Madison County, Illinois
Alton, Illinois, founded in 1837, boasts three historic districts and was the site of the final debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. Alton Memorial Hospital recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the new Duncan Wing, another attraction for the best physicians. Saint Anthony’s Health Center is also located in Alton.
Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City, Anderson Hospital in Maryville, and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland also ensure that Madison County residents’ health care needs are met. With so many hospital and medical centers to choose from, the variety can be confusing. Health Grades lists all of the hospitals in Illinois with ratings for specific procedures. Ucompare Health Care lists all the doctors practicing in the Alton area. The United Cerebral Palsy of Illinois website provides a wealth of information on disabilities and prevention of certain disabilities. You can also refer to the Illinois Hospital Directory for contact and medical information.
Madison County, Illinois is in America’s heartland along the Mississippi River in southwestern Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri is immediately to the west. Madison County shares the partially rural eastern part of the St. Louis Metro Area with St. Clair County, Madison County’s southern neighbor.
Located a day’s travel by horseback from the City of St. Louis, southwestern Madison County became a way station in the mid-1800s. Primarily middle European immigrants settled the area, many of whose descendants remain in Madison County. Madison County was home to an estimated 268,078 residents in 2008 (U.S. Census).
The county seat of Madison County, IL is Edwardsville, home to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and a branch of Lewis and Clark Community College. Lewis and Clark Community College also maintains branches in Godfrey and Alton.
Picturesque Edwardsville, founded in 1812, contains the majority of Madison County’s historical attractions, including the Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House, Leclaire Village, the Madison County Historical Museum, plus pre- and post-Civil War buildings.
Edwardsville is home to several of Madison County’s major employers: Southern Illinois University, Madison County government offices, and the Edwardsville Community School District. Many Madison County residents are employed at the steel mills in Granite City, the oil refineries in Alton and Wood River, and other industries in the St. Louis area.
The Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is within a short drive for Madison County residents. Other transportation options include Madison County Transit, which provides public mass transportation within Madison County. Four major interstate highways traverse the county: I-55, I-70, I-255, and I-270, in addition to U.S. Routes 40 and 67. Nostalgic Route 66 also snakes though Madison County.
Madison County, Illinois provides residents with parks, exemplary school systems, low crime rates, and a variety of top-notch health care facilities within the county. It is no wonder so many people have chosen to remain in Madison County while taking advantage of the close proximity to the entertainment, arts, sports, and attractions of St. Louis.
