"I often wish that I could see my old hometown once more / The old red school I went to with the little girl next door / I see that stopper bobbin' when the catfish start to bite / I see a blue sky framin' little clouds of snowy white / Missouri, I hear you callin' me / Missouri, you'll never let me be / Missouri, I know I can't be free / My heart will yearn till I return / Missouri's callin' me" -- In this song, Eddy Arnold described Oak Grove to a tee.
Oak Grove, Missouri does have catfish, along with crappie, bass and other game fish in CarawayLake. Home to 7,800 residents, it also boasts parks, youth activities, a thriving business district, athletic activities, a swimming pool, library and more. Oak grove sits on the border between Lafayette and Jackson counties. To the west, it's bordered by the Kansas City metropolis, and to the east lies the rural countryside of western Missouri.
The best time to plan your move to Oak Grove is between spring and fall, when you won't have to worry about getting caught in a snowstorm (they hit fast here)
"I often wish that I could see my old hometown once more / The old red school I went to with the little girl next door / I see that stopper bobbin' when the catfish start to bite / I see a blue sky framin' little clouds of snowy white / Missouri, I hear you callin' me / Missouri, you'll never let me be / Missouri, I know I can't be free / My heart will yearn till I return / Missouri's callin' me" -- In this song, Eddy Arnold described Oak Grove to a tee.
Oak Grove, Missouri does have catfish, along with crappie, bass and other game fish in CarawayLake. Home to 7,800 residents, it also boasts parks, youth activities, a thriving business district, athletic activities, a swimming pool, library and more. Oak grove sits on the border between Lafayette and Jackson counties. To the west, it's bordered by the Kansas City metropolis, and to the east lies the rural countryside of western Missouri.
Moving to Oak Grove
The best time to plan your move to Oak Grove is between spring and fall, when you won't have to worry about getting caught in a snowstorm (they hit fast here). Amazingly, traffic in this area generally flows smoothly and traffic jams are rarely an issue (which not many towns next to a city of over 2 million can boast about).
Oak Grove offers a cost of living on par with the U.S. average, but unemployment is a tad higher here than in the rest of Missouri, so it pays to find a job before getting your apartment rental in Oak Grove. Be aware that most of the homes and apartment homes in Oak Grove use natural gas furnaces, not electrical heating, so you might need help lighting that pilot light the first time if you're not used to using gas furnaces.
Neighborhoods in Oak Grove
Although Oak Grove doesn't necessarily have distinct neighborhoods, it does have different areas throughout its east and west areas that boast distinct characteristics.
West Oak Grove
The Groves in Oak Groves: This neighborhood is primarily residential. In addition to the homes and townhouses available here, the community also features a retirement community. The Groves is situated to the west-northwest of Oak Grove.
Oaks of Edgewood: One of the pricier communities in Oak Grove, most of the homes here are new. A homeowner's association oversees the neighborhood, and rental units are rarely available. Oaks of Edgewood lies to the south-southwest of Oak Grove.
Tarsney Lakes and Sni Mills: This section of Oak Grove encompasses the entire western and southern portions of Oak Grove. A number of businesses are located in this area. Industries in the area include construction, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, retail sales, science technology and education. There are also jobs available in restaurants, hotels and other local and nationally-owned businesses. About 22 percent of Oak Grove's residents live and work here, while most commute to jobs in metro Kansas City.
East Oak Grove
Concord Estates: This community is also primarily residential, and it's difficult to find a rental unit here. Homes sold in the area go for significantly more than the local and state averages, so if you do find an apartment for rent, be prepared to pop open that wallet wide. concord Estates is situated to the east of Oak Grove.
City Center: The City Center section of Oak Grove, which encompasses much of the eastern portion of town, is home to the local schools, including Oak Grove Primary, Oak Grove Elementary Oak Grove Middle School and Oak Grove High School. Oak Grove R-VI School District oversees these schools.
East Campbell Road and North Broadway Street: This area sits in the northeastern section of Oak Grove, and is primarily a residential community. Woodwind, Southern Slope and Royal Oaks Estates are among the most affordable communities to live in, featuring one bedroom apartments. Other communities to consider are Perry Estates, Pleasant Acres Slopes and Skymeadows.
Living in Oak Grove
Oak Grove is usually sunny, facing just 78 days of precipitation per year. Rainfall is plentiful, which is good for local agriculture, at 39 inches per year. The area generally gets about 10 inches of snow during the winter. Summer highs usually stay comfortably below 90 degrees, but winter lows drop into the teens frequently.
When looking for an apartment to rent in the area, it's a good idea to inquire about the nearest storm shelters available. In the past, Oak Grove has received damage from tornadoes, floods, strong storms and winter storms. The occasional drought or unseasonal frost sometimes harms local agriculture.
Abundant opportunities for higher education are close by, including Metropolitan Community College Longview, the University of Missouri in Kansas City, the University of Central Montana, Metropolitan Community College Maple Woods, Johnson Community College, Grantham University and Kansas City Kansas Community College -- all in about a half-hour's drive of Oak Grove. Between semesters is the best time to snag apartment homes near these campuses. Start looking a month or so before the end of the semester. Eighty six percent of the population hold high school diplomas, 20 percent have bachelor's degrees and seven percent have graduate degrees.
Oak Grove is near the birthplace of President Harry S. Truman, and there are a number of nearby historical places and points of interest dedicated to Truman, as well as the western frontier. Harry S. Truman National Historic Site and Truman Library and Museum are popular places to visit. Also, there is Pleasant HillHistoricalSocietyMuseum, NationalFrontierTrailsMuseum, the JesseJamesBankMuseum and a couple of state parks nearby.
KnobNosterState Park is close to Whitman Air Force Base, and visitors can often watch as the B-2 Spirit bombers take off and land. It also has a lovely creek, woodlands and prairie lands where you can ride bikes, hike, ride horses, play on the playground, camp or fish. WatkinsMillState Park features a paved bike path, fishing, camping and abundant wildlife.
Plus, all of the food, entertainment, sports (Go, Chiefs! Go, Royals!), nightlife, shopping, concerts, theater and more are just a half-hour away in Kansas City.
