Serving as the county seat, the City of Hillsboro is home to a number of government offices and state agencies as well as a college campus. The city park features pavilions, picnic areas, trails, green space for sports, an advanced challenge course, and playground equipment. Residents of Hillsboro and the surrounding countryside enjoy the serenity of a rural setting in close proximity to the cultural venues, professional sports, shopping centers, and fine dining in St. Louis. Throughout the county are opportunities for outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, boating, biking, and hiking. Housing in Hillsboro not only encompasses the tree-shaded neighborhoods in the heart of town but several upscale residential lakefront developments outside the city limits. This small but progressive and rapid growing community is poised for inevitable development as the new millennium continues to unfold, dedicated to controlled expansion that preserves the area's rich natural beauty and small-town flavor. Jefferson Memorial Hospital and Jefferson College add to the quality of life, bringing first-rate urban services to the countryside. The two-year Jefferson College now offers four-year programs in cooperation with St. Louis institutions of higher education.