Kirkwood Real Estate Listings of Houses and Homes for Sale in St. Louis County, Missouri


	Kirkwood Houses for Sale

Kirkwood

Kirkwood was established in 1853 and today is a nine-square-mile community with a population of roughly 30,000. Located in West St. Louis County, north of the I-44 and I-270 interchange, Kirkwood boasts high property values, quality public and private schools, safe neighborhoods and exceptional city services.

As the first planned suburb west of the Mississippi River, Kirkwood owes its very existence to the railroad. The city was even named after James Pugh Kirkwood, the engineer in charge of locating, surveying and building the railroad. From the beginning, there has been a love affair between local citizens and trains, as evidenced by the beautiful, historic train station located in the heart of the city. To this day, it still serves as a stop for daily Amtrak passenger trains. Built in 1893, the station, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is a favorite subject of local and national photographers. The National Register of Historic Places is the federal government’s official list of historic properties worthy of preservation. The Register assists in preserving the nation’s and Kirkwood’s heritage, which is a major focus within this community.

Kirkwood operates under a council/manager form of government, with a mayor, six council members elected at large and approximately 250 employees who work in a variety of departments. The city has its own water, electric and sanitation departments, making it unique among St. Louis County municipalities. The police department has 55 commissioned officers who patrol the streets and also includes a very active and involved public. Residents and businesses participate regularly in annual crime prevention programs as well as a Citizens Police Academy and Neighborhood Crimewatch. The city’s fire department has three separate firehouses located strategically throughout the city. Firehouse #2 was built in 1929 and is the oldest operating firehouse in St. Louis County. Its unique architecture, including a turret, makes it a visual standout in Kirkwood.

Each year, more and more citizens and visitors flock to Kirkwood’s many tourist attractions including the Powder Valley Nature Center, The Magic House, Downtown Kirkwood and the community’s parks, community center and community festivals including the annual Kirkwood Greentree Festival. The three-day festival celebrates community spirit every September and includes a Friday night concert, good food, arts and crafts, games, a dog show and a parade, making it a weekend of wholesome family fun. The festival was created in 1961 as a way to replace Kirkland’s stricken trees while the city was recovering from a long period of drought. In the weeks leading up to the first festival, as well as throughout the event, the city offered pin oak, sweet gum, thorn less locust, white birch and tulip trees for sale for just $1 each. Thousands of these trees were purchased and planted. To this day, many still flourish, lining a number of Kirkwood streets.

If you’re in the mood for some big city fun, downtown St. Louis is less than 20 miles away. For the sports enthusiast, St Louis is home to football’s former Super Bowl Champions, the St. Louis Rams, baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals, and hockey’s St. Louis Blues. St. Louis also offers an abundance of fine restaurants, shopping and entertainment if you’re looking for an exciting night on the town. If you’re planning a longer trip, St. Louis International Airport offers a number of daily flights to virtually every destination, making travel plans a cinch.

If you’re looking for a good time closer to home, Kirkwood is home to an assortment of activities, both indoor and out. From a Friday night absorbing history in one of the many local museums, to watching the Saturday sunrise while enjoying your morning cup of coffee at a neighborhood café, to a Sunday afternoon reading your favorite book in the Kirkwood Public Library, Kirkwood has it all.

Outdoor enthusiasts can spend a day at Walker Lake, where they’ll find amazing trout fishing, in addition to free fly-fishing clinics hosted periodically by the Kirkwood Parks & Recreation Department and Outdoors, Inc. If you’d like to show your pride for Kirkwood city parks, the Kirkwood Parks and Recreation Department sponsors the annual Pride in the Parks photo contest each summer for all amateur photographers in the area. All photographs entered in the contest are displayed at the Kirkwood Community Center during the contest.

Kirkwood schools offer an educational experience that is unmatched, having earned the Missouri Distinction in Excellence Award for 2001-2002. The Kirkwood School District has one of the highest graduation rates in the country. This is due not only to the high quality of education, but also to the spirit of cooperation and continued teamwork and the commitment to excellence by parents, teachers, administrators and residents. Offering a collection of schools at every level, the Kirkwood School District strives to provide creative and challenging programs for their students that educate all learners to make thoughtful and informed choices throughout their lifetime.

Kirkwood is a flourishing city that strives to provide its residents with an atmosphere filled with morals and respect. If you’re looking for a city that encourages involvement and growth, come to Kirkwood: “Where Community and Spirit Meet.”