Macoupin
County, Illinois
Wild artichokes were
once abundant in southwestern Illinois, and that’s
how Macoupin
County got its name. Macoupin was taken
from a Native American term that means “white
potato.”
Macoupin County was organized in 1829, the 50th county
created in Illinois. Its county seat is Carlinville,
located 45 miles south-southwest of Springfield and
about 45 miles northeast of St Louis, along the
historic Route
66. Some of the cities located in Macoupin
County are Bunker Hill, Chesterfield, Mount Olive,
Piasa, Scottville, Staunton and Wilsonville.
No part of the county is more than a 30-minute drive
from a major metropolitan area, making it an
attractive destination for those seeking its
recreation facilities, historic sites and public
parks. Gillespie Lake and Carlinville Lake are popular
spots for picnics, fishing, camping, hunting, biking
and hiking, Otter Lake offers some of the best muskie
fishing in the state. Beaver
Dam State Park has picnic areas, camping,
fishing, archery, hiking, paddle boats and nature
study.
For history buffs, there’s the “Million Dollar
Courthouse” and Old Jail in Carlinville. Considered
an architectural masterpiece at the time of its
construction, the courthouse’s ornate Circuit
Courtroom and massive size make it a must-see for
everyone. Carlinville also is home to the Macoupin
County Historical Society Museum and Standard
Addition, the largest single repository of Sears Homes
in the U.S.
The only Union cemetery in the nation is in Mount
Olive. It was created to accept the remains of six
miners killed during the mining riot of 1898 in
Virden. Also there is the Mother Jones Monument,
marking the grave of Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, a
leader in the struggles of the early labor movement.
While in the southern part of the county, visitors may
want to head to Benld, where the Holy Dormition Church
stands as an excellent example of Eastern-style
architecture, with many religious icons painted by a
local priest in the 1930s.
<< Back
to Community Page
|
