Washington
County, Illinois
Washington County,
named for our country’s first president, was
organized in 1818 from parts of St. Clair County and
spun off Clinton County. There are just over 15,000
residents countywide.
Cities located in Washington County include Ashley,
DuBois, Hoyleton, Irvington, Nashville, Okawville,
Radom and Richview. The county seat is Nashville.
It’s best known for its “Miniature Chapel,”
which is only 8 by 12 feet. Still, that doesn’t
deter wannabe brides and grooms, who come from all
over the country and around the world to be wedded
there.
In Washington County, the biggest attraction,
literally, is the Washington County State Recreational
Area, about four miles south of Nashville. In 1959,
the state bought 160 acres of natural area near
Nashville, then continued to purchase acreage until
reaching 1,440 acres. In 1960, the Department of
Natural Resources constructed a long, thin, 248-acre
lake in the park, ideal for fishing and boating. The
park also has seven groves for picnics, with drinking
water and playground equipment. For hikers, there is a
14-mile trail.
Other things to do in the Nashville area include
golfing and, shortly after the 4th of July, the county
fair. In nearby Okawville, visitors can experience the
“Little Hot Springs of Illinois,” a naturally
occurring mineral spring and spa.
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