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.