Cahokia Apartment Renter's Guide
Cahokia Apartment Renter's Guide
Overview
The Cahokia Mounds were built by the Mississippian culture and were the largest and most influential settlement of that culture between the years 600 and 1,400.
Cahokia, Illinois is a village in the southeastern part of of the state and is a charming place to live
The Cahokia Mounds were built by the Mississippian culture and were the largest and most influential settlement of that culture between the years 600 and 1,400.
Cahokia, Illinois is a village in the southeastern part of of the state and is a charming place to live. Given the size of this town, it would be expected that there wouldn't be much to the place, but that is far from the truth. This town has a significant history both before the founding of the United States and since then. There are several homes on the Historic Register and there is a thriving economy. If you are looking for a cool place to live and don't mind the summer heat, then you will feel right at home here!
Renting in Cahokia
Renting in Cahokia is fast and easy. There is of course the obligatory first and last month's rent along with a security deposit, but that is really all you need. If you are looking for apartments for rent in Cahokia, then you need to be prepared to fill out an application and undergo a credit check. In many cases, if your credit is less than outstanding, you can get around this by having letters of reference from past landlords. Pet deposits and fees are rare but do exist in a few places. You are not likely to find places will all utilities paid, so you need to be prepared to pay deposits to the utility companies as well.
Neighborhoods
There is really not a lot to neighborhoods in a village the size of Cahokia. The only real designations tend to come from when a particular piece of land was annexed into the city. There are only two neighborhoods, in addition to the downtown area. The areas of Camp Jackson and Jerome.
Downtown: Most of the rental properties in this area are small to medium in size and are single-family homes. Small homes are studio to one bedroom homes and medium homes have up to four bedrooms. There are typically plenty of available properties in this area, and here you will find yourself well situated to the rest of the town and local dining and entertainment establishments.
Camp Jackson: If you are looking for 3 bedroom houses for rent and would like a nice yard to go with it, then you might want to consider the Camp Jackson area. While you are a bit further from the center of town, you get the added benefit of an established home and extra outdoor space. Just remember that you are the one that will be mowing that lawn all summer!
Jerome: If you are looking for an apartment as opposed to a single family home, Jerome is the best spot to start your search. You will find a nice mix of studio to 2 bedroom apartments to rent as well as three to four bedroom homes in this area. You are close to downtown, but then again, everything in Cahokia is fairly close to downtown. There are plenty of restaurants and shopping centers close to this area, making it a great choice for just about everyone.
What to Do in Cahokia
Ancient History
There is plenty to see and do in Cahokia, so don't let the size of the town fool you. History is popular here and there are several historical sites. The Jarrot Mansion on 1st street is one site, and the house is on the Historic Register as an example of the Federal Style. This home is a National Historic Landmark, and despite being asymmetrical, as was typical of the Federal style, it's quite lovely.
If you enjoy history and are interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition, you will want to visit the old Cahokia courthouse. From December of 1803 until the following spring, Lewis and Clark used the courthouse as their headquarters. Because the cabin was dismantled for exhibition in the 1904 World's Fair and then again for transport to Chicago, and then yet again for return to Cahokia, little remains of the original cabin. Pieces from the original cabin have been incorporated into the new structure!
Plan to spend some time at the Cahokia Mounds site if you are looking for more adventure. It's an interesting place to tour and they occasionally accept volunteers to help with excavation in certain areas. You can join the Archaeological Society, as well as the Museum Society, and help continue the preservation of one of the oldest cultures in North America.
Local Eats
If all of this wandering through history has made you hungry, stop in at Sawmill BBQ on Mississippi Ave. The ribs are even better than the service, which is outstanding. Don't let the rustic appearance of the place put you off; it's supposed to look like this, it's an old sawmill after all!
If you are looking for great pizza or burgers, give Stingers on Falling Springs Road a try. Best burgers in town and the thin crust pizza is killer. If you need a drink or just want to hang out with friends to discuss what to do next, stop in at 157 Sports Bar on Camp Jackson Road. This bar is good snacks, large televisions for watching the Cardinals and plenty of cold beer.
Outdoor Activities
Fishing is also a popular way to spend time in this area, and if you like to fish, you have a plethora of choices! There is of course river fishing in the Mississippi; be certain that your tackle is up to the 50 and 60 pound catfish that have been known to be caught. Lake and pond fishing are also great choices and the most common fish here are Bass, Crappie and Blue Gill.
One really cool aspect of living in Cahokia is that the fireworks display over the Mississippi river on the 4th of July is easily seen from most places in the village. So instead of braving the crowds in St. Louis, you can just pop out a lawn chair and enjoy the show.
If all else fails and you are just desperate to see Eddie Izzard at the Fox Theater or see a Cardinals game in person, St. Louis is just a quick 10-minute drive across the river!