What Your St. Louis Neighborhood Says About You
Sure, there are people who judge you by your high school. But the real assessment made once you're past, oh, 25 is based on geography.
"Where do you live?" sounds like an innocuous question, but in a place like St. Louis, your answer is likely to induce a lot of assumptions. After all, you chose your neighborhood for a reason. Someone who bought a house in the Central West End instead of, say, Tower Grove South is signaling a major part of their outlook and ethos.
And we'll be the first to admit, a lot of the assumptions being made about you based on where you live are probably wildly wrong — to paraphrase Tolstoy, each city resident is unhappy in its own way. Every St. Louis neighborhood is a mixed bag of fascinating individuals. But for a glimpse at what signifiers you're throwing off without even realizing it, read on.
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COURTESY FLICKR/
PAUL SABLEMANBenton Park
You have both tattoos and really nice hardwood floors.
COURTESY OF FLICKR/
PAUL SABLEMANLafayette Square
You are ridiculously proud of your 143-year-old house, even if the hippie who bought it for a song in 1970 did all the work.
The Gate District
You like old houses as much as anyone in Lafayette Square, but you are not willing to pay $1 million for one.
Old North
You are artsy, and you actually like racial diversity, instead of just talking about it.
Hyde Park
You love beautiful old architecture and after years of maintaining it, you can’t wait for the NGA to finally open so you can cash in.
O’Fallon
You are very tired of explaining that your neighborhood is not the O’Fallon with McMansions in St. Charles County or the low-key O’Fallon in Illinois but an actual city neighborhood that apparently some people have never heard of.
Cherokee Street
You moved to the street to be an artist, but you sure spend a lot of time at the bars.
Central West End
You moved to St. Louis from a larger city, and this is the closest thing you could find to the urban experience. But what’s up with that big old chess piece?
Wash Avenue
You refuse to give up on the urban dream, and we salute you.
PHUONG BUI
Laclede’s Landing
You are a true pioneer, and we’re honestly not sure you exist. Does anyone actually live in Laclede’s Landing?
