Chester, IL

4 Apartments for Rent

The city of Chester was the home to the creator of Popeye -- E.C. Segar. Segar grew up in the town and later moved around the country, until he settled on the West Coast. He created characters based on the residents of Chester and portrayed them in his cartoon strip. The city erected a 900-pound bronze statue of the lovable Popeye the Sailor Man that shows local pride in the cartoon and its creator.

Chester is a small town on the border of Illinois and Missouri. It is about an hour south of St. Louis located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River. The southern Illinois town has a population of just over 8,500 people and a variety of businesses to sustain the local people. Many residents commute to the St. Louis from the small town. Chester has a quiet location without a lot of traffic that makes it an ideal place to call home.

Moving To Chester

Chester is a small city in a wide space that offers a variety of apartments, including one bedroom apartments for rent. The vacancy is usually high, so you can start looking on short notice if needed. There is an ample supply of apartments and homes for rent. You can find a studio for rent or 2 bedroom apartment for rent in Chester with ease.

Chester has affordable housing options that are cheaper than most other areas in the state. Due to the lower cost of housing, it is a good place to live if you work in St. Louis. The traffic is easy to maneuver and residents here have a shorter commute than a lot of other areas near the city.

The town has a relaxed atmosphere and the process of obtaining a rental is usually easy with proof of income, a deposit and the first month of rent.

Neighborhoods Of Chester

Chester has two areas that span over a large geographical area. Due to the expansiveness there is a lower density of population, so you can stretch out in the city or live in the country. The quiet locations, ample housing and short commute make Chester a favorite place to live.

Chester Center City: The heart of Chester is a unique and diverse neighborhood with a background from around the world. It is a mix of renters and homeowners who have lived in Chester for a long time. Most of the residents in Chester have a short commute to work and do not spend more than 15 minutes in one direction. This short commute time makes Chester an ideal place to live, work and retire.

The city has two parks that includes Cole Memorial Park that has a swimming pool, softball fields, trails and tennis courts. Another park is smaller and has basketball courts that are lit for an evening game of hoops.

The surrounding area of Chester spans outward to the north from the city center and has an open expanse of space that is more rural. The location is similar to Chester Center City, but there are more homeowners and commuters that tend to work in different areas dispersed throughout the region. If you live in the surrounding area you will be a little farther away from most of the city businesses, but still close enough to run to the store in the middle of the night. The seasonal weather of the area and the open land makes the surrounding area a nice location for gardens and country-style living.

Riverfront: The riverfront area of Chester offers you the opportunity to enjoy the Mighty Mississippi River. A boat ramp makes easy to take your boat down the river for a refreshing view of the beautiful river. This area of the city has beautiful riverfront homes and a trail that follows the river.

Living In Chester

Chester has all the amenities available to offer you a good supply of shopping and restaurants without having to leave town. There is a variety of restaurants that offer different menus for whatever you may crave.

The local Popeye Museum offers you a place to learn more about the lovable characters from the cartoon and has the Spinach Can store, stocked with all kinds of memorabilia.

Around Labor Day the town has the annual Popeye festival that draws crowds from around the country. Each year the city hosts the festival that has a theme for Popeye. While at the festival you can enjoy good food, games, contests and unique items for sale.

If you enjoy the outdoors and hiking adventures then the Piney Creek Ravine -- State Natural Area offers you a spectacular trail. You start in a grassy field that leads you down the side of the ravine where you continue a long trek downward until you are at the bottom. The trail goes through the ravine and makes you feel like you are on a mountainside hike among dense vegetation, under the hot sun.