Granite City, Illinois
Granite City is the home of 27,549 residents and is the largest city in Madison County, Illinois. Madison County neighbors St. Louis, Missouri and 6 Illinois Counties:
- Clair County
- Clinton County
- Bond County
- Montgomery County
- Macoupin County
- Jersey County
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 kitchen utensils made to resemble granite.
Granite City Neighborhood
Granite City has many great “neighborhoods” including the following:
- Downtown – An historic area that is being revitalized though investment and the hard work of the local civic and business leaders with the goal of building a great Granite City by linking the community, businesses, and municipal partners. Efforts to revitalize Downtown Granite City produced a tree lined median and many new businesses including:
- Granite City Cinema – a new first run theater showing popular hits and kids features.
- Alfresco Productions – a civic group creating artistic and cultural events such as live musical performances in a community based theater, art work with a goal to “create, stimulate and perpetuate the arts.”
- Downtown Granite City also is home to many regional and international businesses and factories, including
- US Steel – producing high quality steel with a capacity of making 2.8 millions net tons of steel annually, serving piping and the automotive industries.
- Precoat Metal – an international metal coating corporation offering decorative coating to coils of steel and aluminum for consumer and business uses.
- Kraft Foods – the Granite City location produces the Capri-Sun brand of kids drinks
- Prairie Farms – a large Midwest regional dairy producer with a plant near downtown Granite City.
- American Steel/Amsted Rail – A steel Foundry producing steel for the rail and locomotive industry.
- Gateway Regional Hospital – a regional hospital formerly known as St. Elizabeth’s with 338 beds near the downtown business district.
2. Wilson Park Area
Wilson Park is a 74-acre park in the middle of town that is the “heart” of Granite City. Wilson Park is home to lighted softball fields, a community swimming pool, playgrounds, a water slide and wading pool, seven baseball fields, a 1.4 mile fitness track, family outdoor pavilions and picnic shelters with BBQ pits, a lighted basketball court, flower gardens, 4 lighted tennis courts and 6 new lighted pickleball courts. Youth hockey teams also enjoy the renovated hockey rink in Wilson Park. Wilson Park is run and managed by the Granite City Park District.
Historic stately homes surround Wilson Park and the neighborhood.
3. Shopping District
Bellemore Village and The Nameoki Shopping Center anchor Granite City’s main shopping district along Nameoki Road. There are over 200 small and national chain stores, restaurants and shops located on Nameoki Road in Granite City, including:
- Nicol Financial Services
4. Neighborhoods
Residential developments and neighborhoods are scattered through Granite City with many “mid-century modern” homes as well as older historic homes.
5. West Granite City and Lincoln Place
Located west of downtown Granite City, West Granite City contains both industry and residential housing mixed. Railroad tracks and commercial trucks cross through this part of town providing the industry with its transportation needs.
Lincoln Place was originally named “Hungary Hollow” because of the large number of immigrants who settled in this part of town to work at the nearby industry. In 1916 the area’s name was changed to Lincoln Place.
Granite City Schools
The Granite City School District enrolls an estimated 7,000 students annually in 8 schools. Granite City School District uses a “centered” approach, students begin their education at Prather Pre-K and Kindergarten Center. First and Second grade students are divided between 2 schools, Maryville School and Wilson School, both 1st and 2nd Grade Centers. Third and Fourth grade students attend either Frohardt or Mitchell, both 3rd and 4th Grade Centers. Students in 5th and 6th grade attend Grigsby Intermediate School and 7th and 8th graders attend junior high at Coolidge Junior High School.
- Granite City Senior High School, home of the Warriors, enrolls about 1,900 students and is known for producing great students and athletes.
- Private Schools in Granite City include Holy Family Catholic School, Elizabeth Elementary School, Word of Life Tabernacle School and River of Life Community School. Metro East Montessori School is also nearby in Pontoon Beach.
- The Sam Wolf Campus of Southwest Illinois College (SWIC) was established in 1983 (formerly Belleville Area College) in Granite City. This community college offers over 110 degree and certification programs.
Sports
- The boys’ soccer team won the Illinois State Championship 10 times, including 6 consecutive years from 1976 to 1982. The girls’ soccer team also won the Illinois State 3A Championship in 2011.
- Notable athletic alumni include MLB stars Dal Maxville and Salty Parker and NFL star Kevin Greene.
- Legacy Golf Course is located within Granite City and is an 18 hole golf course with a driving range. It features kids camps, leagues and charity tournaments each week.
Neighboring Towns
- While Granite City was the hub of Madison County throughout the 20th Century, the rural areas that surround Granite City have grown and expanded to a large metropolitan area. Granite City is neighbored by Venice and Madison to the South, Pontoon Beach, Glen Carbon and Edwardsville to the East, and Hartford, South Roxana, Wood River and East Alton to the North.
Famous Local Businesses
- Cionko’s Meat Market – a famous butcher shop in Granite City, founded in 1929 and will cut to order and give great tips on preparation.
- Uncle Linny’s – a family style restaurant with large portions that attract people from miles away. A wide diverse menu will satisfy everyone.
- Park Grill – A Granite City landmark featuring inexpensive food such as “liver and onions” and “Hungarian stew.” It is famous for its large burger and pork tenderloin sandwich.
- Jacobsmeyer’s Tavern – An historic tavern in the middle of town with a large patio, live music and a chalk board menu.
- Bindy’s – the neighborhood gathering bar/restaurant with oversized food portions and friendly staff. Local politicians and businessmen frequent Bindy’s.
- Jerry’s Cafeteria – an historic, classic cafeteria famous for homestyle, delicious food.
- Weathervane- famous local spot for ice cream treats and hot food as well.
- Twist-famous local ice cream and sherbet shop.
Other Consumer Businesses
- Weber Chevrolet
- Schnucks
- Walmart
Nearby Attractions
Granite City is near World Wide Technology Raceway (formerly Gateway International Raceway), Horseshoe Lake, the Mississippi River, Cahokia Mounds Historic Site and Relleke Pumpkin Patch.
Government
- The City Hall in downtown Granite City houses the Mayor, the City Clerk, the Comptroller and the rest of the City’s officials as well as the Madison County Circuit Courthouse. Municipal Court and Traffic Court is held on Thursdays.
- The Granite City Mayor is Michael Parkinson who was elected in April, 2021 as the 26th Mayor of Granite City. Jenna Deyong is the City Clerk and Shari Grim is the Granite City Treasurer.
- The police department in Granite City is located at 2330 Madison Avenue. Mike Nordstrom was appointed chief of police and Nick Novacich was appointed assistant chief of police in 2021. The police enforce the State laws and the Granite City municipal ordinances.
Granite City Charities and Nonprofits
- Catholic Charities provides counseling programs, senior services, food and clothing distribution, emergency shelter care, special education and crisis assistance as well as many other functions.
- TWIGS
- Granite City Senior Service is run by the Granite City Township who also run the Granite City Township Hall, a bus program and a Meal on Wheels program.
- Coordinated Youth Services
- Granite City Park District Community Center
Lawyers and Title Companies
- Albers Injury Law
- Pontoon Title
- A Bankruptcy Lawyer
- Lueders Robertson & Konzen
- Calvin B Fuller
- Metro East Title and Escrow