Illinois Counties

Bond County, Ill.
Bond County is one of the two easternmost counties in the metropolitan area, with a population of 18,244. Although agriculture dominates the economy in this county, Carlyle Lake is bordered by a variety of resort, hunting, and fishing businesses.

Calhoun County, Ill.
Calhoun County is located on a peninsula between the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, and its population is 5,191. The county seat is Hardin. Ferries are the major mode of transportation, and the county features many historic sites and nature areas, including the Center for American Archaeology, the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge, and the Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area.

Clinton County, Ill.
Just over 36,396 people reside in primarily rural Clinton County, with some resort-based industry surrounding the southern half of Carlyle Lake. Illinois State Highway 50 and parallel railroad tracks bisect the county east to west. Carlyle is the county seat.

Jersey County, Ill.
Jersey County, population 22,692, sits on the Great River Road, which winds alongside the Mississippi River. The county is largely rural, with small towns dispersed throughout. Principia College, overlooking the Mississippi, is in the picturesque village of Elsah. Shipping and service industries predominate.

Macoupin County, Ill.
The northernmost county in the metro area is Macoupin County with a population of 49,127. Interstate 55 cuts across the southeastern edge of this agricultural county. The county seat is Carlinville.

Madison County, Ill.
The Mississippi River forms the western border of Madison County, whose population is 265,604. Much of the population and employment is centered in the county seat, Edwardsville, and other small cities like Alton. Shipping businesses dominate the river area; regional and national transportation and distribution are the focus of the Gateway Commerce Center. Many residents are employed by or attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Monroe County, Ill.
Monroe County’s major industry is agriculture. The county has easy access to the City of St. Louis via Interstate 255 and the Jefferson Barracks Bridge. Waterloo serves as the county seat for the 31,867 residents of the area.

St. Clair County, Ill.
Across the Mississippi River from the city of St. Louis, St. Clair County has a population of 260,582. Belleville is the county seat. The county is home to both MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and Scott Air Force Base. There is some agriculture and small business; many residents also commute to work in the City of St. Louis via Interstates 64 and 70.  Recently St.Clair County has been expanding their commercial development in the central part of the county especially in Belleville, Fairview Heights, O'Fallon and Shiloh.