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Granite City, IL

Frequently asked questions

Granite City, IL

Granite City is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, within the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. Making it the third-largest city in the Metro East and Southern Illinois regions, behind Belleville and O'Fallon. Officially founded in 1896, Granite City was named by the Niedringhaus brothers, William and Frederick, who established it as a steel-making company town for the manufacture of graniteware kitchen utensils.

The area was settled much earlier than Granite City's official founding. In the early 19th century, settlers began to farm the rich fertile grounds to the east of St. Louis. Around 1801, the area saw the establishment of Six Mile Settlement, a farming area that occupied the area of present-day Granite City, six miles (10 km) from St. Louis. Soon after, around 1806, the National Road was to be constructed through the area, but it was never completed. By 1817, the area became known as Six Mile Prairie, to distinguish it from Six Mile Township. By 1854, the first railroad was built. In 1856, the area known as Six Mile would be changed to Kinder.

Granite City was founded in 1896 to be a planned company city similar to Pullman, Illinois, by German immigrant brothers Frederick G. Niedringhaus and William Niedringhaus for their Granite ware kitchen supplies factory.

Granite City is located at 38°43′4″N 90°7′46″W (38.717849, -90.129529), adjacent to the Chain of Rocks Canal on the Upper Mississippi River, bordering Horseshoe Lake on its southeastern side. The city sits in the American Bottom, a wide, flat, and fertile plain. Although at risk during the Great Flood of 1993, the city never flooded and is protected by a series of levees along both the Mississippi River and the Chain of Rocks Canal.

Granite City is located within a few miles of five interstate highways. Interstate 270 passes through the northern edge of the city and Interstate 255, 70, 55, and 64 all pass just to the south and east of the city.

Route 3 is a major thoroughfare along the western edge of the city and provides access to downtown St. Louis across the recently renovated McKinley Bridge.

According to the 2010 census, the city has a total area of 20.70 square miles (53.6 km²), of which 19.29 square miles (50.0 km²) (or 93.19%) is land and 1.41 square miles (3.7 km²) (or 6.81%) is water.

Granite City, IL, offers a variety of health and wellness activities to explore. At Southwestern Illinois College, you can participate in exercise classes such as Tai Chi, Yoga, and Arthritis Exercise. For a broad range of fitness activities including yoga, kickboxing, swimming, and personal training, visit American Family Fitness. Comprehensive medical services, including family medicine, pain management, physical therapy, and sports medicine, are available at Multicare Specialists. For mental health services, individual and family counseling, and psychiatric services, check out Chestnut Health Systems. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the parks and recreational facilities managed by the Granite City Park District, or take part in the fitness programs and wellness workshops offered by the Granite City YMCA. Additionally, Gateway Regional Medical Center offers a range of health services, including physical therapy and wellness programs. For high-intensity workouts, join Granite City CrossFit to improve your overall fitness. These activities collectively contribute to a healthier lifestyle in Granite City.

The top sites in Granite City, IL are Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, and Horseshoe Lake.

Population: 27,549 (2020). ZIP Code: 62040. Area code: 618. Elevation: 423 ft (129 m). Area: 20.58 sq mi (53.30 km²).

FAQs

What is Granite City, IL famous for?

Steel founding began in Granite City in 1894 and is the basis of the economy. The manufacture of automotive parts and food processing are also important, and the city is a shipping point. Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Cahokia Mounds (a large prehistoric Mississippian culture city) are just southeast.

What is the crime rate in Granite City, IL?

With a crime rate of 32 per one thousand residents, Granite City has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 31. Within Illinois, more than 95% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Granite City.

Is Granite City, IL a good place to live?

Granite City is a suburb of St. Louis with a population of 27,026. Granite City is in Madison County. Living in Granite City offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Granite City, there are a lot of bars and parks. Many families live in Granite City and residents tend to lean conservative.

Sources

Wikipedia - Granite City, Illinois

City of Granite City

Southwestern Illinois College

American Family Fitness

Multicare Specialists

Chestnut Health Systems

Granite City YMCA

Gateway Regional Medical Center

Granite City CrossFit

Wilson Park

Lewis and Clark State Historic Site

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

Horseshoe Lake

Britannica

Neighborhoodscout

Niche

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