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About O'Town - O'Fallon, IL

By
Industry Observer with Self Employed

MY O'TOWN HOME - O'FALLON, IL

O'Fallon, IL has seen tremendous growth since we moved here 16 years ago.  The population back then was 16,000 and it's 25,000 today.  It's been called the fastest growing city this side of the Mississippi River.        

Old O'Fallon Water Towers

What drives the economic growth of this fair city?  It could be its proximity to Scott Air Force Base, the largest employer in St. Clair County, and because O'Fallon has top notch school districts that appeal to many families.  The presence of Scott AFB and military relocation has helped keep home resale values high.  I-64 provides easy access in and out of the city and makes it very viable for new businesses that now line the freeway.  The same Interstate means St. Louis is a mere 20 minutes away.

It's a city where there are vast fields of corn, soybeans and wheat in the summer and fall, where many newly built homes in subdivisions share the landscape. The established neighborhoods teem with the lush foliage of trees, shrubs, and lawns, whereas newly developed communities have a combination of brown dirt and newly planted young trees and shrubs.

Fall in O'Fallon IL

It's a delight to see the homes decorated with yellows and browns of the fall when corn gets harvested--it's time for Halloween, and Thanksgiving is sure to come.  The air is crisp and cool in the fall when leaves on trees turn yellow to gold to brown and fall gloriously to the ground.  Many a week will go by when neighborhoods rake and blow and burn in some instances, until the temperature makes it impossible to work outside.  Sometimes the wind blows so strong that the pile of leaves you just worked on gets blown all away to neighbors' yards and vice versa.  Another good thing about O'Fallon-neighbors not getting upset over a mountain of leaves that settle on one's yard.

When winter comes, it could be a beautiful one or just an ordinary Illinois winter.  Sometimes it's very cold with wind, snow, and ice but sometimes it's mild as can be.  This year could be a mild one compared with last year's winter when a terrific ice storm visited the city and left many in darkness for days.  But who would mind the beautifully decorated homes with myriad of colorful lights, white and multicolored, strung on front porches, on eaves, trees, and shrubs?  It's even magical when we have an inch or more of white snow to let us know that all is right with the city.  In spite of the cold, we rarely have a white Christmas but that's not to say it's not a special holiday.  It's celebrated and enjoyed or not, by those who live here.

It's still spring here when all the fresh green and young growth are in full display after the splendor of colorful perennials have gone away.  The smell of freshly mowed lawns is a treat and we know that trees will be full of green foliage again, with lots of inviting shade underneath.  The temperature is still nice and cool, especially in early evening and morning.  Prom has come and gone and high school graduation ended just yesterday.  Many a family will be enjoying their college age kids for maybe one last time before they go off to bigger and better things.  But the promise of a warm summer is not too far away. 

Spring in Rural O'Fallon IL

When summer rolls around, some families would have moved away and new residents move in as part of the cycle.  Time to break out the swimming suits because the community pool will be open.  The smell of barbeque permeates the neighborhood since the grills are cleaned and primed. Time to service the lawnmower because grass is greener and grows longer and faster here in the summer.  You'll hear shrieks and yells of children playing, the sounds of summer intermingling with the lawnmower.  The nicest thing about this city is what I saw on Mother's Day--this little girl was sitting in front of her house at a table with a pitcher of lemonade for sale.  You'll see a lot more of that in O'Fallon when summer comes.

 

New O'Fallon Water Tower with new Logo.

 

Comments (12)

Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production

Great article.  I had no idea that O'fallon had grown that much...hadn't been there in so long

May 20, 2007 02:50 PM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

Hello, Larry!

Thank you!  You wouldn't believe how much it's grown.  Most of auto dealerships in Belleville moved along the freeway, we now have a 15-plex cinema, Super WalMart, Sam's, many restaurants, and Home Depot among others.  Even Shiloh has it's own shopping center now!  Time for you to come back!

Yolanda

May 20, 2007 03:24 PM
Luisa , Orellana
Greater LA Escrow - Los Angeles, CA
Greater LA Escrow
Great post! O'Fallon sounds like a great relaxing and peaceful place. I've always wondered what it would be like living out of Los Angeles. It is so fast paced here. But your article with describing the trees and the breeze, well...I can just imagine how peaceful it must be. And being that the population is not as big as here in Los Angeles, well, I'm sure you guys don't deal with heavy traffic. I hate LA traffic. I'm stuck in traffic at least 1 1/2 to get home, when work is actually 20 mins way without it. ;) 
May 25, 2007 04:52 AM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

Hello, Luisa!  We lived in three cities in CA (separate times) when my husband was serving in the Air Force.  Van Nuys, Suisun, and San Bernardino--it was ages ago it seemed.  We used to visit his folks from Van Nuys to Huntington Beach and it was an easy drive in the evening. 

I still remember getting lost taking the wrong exit and ended up somewhere in Santa Monica.  LOL  I learned a lot about driving and getting lost on the LA freeways.  It prepared me in becoming a real estate agent.  Yes, it's more relaxed here and less congested.  But every city has its charm, some more than others.  Mulhulland Drive was my favorite scenery.

Thanks for your comments!  :)

Yolanda

 

May 25, 2007 07:10 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Yolanda--Great post! You certainly know the O'Fallon area! Thanks for sharing.
May 25, 2007 11:58 PM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

Hello, Teri!

Thank you for visiting!  It's a dilemma to promote the city and yet not too much so we can keep the benefits to ourselves.  LOL

May 26, 2007 04:43 PM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!

Yolanda, thanks for sharing this informative post about O'Fallon.

 

Jul 16, 2007 09:15 AM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

Hi, Gary!

It's our little slice of paradise.  Thank you for stopping by!

Jul 16, 2007 04:10 PM
Donna Yates
BHGRE - Metro Brokers - Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge Mountains
Yolanda:  Did you know about the contest going on (three of them) and one is about why you should live in a certain area.  This post looks like it would be a good one for that contest.  I don't know if using the original post is accepted or if you have to re-write it so that its original.  Not sure about that.  I think the group is Active Rain Addicts.  I know Adam Waldman and Celeste "Sally" are involved. 
Sep 11, 2007 12:30 AM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East
Donna, I've heard of all kinds of contests, but I wrote this several months ago.  I've forgotten about this article--I'll look into it.  Thanks for dropping by and for the suggestion.
Sep 11, 2007 08:17 AM
John Grissom
Berkshire Hathawy HomeServices Elite Properties - O'Fallon, IL

Article is old but O'Fallon just got rated 5th happiest city in Illinois

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Nov 21, 2014 10:08 AM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

Hi, John!

Thank you for the comment. Isn't that nice? We're lucky to be in the 5th happiest city in Illinois! 

Nov 25, 2014 03:56 AM