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Greene
County, Illinois
Only 15,000
people live within the 543 square miles that comprise
Greene County, but it’s an area proud of its Midwestern
roots and down-home sensibilities.
The county is named for Nathaniel Greene, a Revolutionary War
hero famous for his service in the southern region of the 13
colonies. Originally part of Madison County, the original
Greene County boundaries included what are now the counties of
Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan and Scott.
The seat of this southwestern Illinois county is the city of
Carrollton, located just 20 miles inland from the Mississippi
River and 50 miles north of St. Louis. Carrollton was named
for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Maryland. In 1832, the
newly built courthouse was the first in the state. The
Carrollton Courthouse Square Historic District is listed
with the National Register of Historic Places, as are a few
smaller buildings scattered throughout the county, mostly
because of their architectural style – Federal, Italianate,
Greek Revival and Late Victorian, among others.
No matter the season, there’s always a celebration going on
somewhere Greene County. In February, the Greenfield Public
Library holds the annual Chocolate Fair, followed by the
Easter Basket Raffle in April. Summertime fun includes the
Blue Grass Festival at the Roodhouse Rez the second week of
June, and the Antique Tractor Pull the third weekend of June.
Also in June, the Roodhouse Police Department sponsors the
annual Kids Fishing Tournament. After a summer of fairs and
picnics, the weekend after Labor Day is reserved for Greene
County Days – a countywide celebration with crafts, flea
markets, yard sales, home and barn tours and food and
entertainment.
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