Steelville is declining
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1/2/2011
Steelville, for the most part, seems to be a retirement community. Generations of people that don't like a lot of change. (Good ole' boys club) type people. In the summer months, tourist can find lots of outdoor activities to do; outside of Steelville-(nearly 2 dozen floating and camping resorts nearby, hiking trails, national forest and free camping conservation areas to check out), but unfortunately one-third of Main Street in downtown Steelville is vacant. Wildwood Springs Lodge and The Meramec Country Music Show are within Steelville's city limits and provides entertainment for older folks, and families, but there is little-to-nothing to do for the younger generation.
Lots of poor folks in Steelville, with limited jobs-making Steelville's unemployment rate higher than the national's average. If you can land a job on the city's payroll though, you can blend right in with Steelville's culture. While the average yearly income for lots of people within Steelville's city limits is below poverty level (less than $15,000/year); if you can land a job within the city's government, you could be averaging between $30,000-$40,000 per year plus benefits.
Steelville has been around for over 175 years, since around 1835. It has a few antique shops in town as well as a few small novelty stores. No fast food restaurants yet, but about half a dozen diner-places to eat. In the next few years there will be a new lodge for vacationers to spend the night and hold receptions at. But for now, it's mainly a summer tourist town struggling to survive like many other smalltown-U.S.A. towns are.
john | Steelville, MO