Edwardsville, Illinois is located 20 minutes from downtown St. Louis, Missouri in Madison County. It is a community brimming with pride in its culture which all those who reside here embrace.The surrounding neighborhoods are The Villages of Glen Carbon, Hamel, Moro, Staunton, and Worden.Within minutes are the cities of Troy, Collinsville, Maryville, O’Fallon, Highland and The Village of St. Jacob.Many people who work in Saint Louis choose to live on the Illinois side of the river and commute to work each day.

History –

Edwardsville is the 3^rd oldest city in Illinois.The well-renowned highway, Route 66, runs from Chicago, right through the heart of Edwardsville and then on to Los Angeles, California. It is the County Seat of Madison County.

The fantastic historical structures are well-maintained and intermingle well with the newer homes popping up all over Edwardsville.You can tour these remarkable buildings and learn of their significance.For example, the Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House was built in 1820 and is one of the oldest homes in the state of Illinois.

The first settler was Thomas Kirkpatrick who came in 1805, laid out a community and served as the Justice of the Peace. He named the community after his friend Ninian Edwards who was territorial governor of Illinois at the time. (Illinois did not become a state until 1818.)

In 1890, St. Louis industrialist N.O. Nelson chose a tract of land just south of Edwardsville to locate his plumbing factories. He would also create a model cooperative village here called Leclaire, where workers were offered fair wages with reasonable working hours and a share of the profits. The village also provided educational and recreational opportunities and made it financially possible for anyone to own their own home. Unlike company towns like Pullman near Chicago, this was a company town where the welfare and quality of life for the workers and their families was a major concern. Nelson was a visionary and is considered to be a renaissance man, years ahead of his time.

In 1934 the Village of Leclaire was incorporated into the City of Edwardsville. It remains a vibrant area with a beautiful lake and park, baseball field, the Edwardsville Children's Museum that is located in the former Leclaire school house, and the renovated Nelson factory buildings that are now the Historic N. O. Nelson Campus of Lewis and Clark Community College.

Each year on the third Sunday in October, the "Friends of Leclaire" host the annual Leclaire Parkfest with food, live heritage music, historic displays & tours, artisans, children's activities, a book sale, and much more. (Additional information about the Leclaire National Historic District can be found at www.historic-leclaire.org.)

Five Illinois governors came from Edwardsville: namesake Ninian Edwards, who became a territorial governor in 1809 and later served as governor from 1826-1830; Edward Coles, elected in 1822 and a strong opponent of slavery; John Reynolds, governor from 1830 to 1834; Thomas Ford, governor from 1842-1846; and Charles Deneen, governor from 1909 to 1913.

Future president Abraham Lincoln was in Edwardsville twice, as an attorney in the 1814 courthouse and a speaker outside the 1857 courthouse on Sept. 11, 1858. The present courthouse, a square, four-story neo-classic structure of white marble, and six stories tall in the back, was constructed from 1913-15.

Arts –

For those who enjoy the Arts you can attend concerts all summer long.Every Thursday night at 8 pm the Edwardsville Municipal Band performs in the City Park.This is a long standing tradition which is enjoyed by all ages.Then on Friday nights there is “Arts in the Park” which features a wide variety of musical concerts to appeal to every taste, followed up on Saturday morning with art classes for the kids.

From May to October you can buy locally grown produce and bakery goods at The Land of Goshen Community Market located in the streets of downtown Edwardsville.It’s a big hit with the whole family.

You can experience cultural events including, but not limited to, concerts, art galleries, sculptures, and even a Summer Movie Series at the City Park from June through September.

Education –

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE) is situated on 2,660 acres with beautiful walking trails, rolling hills, ample forests, and never-ending fields.Land-wise, it is the largest campus in the United States.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a premier University which draws local and national attention to the area through their quality academic programs and athletic events. SIUE is a fully accredited public institution which offers a broad choice of degrees and programs ranging from liberal arts to professional studies. SIUE offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the arts and sciences, business, education, engineering, and nursing. Professional degrees are offered in dental medicine and pharmacy.

SIUE has been contributing to the cultural vitality, social health and economic development of the Southwestern Illinois area since its inception in 1957.

SIUE has close relationships with the local Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 schools - as well as with surrounding area community colleges. These relationships are vital to the University's continuing commitment to community education, ensuring residents of all ages a seamless, high-quality educational transition to SIUE.

Edwardsville School District #7 is comprised of 23 schools, which includes 12 public schools, 6 pre-schools, 4 parochial schools and 1 private school.The schools and teachers are committed to the highest quality of instruction and offer many great opportunities for your children’s needs.For more detailed school reports please see www.greatschools.net .

Nature –

There are more than 85 miles of bikeways that wind through the community of Edwardsville which connect to SIUE, schools, local businesses and many neighborhoods.Kiosks can be found throughout the trails along with many kinds of wildlife.

You can see native Illinois plants and animals at the 46 acre wildlife preserve at the Watershed Nature Center.

Edwardsville offers many parks for your enjoyment with beautiful lakes, and baseball fields.

Restaurants –

There are enough restaurants to satisfy the cravings of just about anyone; Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, your local bar and grill and every kind of fast food imaginable. 

Shopping – 

You can shop in the historic downtown part of Edwardsville, or at the retail stores such as, Kohls, Old Navy, Michaels, Gliks and WalMart.The nearest shopping mall is only 20 minutes away or you can hit the many malls in St. Louis like Saint Louis Mills, Crestwood Plaza, Mid Rivers Mall…only to name a few. 

Edwardsville has many beautiful homes and can accommodate a wide range of tastes and the budget of any pocketbook.It is a prospering and growing community with a strong economy, well-ranked schools and great sell-ability.