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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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