state Route 47. St. Louis is about 60 miles or an hour’s drive away via Interstate 44. The nearest major medical facility is Mercy Hospital in Washington , about 15 miles north.
More than a dozen churches serve the St. Clair area
More than a dozen houses of worship serve the area, including several Baptist churches. Other denominations include United Methodist, Catholic and Lutheran.
