Dogtown has been around as long as its stories, populated with certified Century homes. Dogtown a tight-knit community with fewer than 500 residents. The Irish and Italian influences are noticeable in its restaurants and shops, but the warm community feeling is universal.

There are two different tales of how Dogtown took its unusual name. The first tells that it was a miner’s town, and when the miners left for work they left dogs to protect their wives and children.

The second tale is a little more far fetched. It has been told that during the 1904 World’s Fair that a group of Indonesian natives took up housing in the area. Rumor has it that wile the town slept, the natives would go out and “hunt,” mistaking local strays for food.

What is not tall tale or fiction is the fact that Dogtown remains a popular St. Louis neighborhood.

Surrounded by two major interstates, 64 and 44, Dogtown is a short ride from most businesses and attractions. Forest Park is a walk away, and both the Delmar Loop and downtown are just a short drive.

When March rolls around, Dogtown goes green. Celebrating a strong Irish heritage, the Dogtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the best place to be on the 17th for a green beer or lucky kiss.

Good things come in threes in Dogtown. Pizza. Hi-Pointe Theater. Forest Park. Dogtown’s pizza is so good it’s been frozen. The movies selected at Hi-Pointe are always winners. And the awesomeness that is Forest Park cannot be understated: from the Saint Louis Art Museum to the zoo, from bike trails to tennis courts and more… everything is free to the public, and there’s enough to keep a family active every season.

Dogtown is part of the St. Louis City School District. The neighborhood houses all grade levels through Maplewood-Richmond Heights elementary, middle, and high schools.

Dogtown Community Garden | This garden was created by Elizabeth Vogel with the help of many neighborhood volunteers. She has worked diligently to secure donations and funds to create an award winning garden. It took third place in 1999's Post-Dispatch Garden contest. Plots are available to anyone who would like to help out.

 Turtle Playground | Featuring three large and four small turtles. Visitors will find a snapping turtle, a soft-shelled turtle, a red-eared slider, a Mississippi map, three box turtles and a stinkpot along with a snake that is curled to form an area for sitting and a serpent taking a bite out of the Highway 40 overpass. Seven large eggs, three with emerging turtles, adorn the sitting area.

Franz Square Park | 3 blocks east of McCausland, Franz Square Park is located in between a one block radius.

Density: 6,300/sq mi

Zip Code: 63139

Connect: Dogtown

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