From age five to fourteen, my family lived on what amounted to a mini homestead, about 40 miles southwest of St. Louis, not very far from I-44.
Our address was Villa Ridge, which was the boonies. But we were not in Villa Ridge. Well outside of it. Sort of in the boonies of the boonies.
Grey Summit was not too far away, nor Pacific. Washington was further.
But I have to say, in the late 50s, through the 60s, and into the 70s, it was a great prepping area. Last time I was through there, about 20 years ago, St. Louis bedroom communities were being built within a mile of where we had lived. The spring and creek I used to go to all the time was now flowing through a culvert, with no access at all to the actual spring outlet. Sigh.
Just my opinion.