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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