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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.
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