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Page 1: Edwardsville-Glen Carbon, IL 2010 Community Profile and Resource Guide

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Page 2: Edwardsville-Glen Carbon, IL 2010 Community Profile and Resource Guide

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Page 3: Edwardsville-Glen Carbon, IL 2010 Community Profile and Resource Guide

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Page 4: Edwardsville-Glen Carbon, IL 2010 Community Profile and Resource Guide

CommunityLink.com 1 800-455-5600

production

production manager MATT PRICE

director of publication design AMAndA WhITE

managing director LAuRA WILCoxEn copywriting EdWARdsvILLE/GLEn CARbon

ChAMbER of CoMMERCE

proofreader ChRIsTInA REEsE

director of photography kACEy WoLTERs

photography kAThERInE foRTunE

LoRI MEyER

dEvIn MILLER shAWn WILLIAMs

EdWARdsvILLE/GLEn CARbon

ChAMbER of CoMMERCE

sIuE

lead design joE GoETTInG

web site creation & support josh ChAndLER

director of media purchasing dIAnA vAuGhn

business development

director of business development GEoRGE PRudhoMME

director of outside sales dEbbIE Moss

marketing specialist shAWnA WILLIAMs

business development manager bonnIE EbERs

marketing consultant kELLy PoRTER

customer service director kAThy RIsLEy

customer service representative jAMIE TRAIL

advertising

ad research MARy koPshEvER

AMy sChWARTzkoPf

ad traffic CARoL sMITh

ad design josh MuELLER

administrative support

administrative support kAThy hAGEnE

CARoL sMITh

account support TERRI AhnER

TRICIA CAnnEdy

human resources assistant TEREsA CRAIG

mailroom technician MELIndA boWLIn

information technology

publishing systems specialist ChRIsToPhER MILLER

executive leadership

chairman and founder CRAIG WILLIAMs

chief financial officer RhondA hARsy

ABOUT

This book is published by CommunityLink and distrib-

uted through the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of

Commerce. For advertising information or questions or com-

ments about this book, contact CommunityLink at 800-455-

5600 or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR INFORMATION

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce,

200 University Park Drive, Suite 260, Edwardsville, IL

62025, Telephone 618-656-7600, Fax 618-656-7611,

www.edglenchamber.org

© 2010 Craig Williams Creative, Inc., 4742 Holts Prairie

Road, Post Office Box 306, Pinckneyville, IL 62274-0306,

618-357-8653. All rights reserved. No portion of this book

may be reproduced without the expressed written consent

of the publisher.

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce2

What's Inside

Introduction ................................................. 3

Community Profile ........................................ 5

History ......................................................... 6

Location ....................................................... 8

Homes .......................................................... 9

Industry ...................................................... 12

Major Employers in Edwardsville & Glen Carbon....................... 13

Education .................................................... 15

Government & Economic Development ...........19

Health Care ..................................................22

Events & Festivals ....................................... 26

Parks & Recreation .......................................27

Arts, Culture, & Tourism ............................... 29

Shopping & Dining ....................................... 31

Entertainment .............................................33

Worship ..................................................... 34

Closing ........................................................35

Fun Facts .................................................... 36

Frequently Called Numbers ............................................37

Index of Advertisers .................................... 39

6

15

31

34

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Page 5: Edwardsville-Glen Carbon, IL 2010 Community Profile and Resource Guide

Edwardsville and Glen Carbon represent the best of Southwestern Illinois living. These twin cities are positioned in an

ideal geographic location that allows them to simultaneously tap into all the amenities of an urban existence while still maintain-ing a small-town identity at their cores.

Although both communities are equally steeped in vibrant histories — Edwardsville is actually the third-oldest city in the state of Illinois — Edwardsville and Glen Carbon are not slowly diminishing road-side attractions. Instead, these communi-ties are thriving centers of population growth and economic development. They are fundamentally strong communities in which to raise a family, offering the best in public education, a diverse spectrum of higher education opportunities, and a wealth of quality health care options.

Over the past 25 years, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon have experienced profound and sustained growth. Population rose steadily in the 1980s — by 15 percent — and even more significantly in the 1990s, by 20 percent. The current combined pop-ulation of the two communities is nearly 37,000. This upward trend is expected to continue as the St. Louis metropolitan area — now the 18th-most-populated region in the country — continues to experience outward mobility. The St. Louis metro area boasts a total population of over 2.8 million; more than 600,000 live in what is commonly referred to as the Metro East area of Southwestern Illinois, a five-county spread that includes Madison County, the home of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon.

From a lifestyle perspective, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon afford their residents access. Situated among the ancient bluffs that edge the Mississippi River, the Edwardsville and Glen Carbon area is filled with many nature centers, parks, and lakes. Residents enjoy a tem-perate climate that features moderate win-ters — average snowfalls in recent years have remained in the 6-to-8-inch range — exuberant autumns, and brilliant springs. Renowned for cultural and ethnic diversity, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon create the

Introductiont h e t h r i v i n g t w i n c i t i e s

www.EDGLENCHAMBER .org 3

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Page 6: Edwardsville-Glen Carbon, IL 2010 Community Profile and Resource Guide

ideal confluence of friendly small towns and invigorating cultural centers.

Bolstered by the presence of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the close proximity of St. Louis, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon provide residents and visitors with a vast web of cultural, educa-tional, recreational, and dining and shop-ping possibilities. New residents are com-forted by the quality and abundance of health care, transportation, libraries, child care, housing, and government services. Furthermore, the remarkable successes of the Unit 7 School District, which serves both communities, are well known across the state. Area schools maintain the trifecta

needed for an outstanding education: high academic achievement, exceptional fine arts programs, and highly competitive ath-letic teams.

Of course, the existence of all these alluring factors is no accident. They are all driven by people — people who have a vision for historic preservation, envi-ronmentally conscious development, progressive education, comprehensive health care, and spirited entrepreneur-ship. The residents of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon know one thing for certain: together, they can raise the area’s quality of life to new heights.

4 Edwardsvil le/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce

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Page 7: Edwardsville-Glen Carbon, IL 2010 Community Profile and Resource Guide

www.EDGLENCHAMBER .org 5Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce5

ClimateAverage winter temperature ........................31°Average summer temperature .....................87°Average annual precipitation .......... 37.3 inchesAverage snowfall ............................ 18.4 inchesSource: St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth

Association (RCGA)

Tax RatesSales ......................................................7.60%Property Edwardsville ..................................6.6643% Glen Carbon ..................................6.4278%Personal Income .......................................3.0%Source: Madison County, Jan. 2008

Distance to Key Cities

St. Louis ..............................................28 milesIndianapolis .......................................225 milesKansas City ........................................260 milesChicago .............................................275 miles

PopulationEdwardsville .......................................... 24,460Glen Carbon ........................................... 12,517Madison County ................................... 267,347St. Louis Metropolitan Area ...........2.803 millionSource: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 estimates

Ethnic Composition

White ......................................................87.5%Black ........................................................7.6%Asian ........................................................3.2%Hispanic ...................................................1.5%Other ...........................................................4%Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 estimates

Median Household Income

Edwardsville ........................................ $56,559National Average ................................. $50,007Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 estimates

Community Profileb r e a k i n g i t d o w n b y t h e n u m b e r s

Cost of Living

Edwardsville/ Glen Carbon

Overall: 92Food: 95Utilities: 89

Source: Sperling’s Best

Places, 2007

National Average

Overall: 100 Food: 100 Utilities: 100

The St. Louis Metro Area has the lowest cost of living among the top metro areas in the United States. — St. Louis Regional Chamber &

Growth Association (RCGA)

www.EDGLENCHAMBER .org 5

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Page 8: Edwardsville-Glen Carbon, IL 2010 Community Profile and Resource Guide

6 Edwardsvil le/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce

EdwardsvilleAlthough there is some debate about

exact dates, Edwardsville is generally acknowledged as the third-oldest city in the state of Illinois. Due in part to a strong, thriving Native American population in the area, including the Cahokia settlement 20 miles southwest, some of the first European settlers to forge across the Illinois prairies halted their westward journeys in this region. In 1805, a South Carolina native named Thomas Kirkpatrick con-structed a two-room cabin on a bluff over-looking Cahokia Creek. His family home-stead, which would have been located on the northern side of Edwardsville today, prospered from the beginning, and word of the family’s good fortunes quickly spread back east.

By 1809 more settlers from the Southeast followed suit, joining the Kirkpatricks and forming a small village. Edwardsville was forever changed by the arrival of Benjamin Stephenson and Ninian Edwards

from Kentucky. Edwards was appointed territorial governor in 1809 when the Illinois Territory was established, while Stephenson quickly established him-self as a potent political and commu-nity presence. During the War of 1812, Stephenson, already an appointed sheriff, achieved the rank of colonel. After the war, Col. Stephenson served as a congressional representative for the Illinois Territory from 1816 to 1818.

Despite the rapid rise of his influ-ence, perhaps the most lasting impression Stephenson made upon the area was archi-tectural. Both Stephenson and Edwards erected stately Federal-style brick homes in a portion of town they referred to as Upper Edwardsville. Miraculously, with the assistance of ambitious restoration efforts, Col. Benjamin Stephenson’s house still stands today, a monument to the pio-neer spirit of one of Edwardsville’s found-ing fathers. For Ninian Edwards’ part, the most significant legacy he bestowed upon the local area was his name. In 1812,

Edwards anointed the Kirkpatrick cabin with the municipal honor of being the seat of justice for the newly created Madison County. In return, in 1813, Kirkpatrick made the magnanimous gesture of naming the young town Edwardsville. Edwards then served as governor of the state of Illinois from 1826 to 1830.

Throughout the decades leading up to the Civil War, Edwardsville continued to grow. On its south side, Edwardsville, the “Land of Goshen,” served as the west-ern end of a significant road that cut diagonally across the state from Madison County to Shawneetown, on the Ohio River, creating a vital artery for population growth. By the time the Civil War ended in 1865, Edwardsville was a thriving town of nearly 2,000 that featured everything from a courthouse and a local newspaper (The Intelligencer) to beer breweries and a steam furniture factory.

Around 1890, industrialist N.O. Nelson began a project of progressive vision and effective action that would forever enhance the fabric of Edwardsville. Inspired by new economic philosophies of profit shar-ing, Nelson built a modern manufactur-ing facility, complete with a selection of modest, yet attractive, new homes for his employees. He named the project “Leclaire” after a French profit-sharing pioneer. The 150 acres acquired by Nelson for Leclaire sat just southeast of Edwardsville’s center. His factory, which made toilets and other plumbing fixtures, was said to have been a model of efficiency highlighted by exem-plary working conditions.

Edwardsville’s good fortunes continued into the 20th century. The Edwardsville Chamber of Commerce, an advocacy group for local business, was founded in 1923. The country’s most revered highway, Route 66, blazed its way from Chicago to Los Angeles right through the heart of Edwardsville. The area was growing, and new businesses and indus-tries were demanding employees with a college education. In 1955, a group of concerned parents and business leaders from the Chamber of Commerce began an advocacy campaign to establish a public university in the Metro East portion of the greater St. Louis area. In 1957, Southern Illinois University opened two residence centers in Alton and East St. Louis. Groundbreaking for SIU Edwardsville was held in 1963, and classes began on the new SIUE campus in 1965.

m o n u m e n t s t o p i o n e e r s p i r i t

History

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Glen CarbonWhile Glen Carbon does not have the

same prominent early settlement history that Edwardsville boasts, its historical her-itage is just as rich. Literally translated, Glen Carbon means “Valley of Coal,” and Glen Carbon’s history is inseparably linked with this black gold.

Glen Carbon was actually home to settlers of European descent before Edwardsville. In 1801, Col. Samuel Judy, a man of Swiss lineage, became the first per-manent resident of Madison County after receiving a military grant of 100 acres near the base of the bluffs. However, through-out most of the century, the area remained predominantly rural. After the Civil War, coal mining became a serious indus trial venture in Southwestern Illinois, and Glen Carbon was positioned on top of vast coal reserves. The Madison Coal Corporation owned and operated two bituminous coal mines and a coal-washing facility several miles south of Edwardsville, which drew an increasing population into these hills. Finally, in 1892, 76 residents petitioned the county court, and the Village of Glen Carbon was officially incorporated.

Although coal mining provided the economic bedrock for Glen Carbon, brick production, which came to the community around the turn of the century, also played a significant role in the local economy. In

fact, the Saint Louis Press Brick Company produced all the bricks used in construct-ing facilities for the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Along with the Madison Coal Corporation, the brick company partici-pated in the building of company houses. Called “saltbox” homes, these diminutive structures were once common in Glen Carbon, and some still stand along the town’s Main Street today.

While Glen Carbon owes its municipal origins to coal mining and its cultural origins to the working people of Eastern

European descent, the Village owes much of its current success to the opening of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus in 1965. By 1980, Glen Carbon’s population exploded, ballooning by 174 percent. Today, Glen Carbon still honors its coal-mining heritage, with statues and parks standing throughout the town as dignified reminders. Yet, Glen Carbon’s identity is still being defined as it shoulders a great portion of the growth demanded by the region’s steadfast prosperity.

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Page 10: Edwardsville-Glen Carbon, IL 2010 Community Profile and Resource Guide

Location has always been one of the greatest assets shared by Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. From highways and

railroads to waterways and airports, both cities are situated in the intensely beat-ing heart of mid-America’s transportation infrastructure. Whether you are visiting the area or looking to relocate a business, you will find that Edwardsville and Glen Carbon are models of accessibility.

Take, for instance, their precise geo-graphic positioning. Situated almost exactly on the 90th meridian, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon are part of a five-county region in Illinois commonly referred to as the Metro East, which describes their ori-entation within the greater St. Louis area.

AirWith downtown St. Louis approximately

18 miles away, residents of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon enjoy easy access to Lambert International Airport in St. Louis (www.flystl.com), with daily service to all major airports and many regional air-ports provided by American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Northwest, Southwest, United, and U.S. Airways. Residents also have access to three regional airports.

RoadThe large number of interstate high-

ways that converge in the metropolitan area provides residents with a strong high-way system that connects to all major cit-ies in the United States.

Residents are only a few miles away from cross-country interstates like I-44, I-55, I-64, and I-70, as well as I-255 and I-270, which provide a bypass loop around St. Louis County and the Metro East. From a nostalgic perspective, two of the nation’s most recognized two-lane high-ways also run through the area. Historic Route 66 runs right through downtown Edwardsville, while Route 50, the nation’s only coast-to-coast two-lane highway, skirts the southern extremities of Madison County.

Statewide road infrastructure initia-tives have improved the major highways through Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, giving residents hassle-free access within both communities. Highways 159 and 157, the main arteries in both communi-ties, have been widened and expanded, and phase two of the cross-city parkway, Governors’ Parkway, is complete, giving residents a quick route across town.

Mass TransitPublic transportation is also an increas-

ingly viable option in the area. Madison County Transit (www.mct.org)

offers award-winning bus service through-out Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, Madison County, and the St. Louis area. Buses connect riders to points within the two communities, to SIUE, to transpor-tation hubs around the county, and to MetroLink for access to many popular St. Louis destinations.

Metro (www.metrostlouis.org) offers MetroBus and MetroLink light rail trans-portation to destinations throughout St. Louis, including Lambert Airport, and a MetroLink station is only 20 minutes away.

Interstate rail travel is easily accessed through a nearby Amtrak station (www.amtrak.com) in Alton, Ill., with daily service to St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas, and San Antonio.

Locationm o d e l s o f a c c e s s i b i l i t y

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce8

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www.EDGLENCHAMBER .org 9

The area’s oldest remaining residential structure was most likely built before 1809. While the antiquity of this log cabin, located along Edwardsville’s North Main Street, is now disguised by generations of renovation, many of the area’s historic

homes are still stunningly maintained and displayed. From Col. Benjamin Stephenson’s early 19th-century Federal-style brick home and the company-built “saltbox” homes in Glen Carbon, to the extravagant lines of the Victorian homes along the tree-lined St. Louis Street Historic District, to the humble elegance of vernacular bungalows in historic Leclaire, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon blend modern history and traditional architecture.

From historic homes to urban condos, the area is quickly developing a reputation for its diversity of housing options and its abundance of affordable land. Following several record-setting years, the decline in the housing market has affected the area, but at a much slower pace than in other parts of the country. Home sales in Madison County have only dropped by 7.9 percent, and the median price of a home sold in Madison County was $130,000 in 2007.

Homesh i s t o r i c t o u r b a n

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Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce10

Beautiful, historic homes

bring elegance and style

to Edwardsville and Glen

Carbon neighborhoods.

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If the proximity to St. Louis, quality local schools, and a broad spectrum of employment opportunities aren’t enough to convince you to relocate to the area, then maybe the variety of new residential developments will entice you to recon-sider. Developments such as Timberwolfe in Glen Carbon offer sprawling executive-style homes in the $300s–$400s range. Savannah’s Crossing and Timber Ridge, on the other hand, offer more modest homes in the mid $200s to upper $300s. Then, there are residential developments like Ebbets Field and Arbor Lake, near shop-ping and the new YMCA, whose popular luxury homes are available from $400,000 and up.

If you are considering a move to the area and require a bit of assistance during the golden years of your life, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon are home to Eden Village and Meridian Village, two state-of-the-art retirement communities. Both of these developments serve residents with a full continuum of care. Duplexes, assisted-living apartments, and full-care nursing facilities are all available.

For more information regarding homes, or for help locating the right real estate agent for you, please contact the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce by calling 618-656-7600 or visiting www.edglenchamber.com.

From historic homes to

urban condos, the area

is quickly developing a

reputation for its diversity

of housing options .

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Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce12

Two separate but equal elements help fuel the thriving business community in and around Edwardsville and Glen

Carbon: diversification and cooperation.

DiversificationDiversification can be witnessed in the

transformation of the once coal-dependent Village of Glen Carbon into a contem-porary bedroom community adjacent to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE, www.siue.edu), a four-year, fully accredited public university that is one of the area’s largest employers.

Diversification can also be found in Edwardsville’s revitalized historic down-town, which found a fresh economic life and a desire to compete amid new com-mercial developments just as the city’s population began to swell.

In fact, both Edwardsville and Glen Carbon have exercised proactive approaches to absorb the population shift that has brought thousands of new resi-dents to the region.

The Chamber and The AllianceCooperation between the economic

development leadership of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon has been instrumental to the success of the business community.

Two business advocacy organizations are at the heart of this leadership: the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce (www.edglenchamber.com) and The Alliance of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon (www.edglenalliance.com).

The local Chamber of Commerce is a network builder responsible for ensuring that hundreds of businesses and profes-sionals are connected, informed, and given a voice in the business community.

The Alliance, a not-for-profit organiza-tion comprised of both public- and private-sector leadership, spearheads the effort of marketing and promoting the area for economic growth and development. Their economic development efforts are closely coordinated with the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce, along

with the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association and other regional and statewide organizations.

SIUENo discussion of economic develop-

ment and cooperation could be complete without recognition of the role played by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). The university employs 2,400 indi-viduals and 1,700 student workers and has a $356 million annual economic impact on the region. But equally important is SIUE’s commitment to creating an environment in which other employers can prosper.

SIUE has significant resources to sup-port the region’s economic development needs. University-based units — including the Small Business Development Center, Entrepreneurship Center, Southwestern Illinois Advanced Manufacturing Center, International Trade Center, and the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center — provide direct economic devel-opment services to a wide range of busi-nesses and industries.

University ParkUniversity Park is a 330-acre applied

research and technology park carved out of SIUE’s sprawling 2,660-acre campus.

Industrya d a p t i n g t o g r o w t h

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www.EDGLENCHAMBER .org 13

University Park was established as a loca-tion for new and existing companies that would benefit from direct proximity to the university and a state-of-the-art business infrastructure. Currently, 16 companies have tenancy in the park, alongside eight university-related units.

Overall, University Park offers poten-tial businesses developed sites of up to 25 acres. It also offers existing struc-tures that are finished and ready for ten-ants. University Park is outfitted with a state-of-the-art fiber-optic infrastructure, has access to several interstates and a vast transportation infrastructure, and is situated right next to a large and diverse labor force. With over 13,000 students, SIUE offers employers a full range of potential workers. From semi-skilled, part-time workers to highly specialized faculty, interns, and recent graduates, the univer-sity is a precious resource for the tenants of University Park:

The • National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center, a $20 million facil-ity that emulates commercial ethanol plants. The facility is designed to test and validate more cost-effective methods of converting corn to etha-nol. This research center is part of the St. Louis regional Bio Belt initiative.The newest University Park tenant, •the American Red Cross, is build-ing a 170,000-square-foot, $50 mil-lion state-of-the-art Blood Processing Center and National Testing

Laboratory on a 15-acre site. The American Red Cross chose University Park from more than 22 sites within the St. Louis metro area.

Gateway Commerce CenterOf course, there are many ambitious

economic development initiatives under way in the greater Edwardsville and Glen Carbon area that are relatively indepen-dent of SIUE.

The Gateway Commerce Center is transforming the once manufacturing-dependent American Bottoms into a locus of distribution. Covering almost 2,300 acres and offering 7.5 million square feet of space at the interchange of interstates 270 and 255, the Commerce Center is only 20 minutes from downtown St. Louis and is being marketed nationally as one of the Midwest’s largest commerce parks.

National Companies Edwardsville and Glen Carbon are home

to national companies such as Hershey, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Dial, Lanter Courier, USF Holland, Buske Trucking, Cassens Transport, and Hortica Insurance and Employee Benefits.

Hortica, a long-time leader in insuring florists and greenhouses, was founded 110 years ago and now has about 230 employ-ees in Edwardsville. Hortica has developed the 100-plus-acre Edwardsville Corporate Park near Route 143 and Interstate 55.

Company Name ............................................Service .................Number of Employees

S outhern Illinois University Edwardsville ....................................................Education ............................................ 2,296

Madison County ...............................................Government ........................................... 1,066E dwardsville Community School District 7 ..............................................Education ............................................... 840

T heBANK of Edwardsville (all branches) .................................................... Finance ................................................. 400

Wal-Mart ............................................... Retail–Department Store .................................... 365Madison County Transit .................................. Transportation ............................................ 250H ortica Insurance and

Employee Benefits ...........................................Insurance ............................................... 230Eden Village ................................................ Retirement Center ......................................... 180Schnucks .......................................................Retail–Grocery ............................................ 145

Source: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Nov. 2008

Major Employers in Edwardsville & Glen Carbon

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Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce14

Retail GrowthAside from industrial and knowledge-based economic growth,

the retail facet of the region’s development puzzle has also been surging in recent years. Several areas, such as Main Street in downtown Edwardsville, Miner Square in Glen Carbon, and Cottonwood Mall and Montclaire Plaza, have enjoyed vigorous activity and aggressive expansions in recent years.

The malls have witnessed resurgence as big-box stores such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Target, Sears, Lowe’s, and Home Depot have taken up residency in the neighborhood.

In the downtown area, quaint restaurants, coffee shops, spe-cialty stores, art galleries, and numerous arts and crafts festivals highlight the community’s commitment to commerce and culture. Adjacent to the Madison County Courthouse, every Saturday from mid-May through mid-October, you can find the Goshen Market, a farmers market offering locally grown and organic pro-duce, baked goods, and crafts with local entertainment.

I-55 Growth CorridorWhile the hustle and bustle of life in Edwardsville and Glen

Carbon continues to rise and quicken, it’s comforting to know that all of this growth is being approached with foresight and caution. This phenomenon is best understood through programs like the I-55 Transportation and Growth Management Plan.

As local communities prepare to absorb an estimated 20,000–25,000 new residents over the next quarter-century, the I-55 Growth Corridor — east of Edwardsville, running from Route 143 south toward the Interstate 270/55 interchange — is being planned to ensure that future developments are wisely and responsibly constructed. In the case of the I-55 plan, leaders are negotiating an agenda to guide everything from road construction to the design of new residential and commercial developments.

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www.EDGLENCHAMBER .org 15

Edwardsville and Glen Carbon offer a full spectrum of educa-tional options for you and your family. Young children already in or preparing to enter kindergarten through 12th grade

will find a wide variety of options, including public, private, and parochial schools. For secondary and continuing education, over 20 colleges and universities are available in the greater St. Louis area, including Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and Lewis and Clark Community College’s N.O. Nelson campus in Edwardsville. The area’s commitment to education is evident in the cooperation necessary to offer comprehensive and high-quality instruction.

Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7www.ecusd7.org

Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 is one of the area’s leading public school districts. District 7 offers six primary schools, four intermediate schools, and four secondary schools and serves 185 square miles, including the communi-ties of Dorsey, Hamel, Midway, Moro, Prairietown, and Worden. For 142 years, District 7 has maintained and set the highest standards for public education. Currently, the district serves over 7,300 students attending either primary, intermediate, or secondary schools.

Edwardsville High School serves grades 9–12 in its main build-ing on Center Grove Road and at Lewis and Clark Community College’s N.O. Nelson campus. At-risk students are served by the Alternative High School, housed in the building known as EHS South, across the street from the main high school build-ing. Lincoln Middle School and Liberty Middle Schools house grades 6–8.

The elementary grades are served in primary and intermedi-ate attendance centers. Primary attendance centers (grades K–2) include Glen Carbon Elementary School, Goshen Elementary School, Hamel Elementary School, Leclaire Elementary School, Midway Elementary School, and Nelson Elementary School. Intermediate centers (grades 3–5) include Albert Cassens Elementary School, Columbus Elementary School, Woodland Elementary School, and Worden Elementary School.

Academic excellence is revealed through consistently above-average standardized test scores. All District 7 grade levels and schools reported higher test scores in 2007. Additionally, all schools made Adequate Yearly Progress according to No Child Left Behind legislation. The Edwardsville High School graduating class of 2007 boasted ACT composite scores that exceeded both state and national averages.

District 7 continually reviews and revises its curriculum to best serve students’ needs. In fall of 2006, District 7 began offer-ing Spanish language instruction to all students in the elementary schools, becoming the only school district in the Metro East to offer elementary- and intermediate-level foreign language as part of the regular curriculum.

In fall 2003, the historic N.O. Nelson campus opened as a branch of Lewis and Clark Community College. It has been

renovated into a high-tech career education center that serves the residents of the Edwardsville and Glen Carbon area. This state-of-the-art technology center serves Edwardsville High School students during the day and Lewis and Clark students in the late afternoon and evening. The final phase opened in the fall of 2007, allowing nearly 600 Edwardsville High School students to attend class in either the morning or afternoon session.

Excellence in the fine and performing arts is also a high prior-ity in District 7. A continuum of fine arts instruction begins in the elementary schools with vocal music, band, orchestra, and art classes. It is maintained through the middle schools and culmi-nates in the last four years of public schooling, during which stu-dents participate in marching and concert bands, orchestras, and vocal music performance groups that garner regional and state awards on a regular basis. Beginning in middle school and con-tinuing at the high school level, students have the opportunity to participate in drama productions through drama club activities.

Similarly, excellence in athletics is considered an integral ele-ment in fully exposing students to all dynamics of an education, while also fostering a climate of community spirit. In recent years, this commitment to excellence has produced a litany of successes. Edwardsville High School rejoined the Southwestern Conference

Educationc e n t r a l t o o u r s u c c e s s

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in 1996–1997 and won two championships in that year. Since that time, EHS has won 64 Southwestern Conference champion-ships. The Tigers have won the All-Sport trophy in eight of the last 10 years.

Community spirit and dedication is reflected in the first-class sports facilities and equipment made available to athletes through volunteer and community sup-port. Edwardsville’s sports programs are recognized as the “class” of the St. Louis Metropolitan area. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has recognized Metro St. Louis area athletic programs for five years with its Post-Dispatch High School Sports Program of the Year Award. Edwardsville High School won the 2005–2006 award for large schools and is the only school, large or small, to rank in the top five each year since the award was established. According to the Post-Dispatch, factors contributing to the district’s success include “talented and dedicated athletes and coaches; admin-istrative, parental and community sup-port; summer improvement programs; and camaraderie among coaches.”

Lewis and Clark Community College www.lc.edu

Founded in 1970 in nearby Godfrey, Lewis and Clark Community College has quickly grown to accommodate over 10,000 credit and non-credit students. Lewis and Clark offers certificates as well as degrees in career and transfer programs.

Lewis and Clark Community College’s N.O. Nelson campus in Edwardsville offers a range of opportunities for career and transfer students, as well as individuals seeking personal enrichment courses. The Nelson Campus is home to two of Lewis and Clark’s most unique partnerships:

The Southwest Illinois Advanced •Manufacturing (SIAM) initiative, an alliance with the Southern Illinois University School of Engineering and the Edwardsville Community School District 7, focuses on advanced manu-facturing operations that aid area busi-nesses in streamlining operations and bringing new products to market. The other partnership, with Conoco-•Phillips and Sigma Aldrich, trains pro-cess operators for work in the petro-leum refining and chemical industries.

Community spirit and

dedication is reflected in the

first-class sports facilities

and equipment made

available to athletes

through volunteer and

community support .

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The historic Nelson campus is on the redeveloped site of the former N.O. Nelson Manufacturing Co. complex. The Nelson plant manufactured plumbing fixtures from 1890 to 1948 and became the largest supplier of plumbing fixtures for the west-ern United States. The complex was listed as one of Illinois’ 10 most endangered historic sites prior to Lewis and Clark’s renovation project, which began after the college obtained the property in 1999. The first phase of the three-phase renovation project opened in 2004. Enrollment at the campus continues to grow and is expected to reach 3,000 students.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville www.siue.edu

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is a nationally recognized univer-sity that educates and develops profes-sional and community leaders through its excellent faculty and programs. SIUE offers the advantages of a small, liberal arts col-lege with the savings of a state university. The university’s emphasis on undergradu-ate education, complemented by faculty

research, creates practical applications for student learning.

SIUE offers 118 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, dental medicine, education, engineering, nurs-ing, and pharmacy. Beautifully situated on 2,660 acres, the university is accred-ited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. More than 13,600 students choose SIUE for the enlightening programs, engaging faculty, and convenient location just 20 miles from St. Louis.

In 2008, for the fourth consecutive year, SIUE was heralded by U.S. News & World Report for its Senior Assignment Program, an integrative learning experi-ence required of all seniors prior to gradu-ation. SIUE is listed in the senior capstone experience category along with 16 other universities, including Yale, Harvard, MIT, and Princeton.

U.S. News also listed SIUE among the top 10 public universities in the Midwest-Master’s category for the second consecutive year. SIUE is also in the top one-third of all public and private Midwestern universities.

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SIUE is an economic engine commit-ted to helping the region grow. An eco-nomic impact study released in spring 2006 indicated that of the nearly 80,000 SIUE alumni, more than 37,000 live in and contribute to the community and local economy. During fiscal year 2005, SIUE, along with its households and visitors, directly contributed more than $178 mil-lion in expenditures to the local economy. For every state tax dollar spent on the uni-versity, SIUE generates $5 in total spend-ing in the local economy.

The university serves the external busi-ness community through a variety of out-reach programs available to help meet the needs of businesses and entrepreneurs. University Park SIUE Inc., a 330-acre tech-nology park located on the SIUE campus, offers leading-edge applied research and technology-based businesses the resources and environment to increase their success and competitive advantage.

SIUE offers the community a wide vari-ety of artistic and cultural opportunities. More than 100,000 people visit campus each year to attend a theater performance, an NCAA Division I athletic event, a music concert, an art class, a walk through The Gardens at SIUE, or a visiting art-ist lecture. The university also offers art workshops and summer camps for chil-dren ages 6 to 18.

SIUE’s Office of Educational Outreach supports and facilitates non-traditional

academic, personal, and professional expe-riences for students of all ages. Programs include off-campus credit courses, lei-sure learning, and career and professional development activities.

SIUE is committed to outreach and public service. School of Dental Medicine students manage 35,000 patient visits each year and offer oral health treat-ments, screenings, and education to more than 10,000 people annually through com-munity outreach. Offering comprehensive programs, services, and training to more than 6,000 people annually, the SIUE East St. Louis Center is dedicated to improv-ing the lives of families and individuals in East St. Louis and surrounding urban communities.

SIUE Intercollegiate Athletics is cur-rently transitioning to NCAA Division I status. The newest member of the Ohio Valley Conference, SIUE has a tradition of excellence in athletics, having won one Division I and 16 Division II national championships, including seven in men’s tennis, four in women’s tennis, three in wrestling, two in men’s soccer, and the lat-est by the softball team in 2007.

SIUE adds value to people’s lives. From direct and tangible benefits to quality-of-life considerations, SIUE is a community partner dedicated to foster-ing a climate of collaboration, coopera-tion, and stewardship.

SIUE is a community

partner dedicated to

fostering a climate of

collaboration, cooperation,

and stewardship.

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City of Edwardsvillewww.cityofedwardsville.com

The City of Edwardsville is administrated and operated by a mayor, a seven-member city council, a city clerk, a treasurer, and a city administrator. Municipal departments include the Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Cable Television, and Fire and Police departments. Citizens serve on 14 boards and commissions to make decisions on every-thing from municipal bonds to zoning.

Government & Economic Development

c o m m u n i t y l e a d e r s h i p

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Village of Glen Carbonwww.glen-carbon.il.us

The Village of Glen Carbon is adminis-trated and operated by a mayor, six village trustees, a village clerk, a treasurer, a village attorney, and a village engineer. Municipal departments include the Public Works Department, Police Department, and the Volunteer Glen Carbon Fire Protection District.

Madison Countywww.co.madison.il.us

Edwardsville is the seat of Madison County government and is home to the majority of county government offices. Madison County is administrated and operated by a county board, a county clerk, a circuit clerk, a coroner, a trea-surer, an auditor, and a state’s attorney. Other county services include the Health Department, Animal Control, and Building and Zoning.

Edwardsville is the

seat of Madison

County government

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No matter what kind of health care you are seeking, the Edwardsville and Glen Carbon area has an option to suit your needs. The number of hospitals, clinics, dentists,

specialists, and nursing homes available to the residents of Madison County is simply astounding. While the resources of St. Louis are nearby, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon residents do not have to leave their own communities to gain access to quality medical care.

Anderson Hospitalwww.andersonhospital.org

Anderson Hospital, located just south of Glen Carbon in Maryville, has been serving the health care needs of the surround-ing communities since 1977. This 144-bed acute-care facility offers a broad spectrum of advanced health care services, includ-ing a state-of-the-art obstetrics unit — the Pavilion for Women — and a comprehensive emergency unit, which treated over

Health Caref o r y o u r g o o d h e a l t h

Residents do not have

to leave their own

communities to gain

access to quality

medical care.

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38,000 patients last year alone. Over 220 physicians work with Anderson Hospital to meet the medical needs of our commu-nities. These talented physicians constitute Anderson’s medical staff — a staff that cov-ers nearly 40 medical specialties.

Within the Edwardsville and Glen Carbon community, Anderson Hospital’s ExpressCare is a convenient place to receive immediate medical care for life’s minor illnesses and mishaps. This exten-sion of Anderson Hospital’s Emergency Services Department is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Two locations are avail-able: Glen Carbon’s Ginger Creek Business Park, right off Route 157, and 1103 Belt Line Road in Collinsville. No appointment is necessary.

As Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, and the surrounding communities continue to grow, so does Anderson Hospital. In an average year, Anderson Hospital delivers over 1,700 babies, performs over 10,000 surgeries, and serves over 7,000 inpatients and over 85,000 outpatients. Anderson Hospital is dedicated to continuously improving quality, efficiency, and patient satisfaction.

Keeping with a tradition of progress, Anderson has completed several ambitious expansion projects, including the Warren

Billhartz Cancer Center, the Pavilion for Women 2nd Story Addition, and the Physician Office Building II.

Warren Billhartz Cancer CenterThe Warren Billhartz Cancer Center

opened in September 2007, giving can-cer patients in the Metro East a new option for comprehensive cancer care. The center offers traditional treatment options and extends access to cutting-edge research and investigative therapies through an affiliation with Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers. Located on the hospital’s growing campus, the cen-ter brings together the medical resources of Anderson Hospital; Illinois Oncology, Ltd. (Dr. William Popovic, Dr. Guillermo Rodriguez, Jr., Dr. Samuel Burstein, and Dr. John Visconti); Maryville Oncology, Ltd. (Dr. Mohamed Megahy and Dr. Dean Norton); and other medical specialists.

The center also provides sub-specialty physician services; a cancer resource cen-ter and library; support services, including social workers and dietitians who special-ize in working with oncology patient; and a retail space dedicated to the needs of cancer patients.

In addition, the center includes a com-prehensive breast care center. The Friends

of Hope Breast Diagnostic Center provides routine, digital mammography, as well as stereotactic breast biopsy and ultrasound-guided biopsy services.

Pavilion For Women AdditionThe Pavilion for Women’s second-

story addition opened in June 2008. Over the years, Anderson Hospital has built an outstanding reputation for its obstetrics department, the Pavilion for Women. In fact, Anderson Hospital deliv-ers more babies at its facility than does any other hospital in Southern Illinois! In 2007, the Pavilion delivered nearly 1,800 babies, a 21 percent increase from deliveries in 2003.

Because of the increasing number of patients, it was imperative to increase the size of the unit to meet the growing com-munity’s needs. The expansion, located above the current OB unit, includes 17 private mother/baby suites and a second nursery. The first floor of the unit will now be used primarily for prenatal care, labor, and delivery. The second floor will focus on mothers and newborns during their postpartum stay. A “Lactation Station” has also been added in this project, offering patients an exclusive site for breastfeeding support, supplies, and education.

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Physician Office Building II

The Physician Office Building II opened in July 2008. This $6.7 million, 32,000-square-foot office building was developed by Johnson Properties, Inc., of Fairview Heights. Anderson Hospital has master lease of the building space, which houses several hospital departments as well as physician tenants.

Anderson Hospital’s patient volumes continue to reflect the growth and the strength of the communities that it serves, as well as the quality of their medical staff and hospital employees. The hospital con-tinues to expand and add services to better meet the health care needs of their patients and families. They hold steadfast to their mission to be the leader in providing and promoting excellence in health care and wellness services in partnership with the communities they serve.

Gateway Regional Medical Centerwww.gatewayregional.net

Another comprehensive health care facility that is readily accessible to the resi-dents of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon is Gateway Regional Medical Center (GRMC). Located just minutes away in Granite City, Gateway Regional offers 416 licensed beds and a range of care that includes 24-hour emergency services, orthopedic surgery, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and a sleep disorders center. Gateway Regional boasts a workforce of just under 1,000, including physicians, nurses, administra-tors, and staff. Among the physicians are dozens of specialists in fields ranging from cardiology, to pulmonology, to urology and vascular surgery.

Gateway Regional’s commitment to the community is proven by its investment in expanding and improving health care

services and recruiting physicians. Many additions and renovations have been made in recent years, and dozens of new physi-cians have joined the staff since 2002. Gateway’s upgrades include:

In 2003, the emergency department •underwent extensive renovations, increasing in size from six exam rooms to 17. GRMC has renovated the Edwardsville •Health Center, which includes a full-service imaging center and a number of physician’s offices. In 2008, GRMC completed both inter-•nal and external building upgrades, including painting and paneling the outside of the building and painting and new flooring inside, as well as a complete renovation to the Behavioral Health Unit. In total for 2008, GRMC’s investment •in renovations and upgrades exceeded $14 million.

Gateway Regional Medical Center also maintains a constant dedication to the fitness and wellness of patients and employees. Whether it is through the full-

service Fitness and Wellness Center or the commitment to a tobacco-free campus, Gateway Regional develops resources so their patients and customers are educated for the benefit of long-term well-being.

Other Health FacilitiesOf course, in the event that you require

a specialist who is not currently employed at Anderson Hospital or Gateway Regional, the hospitals and clinics of the greater St. Louis area will be able to provide you with many highly qualified options. Among these are several nationally rec-ognized facilities, including Children’s Hospital, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, St. Louis University Hospital, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University Medical Center.

Additionally, more than 60 physi-cians, specialists, and dentists work in private practices in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. Nursing care and gerontological services are provided by facilities such as University Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Edwardsville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Meridian Village, and Eden Village.

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Entertainment is as varied as your imag-ination. The art-friendly and historical communities of Edwardsville and Glen

Carbon offer special events, children’s pro-grams, theater, dance, music, exhibitions, museums and festivals.

The Goshen Marketwww.goshenmarket.org

The Land of Goshen Market is your best source for locally grown, fresh, natu-rally ripened farm products; tasty baked goods with locally grown ingredients; and wonderful art and gift ideas. Live enter-tainment and free demonstrations add to the festive atmosphere. Located next to the Madison County Courthouse, this weekly event is held Saturday mornings from mid-May to mid-October, between 8 a.m. and noon.

Arts in the Parkwww.cityofedwardsville.com

On star-spangled summer nights, small-town Americana lives on in band concerts at City Park. Sponsored by the Office of the Mayor and the Edwardsville Department of Parks and Recreation, Arts in the Park is a 10-week series of cultural events, includ-ing band concerts on Thursday and Friday evenings. Educational events include art classes for children on Saturday mornings. All events are held in the City Park.

Edwardsville Municipal Bandwww.edwband.com www.cityofedwardsville.com

Formed in 1927, this professional com-munity band, with over 65 members, performs for special occasions throughout the year and holds Summer Pops Concerts on Thursday evenings from June through August in the Edwardsville City Park. The Edwardsville Municipal Band is also a part of the City of Edwardsville Park and Recreation Department.

Bonifestwww.st-boniface.com

This two-day Memorial Day week-end festival has been sponsored by the St. Boniface Catholic Church since 1985. St. Boniface, which includes a parochial elementary school, holds the event as a

fundraiser. Bonifest features games, rides, food, a 5K run, and entertainment.

Glen Carbon Homecomingwww.glen-carbon.il.us

This hometown event kicks off a sea-son of festivity each June and is spon-sored by the Village of Glen Carbon and area businesses. The event features amuse-ment rides, children’s activities, crafts, game booths, demonstrations, a car show, food booths, a beer garden, a parade, and live music.

Harvest WineFestwww.edglenalliance.com

Harvest WineFest has been held each October since 2000. Hosted by The Alliance of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, Harvest WineFest features fine cuisine by local restaurants and caterers, live classical and light jazz music, and a silent auction. Of course, no WineFest would be complete without a tasting. The event features over 100 foreign and domestic wines available for either tasting or purchase.

ParkFestwww.historic-leclaire.org

The annual Leclaire ParkFest is a long-standing tradition in this historic district of Edwardsville. Held on the third Sunday in October, ParkFest is made possible by the Friends of Leclaire, who coordinate the event. ParkFest features a variety of events, including live music, festival food, crafts, trolley tours of the historic district, a book sale, children’s activities, and a display of vintage cars, tractors, and other farm implements. The highlight of the event is a mid-afternoon parade that winds around the park, showcasing an impressive dis-play of vintage vehicles.

ARTEASTwww.arteasttour.com

ARTEAST was initiated in 1998 by a group of artists as a way to pool their resources and bring attention to the extraordinary artists in the Metro East area of St. Louis. Now in its 11th year, ARTEAST continues as an event designed to showcase the artists who live and work in Madison County.

On two consecutive weekends in October, artists from this region open their studios to the public or participate in exhibits. Over 200 artists working in a wide range of disciplines, including collage, painting, ceramics, photography, printmaking, sculpture, glass, and digital media, show their work and demonstrate their craft.

Organized as a self-guided tour for patrons, ARTEAST provides an opportu-nity to get a glimpse into the workspace, inspiration, and techniques of our resi-dent artists, while exploring the neighbor-hoods, historic city centers and beautiful countryside.

Annual Halloween Paradewww.edglenchamber.com

For over 90 years, the Edwardsville Halloween Parade has been one of the most attended October 31 events in the Metro East area, bringing in as many as 20,000 spectators. Sponsored by the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce, the Halloween Parade features over 130 entries and includes marching bands, floats, school groups, and entertainers.

Veterans Day ParadeThe Edwardsville Veteran’s Day parade

began on November 11, 1919, on the first anniversary of the end of WWI, and has been held continuously every year, rain or shine, except for two years dur-ing WWII. The parade is co-sponsored by the Edwardsville VFW and the American Legion and is held yearly on Veteran’s Day to honor local veterans. The parade was once illuminated by Boy Scouts bearing railroad flares in the years before street-lights. These days, anywhere from 85–125 units participate in the parade, including color guard, all divisions of the mili-tary, school and community groups, and numerous floats and bands.

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Events & Festivalsj o i n t h e c e l e b r a t i o n s

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The vast network of recreational activities for local residents contin-ues to expand as the communities of

Edwardsville and Glen Carbon continue to grow. Year-round activities include walk-ing, biking, hiking, and bird watching on over 100 miles of scenic bikeways; recreational sports leagues; and programs and classes covering many interests. Many parks and golf courses are present in the area, providing enclaves of scenic beauty and escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Regional Parks

Edwardsville Township Park6368 Center Grove Road, Edwardsville

618-656-0292

Edwardsville Township Park has always been a favorite spot for picnics and reunions. Two pavilions may be reserved for large groups, and six smaller pavilions throughout the park are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A spectacular fenced playground area and a skate park provide added fun for kids of all ages.

Edwardsville Parks

Parks and Recreation Department618-692-7538 • www.cityofedwardsville.com

The City of Edwardsville’s Parks and Recreation Department is dedicated to the provision of parks and park properties and leisure and active recreation program-ming that will promote the general health, welfare, and personal development of the citizens of the Edwardsville community.

City Park101 S. Buchanan Street, Edwardsville

Located on just under three acres of public property in the symbolic center of town, City Park is the home of sev-eral important landmarks, including the Edwardsville Public Library; the Cleon Etzkorn bandstand, where municipal band concerts are conducted during the sum-mer; and the Madison County Centennial Monument and beautiful park fountain, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bearden. This park is considered a community park in that a number of large community festivals and events are conducted each year here.

Hoppe Park1500 Tower Avenue, Edwardsville

Hoppe Park, with 10 acres, is cur-rently Edwardsville’s largest developed active community park area. Located in the northwestern section of the city, it is home of the Edwardsville Little League baseball program and the city’s youth and adult softball program. Facilities include two lighted baseball diamonds, playground equipment, picnic areas, restrooms, and a concession stand.

Joe Glik Park710 East Lake Drive, Edwardsville

Joe Glik Park covers 42 acres and is the city’s most recently acquired park property. This park is located east of Dunlap Lake and contains two lakes, paved walking trails, a picnic pavilion and shelters, a playground, a dog park, volleyball courts, a memorial planting area, an open play

area, fishing, and a plaza with a central spray fountain.

Leclaire Baseball Field701 Hale Avenue, Edwardsville

Situated on 3.3 acres on the border of historic Leclaire, this completely reno-vated park is the heart of Little League baseball in the community. Aside from a brand-new, state-of-the-art baseball dia-mond, developed in conjunction with the Little League Association, the Leclaire Field site is also home to the local Children’s Museum, housed in the century-old Leclaire Academy Building.

Leclaire Park900 Hale Avenue, Edwardsville

Located on almost six acres within the historic Leclaire neighborhood, this park is a premier Edwardsville family picnic and playground area. It features a bandstand gazebo, large picnic pavilion, two small picnic shelters, a handicapped-accessible restroom, and three playground areas. The centerpiece of Leclaire Park is a 2-acre fishing lake, complete with a lighted foun-tain and a waterfall along with a resident population of geese and ducks.

Watershed Nature Center1591 Tower Avenue, Edwardsville 618-692-7578www.watershednaturecenter.com

A not-to-be-missed destination is the Watershed Nature Center, which offers the chance to experience and learn about our native habitat. Once a sewage lagoon, this 40-acre outdoor learning center has transformed a previously scarred land-scape back into its natural state. With over 3,000 feet of paved trails, 800 feet of con-crete walks elevated over wetlands, two observation towers, one observation blind, two lakes, prairies, an upland forest, and a 1,500-square-foot Interpretive Welcome Center, the Watershed Nature Center is a tribute to the beauty of nature and the dedication of local volunteers.

Parks & Recreationa b r e a t h o f f r e s h a i r

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Glen Carbon Parks

Glen Carbon Sports and Recreation618-288-1200 • www.glen-carbon.il.us

Residents of Glen Carbon have a variety of places to spend time with their family and friends, enjoy group gatherings, or watch a sporting event. Three parks in the Village offer relaxing locations to enjoy any activity. Groups wanting to hold spe-cial functions and reserve areas in any of the parks need to obtain permission from Village Hall.

Citizen ParkSouth Main, Glen Carbon

Located in Old Town behind Fire Station 1, Citizen Park serves as the starting point for the Ronald J. Foster Heritage Bike Trail. The park’s primary function however is as a sports facility. The park’s features include a lighted baseball field, a concession stand, and bleacher seating.

Miner Park194 S. Main Street, Glen Carbon

Miner Park is located in the Old Town section of Glen Carbon and is the Village’s true family picnic area. Spread out over 17 acres, the park provides users with a variety of recreational activities for all ages. Whether you’re hosting a picnic with many people or just want some quiet solitude, Miner Park’s amenities include barbeque grills, playground equipment, sheltered pavilions, a bandstand, baseball fields, and basketball courts.

Village Hall Park151 N. Main Street, Glen Carbon

This three-acre park is located directly behind Village Hall and is the primary sports and recreation complex for Glen Carbon. The park’s features include the Little Folks Playground, two lighted ten-nis courts, a lighted baseball field, a

basketball court, concession stands, and sheltered pavilions.

Natural Attractions

The Gardens at SIUEUniversity Drive and Cougar Lake Road, SIUE Campus www.siue.edu/gardens

The Gardens at SIUE, a 35-acre public botanical garden on the SIUE campus, is a Missouri Botanical Garden Signature Garden, featuring natural areas, gardens, and sculpture. A 0.5-mile-long walking path meanders through woodlands and across grasslands to connect visitors with nature and gardens, including the Hardy Family Wind Forest, the Edward Chase Garvey Memorial Gardens, and the Donal Myer Arboretum. Whether you walk the trails for rejuvenation, study native plant species for personal growth, or attend an event for entertainment, The Gardens at SIUE is here for you.

Bike Trailswww.mcttrails.org

Looking for adventure in your own backyard? The nearly 100 miles of scenic Madison County bikeways that comprise the MCT Trails system are a fantastic way to explore Edwardsville and Glen Carbon on foot, rollerblade, or bike. (Visit www.mcttrails.org for an interactive map.)

In the last decade, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon have become the nexus for a countywide system of interconnected, paved MCT Trails that wind through neighborhoods, over fields, through the woods, and ramble through parks and green spaces. As bicycles have become an increasingly progressive approach to mitigating traffic problems and becoming physically fit, community leaders in these tandem towns have been quick to capital-ize on the potential benefits. As a result of MCT’s investments, Madison County

boasts nearly 100 miles of bike trails, with approximately 75 of those miles in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon.

SIUE has also facilitated bike trail ini-tiatives, and a number of the trails chan-nel bike and foot traffic from various Edwardsville and Glen Carbon locales to the SIUE campus. Some of the on-campus trails, such as the MCT Bluff Trail and the MCT Nature Trail, are actually being maintained and developed by Madison County Transit. Other trails, such as the Delyte Morris Bikeway, the River Road Vadalabene Trail, and the Ronald J. Foster Trail, are managed by SIUE, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and the Village of Glen Carbon, respectively.

Recreation and FitnessResidents have many options available

to stay fit and grow personal interests and hobbies.

Edwardsville YMCAwww.edwardsvilleonline.com/ymca

The Edwardsville YMCA offers two facilities within a five-mile radius that include indoor pools, an outdoor pool with slides, full-court gymnasiums, fitness cen-ters, racquetball courts, a climbing tower, a skate center, an indoor track, indoor tennis courts, and a gymnastics center.

The YMCA also offers many programs and classes for children and adults includ-ing swimming, gymnastics, group fit-ness, Yoga and Pilates, tennis, martial arts, dance, cooking, art, theater, music, and foreign language. The YMCA also organizes recreational sports leagues for children and adults including basketball, climbing, fencing, football, racquetball, roller hockey, soccer, swim team, tennis, and volleyball.

Sports Leagueswww.cityofedwardsville.com

The City of Edwardsville’s Department of Parks and Recreation also organizes recreational sports leagues for children and adults. Leagues include tee-ball, slow-pitch softball, fast-pitch softball, mud volleyball, sand volleyball, and basketball.

Every member of the family will find something to do in the new YMCA Meyer Center, which features indoor tennis, a gym, a skate and teen center, a fitness center, a swimming pool, a playground, and more.

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Visitors and residents will find the cul-tural heritage and continuous arts programs in Edwardsville and Glen

Carbon to be rich and engaging. From walking tours of well-preserved historic districts and museums to highly contempo-rary theater and dance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the arts and cul-tural programs here are a celebration of all the characteristics — both the traditional and the modern, the rural and the urban — of these outstanding communities.

Historic VenuesMadison County Historical •Museum & Archival Library (www.madisoncountymuseum.org), located at 715 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, is housed in the 1836 Federal-style Weir House, the second-oldest brick house in Edwardsville. The home is on the National Register of Historic Places and has permanent exhibits depicting Madison County history; period-furnished rooms; and displays of antiques, quilts, historic costumes,

and Native American artifacts. The new history and genealogy research library is adjacent to the museum.Glen Carbon Heritage Museum• (www.glen-carbon.il.us), located in an renovated 1914 school in the “Old Town” section of Glen Carbon, serves as a destination for historical artifacts and photographs of the Village of Glen Carbon.St. Louis Street Historic District• , located just west of downtown Edwardsville, is the town’s most coveted neighborhood. Lined with mature, majestic hardwoods, St. Louis Street features exquisitely preserved homes from a variety of architectural heritages, including Italianate, Queen Anne, and Victorian.Leclaire Village• , Edwardsville’s other historic district, is the site of N.O. Nelson’s highly revered “company town.” This late 19th-century indus-trial village is registered as a National Historic District.

The Colonel Benjamin Stephenson •House (www.stephensonhouse.org) has undergone extensive restoration in recent years and is now open to the public. This Federal-style home was built in 1820 by the renowned lawman and politician and is the oldest remain-ing brick structure in Madison County. The Yanda Log Cabin• (www.glen- carbon.il.us), located in Glen Carbon, was completely renovated in the late 1980s and features an accurate 19th-century coal-town living environment.

Arts Venues and ProgramsWhile the past is well represented in

these communities, the present is vibrat-ing with the talent and dedication of local artists and their patrons. Several local programs exist to serve the children of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon in hopes of cultivating their creative sides.

The Children’s Museum at •Edwardsville presents interactive educational enrichment for children infant to 12 years of age. Exhibits include Star City, an opportunity for children to pretend to be a fireman, run a grocery market, provide medi-cal care, and shelve books in a library. (www.childrens-museum.net)Arts in the Park• , a summer series of Saturday-morning art classes, gives local children, ages 6–12, access to extracurricular art instruction. (www.cityofedwardsville.com)Edwardsville Arts Center• (www.edwardsvilleartscenter.org) opened in 2008 and offers exhibit space and arts education programs for children and adults. Theater, dance, and music are alive •and well on community stages. Several local theater groups, including the Arts League Players, Eastside Theatre Group, and Edwardsville Summer Players, perform everything from traditional plays and musicals to original dramas scripted by local playwrights at a variety of indoor and outdoor venues. ARTEAST Studio and Gallery •Tours, held the third and fourth weekend in October, showcases over 100 Madison County artists in a rov-ing tour of exhibits and galleries. Chat with the artists and take home an original work of art.

Arts, Culture, & Tourismb r o a d e n y o u r h o r i z o n s

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SIUESouthern Illinois University

Edwardsville is an integral part of the arts in the area, and several musical and the-ater programs present live performances throughout the year.

The • SIUE Department of Theater and Dance presents a variety of faculty-directed musicals and theatri-cal productions at the Dunham Hall Theater and Metcalf Experimental Theater on the SIUE campus. Summer Showbiz presents entertaining theater in June and July, while A Season for the Child features professional the-ater troupes from St. Louis present-ing various children’s stories through interactive theater. Along with Edwardsville’s Municipal •Band, SIUE is also instrumental in bringing quality live music to local residents. The SIUE Department of Music offers jazz, gospel, orchestra, concert band, wind symphony, and choral group performances that are open to the public. Of special renown

at SIUE is the highly respected Suzuki String Program.SIUE hosts art exhibitions in the •New Wagner Gallery, located in the Art and Design Building, and the University Gallery, located in the Morris University Center. SIUE’s • Arts and Issues Series brings nationally and internationally rec-ognized speakers and performers to campus, such as personal growth teacher and author Deepak Chopra, American humorist Garrison Keillor, the legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

Libraries

Edwardsville City Library www.edwardsvillelibrary.org

A unique community resource, the Edwardsville Public Library supports infor-mational, educational, and recreational needs and interests.

In 1819, just one year after Illinois became a state, the first lending library in Edwardsville was established. The history

of the present library building and the Edwardsville Free Public Library as a municipally supported institution begins in 1903, when Andrew Carnegie provided a $12,000 grant to erect a library building. The site selected by the city was the City Park in downtown Edwardsville.

The present library is more than double the original size and provides programs for all age groups, an automated catalog, and Internet access.

Glen Carbon Centennial Librarywww.glencarbonlibrary.org

The Glen Carbon Centennial Library, recently named one of the “Best Small Libraries in America” by Library Journal, was originally located in the historic old school house on School Street.

The new $2.6 million library opened its doors at its new location on Main Street at the entrance to Miner Park in 2004. The facility covers 14,000 square feet and includes two study rooms, a conference room, a children’s program room, a teen area, computers, wireless access, and a grand fireplace inviting patrons to sit and read or visit with friends.

The public libraries of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon offer not only an expansive collections of books, but also technical services and programs for all ages.

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While in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, many old and new stores are open and waiting to help you! Areas of shopping include Main Street Edwardsville, Montclaire, Edwardsville

Crossing, Miner Square in Glen Carbon, South 159 in Glen Carbon, and University Pointe near SIUE.

Historic Downtown Edwardsville & North Main

To get a taste of local flavor and the historic downtown of Edwardsville, head to North Main Street to enjoy a great after-noon or evening window-shopping and visiting small, locally owned stores and eateries. Picturesque light posts, banners, flower pots, benches, and trees line the street, making it a great destination for shopping and eating. Shops of interest located on North Main Street include:

•Avon on Main is a unique Avon retail center ready to meet all your skin care and beauty needs.

• Mojo’s Music offers specialty guitars and musical instruments.•FOND, Edwardsville’s newest fine dining destination, offers

fresh, local ingredients transformed into culinary master-pieces and served by attentive staff.

•The Gingerbread House offers great children’s clothing and accessories — it’s a perfect place to find a gift with the help of personalized customer service!

Lined with historic buildings from the turn of the century as well as newer, modern office and living space, charming down-town Edwardsville offers a clean, safe, and classy environment to enjoy your visit! Sidewalks are wide and welcoming for perusing through shops, and parking is free and convenient.

Several great shops worth checking out are just around the corner from downtown Edwardsville.

•The Finishing Touch offers a wide variety of home acces-sories as well as decorating services.

•HeadingsouthfromtheCityPark,Buffet City International offers an all-you-can-eat international buffet.

•Glik’s offers clothing for the entire family at a reasonable price. •Ifyouareinthemoodforafloralshop,visitLee Russo Designs

to find gifts, home decorating, and floral inspiration! •Anotherblocksouth,swingintoSwing City Music to find a

great collection of musical instruments for sale.•Head across the street to finish your stay in Downtown

Edwardsville with a tasty treat from Annie’s Frozen Custard! Annie’s is also a great resting spot thanks to their outdoor patio.

•Ifyouareseekingamoreformal,sit-downrestaurant,headeast on Route 143 to enjoy Andria’s Countryside Restaurant for certified prime Angus steaks.

Leclaire & Montclaire Neighborhood Shopping

If you travel south past Annie’s and Swing City Music, Buchanan Street turns into Troy Road, leading shoppers and visi-tors to stores and restaurants in Montclaire. These include Dairy Queen; Elliott Fine Jewelers; Bill’s Montclaire Floral; Market Basket; McDonald’s; and Crushed Grapes Wine, Spirits, Beers, Gourmet Foods & Gifts.

Edwardsville CrossingEdwardsville Crossing is Edwardsville’s newest development

and features many popular franchises, restaurants, and big-box retail stores, including Ashley Furniture Home Store, Cold Stone

Shopping & Dinings a m p l e o u r s e l e c t i o n s

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Creamery, Best Buy, Blanquart Jewelers & Corporate Gifts, Hudson Jewelers, Jan’s Hallmark, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Office Depot, Shop ’n Save, Noble Roman’s Pizza, Schnuck’s, and Shoe Carnival.

South 159 in Glen CarbonPast Edwardsville Crossing on Troy

Road, the South 159 Shopping district near Wal-Mart in Glen Carbon offers big-box shops and strip malls that house a large variety of businesses and eateries, includ-ing Allison’s Comfort Shoes & Boots, Art of the Matter, Cassens and Sons Auto, Culver’s of Edwardsville, Denny’s, Exactime Watch and Clock, Four Flags Motors, KFC, Office Max, Passion for Sports Supply & Services, Ponderosa Steakhouse, The Tech Spot, and Walmart.

University Pointe on 157On the opposite side of town, University

Point offers a lot more diverse eating and shopping options! Another benefit of the location is that it is just outside of SIUE (if you are planning to attend an event or are coming from campus) and is connected to the Madison County bike trails.

•This plaza offers fine-dining Italianoptions at Bella Milano, which offers not only great food but an outdoor patio to enjoy on nice evenings.

•Ifyou’reinthemoodforBBQorsand-wiches, head to Bully’s Smokehouse. Bully’s also has a divided small confer-ence room for private receptions or small parties.

•Sgt. Pepper’s Cafe and Shangri-La Fine Chinese Cuisine are also located in the shopping area.

•EnjoytraditionalbarandgrillfareatBull & Bear Grill & Bar.

•Grab a cup of coffee and a snack atWise Choice Coffees and More.

•Los Tres Amigos offers traditional Mexi-can food in a fun, upbeat environment.

•Route 157 also includes two greatItalian options — The Pasta House Co. and Imo’s Pizza & Omi’s Ice Cream. Imo’s is home to classic “St. Louis” style pizza — if you like thin pizza, Imo’s is the informal, fun place to go. Their house salad and dressing are also all-time favorites for the area.

•Kettle River Furniture offers a great selection of home accessories and furniture.

•Drive another mile to Club CenterCourt to find Neruda Restaurant & Bar, offering fine dining and inno-vative American cuisine. Shopping options there include Kate’s Lullaby, upscale children’s and maternity items, and Play N’Trade, new and used gam-ing equipment.

•Drive another mile to Club CentreCourt to find Neruda Restaurant & Bar, offering fine dining and innova-tive American Cuisine. You’ll also find Edwardsville’s trendy new Asian dine-in/carry-out restaurant, Wang Gang Asian Eats N Beats.

•Four Muddy Paws, has everything you need to pamper your pet, includ-ing a self-service pet wash!

Miner Square in Glen CarbonIn Glen Carbon, Miner Square offers

several shops and an eatery conveniently located in a charm ing new plaza.

•Enjoy a lunch of sandwiches andsoups and feel like a kid in a candy store at Sweeties Confec tions.

•Miss Bailey’s Poppy Patch is a home decor and gift shop, perfect for find-ing a gift to give mom or grandma.

•Chick Peas Co. is a baby and chil-dren’s clothing and gift store.

•AlsolocatedinGlenCarbon,Garden Kingdom is a full-service garden center and landscape company with everything you need for your home and garden on six beautiful acres. You will find one-of-a-kind items for the home, beautiful baskets for the patio, and a great variety of common and unique plants for your landscape and garden.

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It may once have been believed that the greatest entertainment benefit of living in Edwardsville or Glen Carbon was

the close proximity to St. Louis and all the city has to offer. While the residents of these communities don’t take St. Louis for granted, they also enjoy a variety of entertainment venues right in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon.

•The area’s most popular movie house is the Showplace 12 Cinema Complex. Located on Center Grove Road, this theater offers luxuri-ous high-back seating in stadium- style tiers.SIUE• also adds an outstanding amount of entertainment to the area. The university plays host to a sweep-ing array of cultural arts, musical, and theatrical performances, as well as NCAA Division I athletics.

From a colorful calendar of festivals and events, such as the Glen Carbon Homecoming, to centers of education and entertainment like The Children’s

Museum at Edwardsville, venues in the area challenge patrons to spark their minds and engage their creative spirits.

St. Louis AttractionsIn the event that you’re seeking

a form of entertainment not available in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, or their surrounding Metro East neighbors, then St. Louis is sure to satisfy your every desire.

Take professional sports. Repeatedly ranked by The Sporting News as being among the “Best Sports Cities in America” and commonly acknowledged as having the most respectful and well-informed base-ball fans in the nation, St. Louis keeps its sports fans cheering throughout the year. With Cardinals baseball, Rams football, and Blues hockey, you’ll quickly become a fan, too.

St. Louis is also home to world-class educational and cultural entertainment, including the St. Louis Symphony, the St. Louis Zoo, Missouri Botanical Garden,

the St. Louis Science Center (featuring IMAX), the St. Louis Art Museum, the Muny Opera, and the Fox Theatre.

St. Louis is also home to Six Flags Midwest, a family-oriented amusement park, and several riverboat casinos, a pop-ular adult activity. And, of course, no over-view of St. Louis’ entertainment spectacles would be complete without mentioning the city’s most recognizable landmark, the Gateway Arch.

Entertainmentn e v e r m o r e t h a n m i n u t e s a w a y

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Faith is an important foundation in the history of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. The beautiful and often his-

toric churches of Madison County stand as living testaments to a community that has always welcomed religious worship and embraced a diversity of religious faiths. Today, approximately 50 churches and temples serve the communities of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. Along with four local parochial schools, these churches provide worship services, spiri-tual guidance, community outreach pro-grams, youth activities, counseling, and aid in times of need.

Glen-Ed Ministerial AllianceGlen-Ed Ministerial Alliance serves as

area churches’ connection to the greater community. For decades, the Ministerial Alliance has helped to create and sustain agencies like The Glen-Ed Pantry and Faith in Action.

A cooperative venture of member churches, the Ministerial Alliance provides financial assistance for transient relief, food and gasoline vouchers to people in need of emergency assistance, and over-night lodging for transients. To provide these services, the group works closely with local police departments and area businesses.

Each year the Ministerial Alliance pro-vides funds for Thanksgiving baskets, which are distributed through the Glen-Ed Pantry. Year-round, the pantry provides food and clothing — along with access to life skills and assistance in connecting with social agencies — to those in need. Faith In Action provides volunteers to transport local residents to places such as the doctor’s office and grocery store.

Worshipd i v e r s i t y i n f a i t h

SIUE / Religious Center at SIUEIn addition to the wide range of wor-

ship options available in the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon area, there are multiple ministries available on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, youth groups at local churches, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at local high schools.

The Religious Center at SIUE is home for the campus ministries of several reli-gious denominations dedicated to keeping religious faith while experiencing a part of the college life. The Religious Center also serves the public and is available to people of all faiths for weddings and bridal show-ers, memorial services, worship services, religious education events, discussions, fellowship gatherings, and day retreats.

The Religious Center at SIUE stands with surveyor-certified mathematical exac-titude, symmetrically astride the Earth’s 90th meridian of longitude. The center’s dome is a transparent replica of planet Earth. When standing under the dome, the continents can be seen outlined against a translucent blue ocean.

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Whether you are preparing to move into our community or maybe just planning a weekend getaway,

Edwardsville and Glen Carbon have some-thing to offer.

If you choose our area as your new home, you will certainly discover the ben-efits of Midwest living at its finest. You will find an exciting and robust real estate mar-ket; a diverse and prosperous job market; a surprisingly health-conscious, recreation-ally minded population; and a wealth of quality education and health care options. On the other hand, if you are just passing through, coming to town on business, or visiting a student at SIUE, we hope you will find something you didn’t know you were looking for: a desire to relocate.

From our close proximity to St. Louis and the shopping centers in Fairview

Heights, to the amenities of small-town life and the pastoral surroundings of the river bluffs, we believe Edwardsville and Glen Carbon are ideal places to take advantage of the abundance of fine living standards given to us by this great region of the United States.

In closing, we end where we began: with an acknowledgment of our most pre-cious resource — our people. If it were not for the inherent good nature and work ethic of Southern Illinoisans; the vision-ary leadership of countless, often selfless, citizens and businesspeople; and the over-whelming propensity among those leaders to engage in meaningful partnerships, we would not be the outstanding community we are today. We are proud of what we have to offer and invite you to come and share our community with us.

Ready to plan your trip? Ready to make the move? Already on your way? For more information, contact the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce. Or, if you are already in town, stop by and see us.

Carol Foreman, Executive Director

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce200 University Park Drive, Suite 260Edwardsville, IL 62025Phone: 618-656-7600 • Fax: [email protected]

Closingl e t u s h e l p y o u f i n d w h a t y o u ’ r e l o o k i n g f o r

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Fun FactsEdwardsville is either the third- or ■■

fourth-oldest city in Illinois, depending on whom you ask. Predecessors include Shawneetown, Kaskaskia, and Cairo.

Edwardsville and Glen Carbon are ■■

in Madison County, the third-oldest county in the state.

Edward Coles arrived in frontier ■■

Edwardsville and became Illinois’ second governor.

Edwardsville has produced five ■■

governors: Ninian Edwards, Edward Coles, John Reynolds, Thomas Ford, and Charles Deneen.

Fort Russell, a wooden stockade ■■

northwest of Edwardsville, was built for the War of 1812. It was used by rangers to pro-tect communities in the area from attack by Indian tribes allied with the British.

The Klingel House, located at ■■

1801 N. Main, was once the site of one of Edwardsville’s many breweries.

John Gillespie was a Whig political ■■

friend of Abraham Lincoln. When Lincoln came to town and gave a speech on Nov. 11, 1858, he went to a reception at Gillespie’s brother’s house at 606 N. Main Street in Edwardsville.

The Richards Brick Company, estab-■■

lished during Edwardsville’s early days, still supplies brick throughout the St. Louis region. In 1921, its 175-foot smokestack was the second-tallest structure in Southern Illinois.

The very first Methodist Church in ■■

Illinois was built in Glen Carbon in 1805.The two-story Benjamin Stephenson ■■

House on South Buchanan Street is the oldest brick building in Edwardsville (circa 1820).

Hadley House, constructed in 1875, ■■

is the public school district’s central office.

Edwardsville’s Griffin House, located ■■

at 705 St. Louis Street, was built in 1910 by Walter Burley Griffin. He received training in the Chicago office of Frank Lloyd Wright and designed the residence using Wright’s distinctive horizontal Prairie Style.

A monument was built in City ■■

Park to commemorate the Madison County Centennial in 1912. There are figures on each of its four sides that pay tribute to early pioneers, representing Plenty, Virtue, Justice, and Wisdom.

Edwardsville’s Leclaire area was ■■

placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. N.O. Nelson built a company town there that was inspected by Nellie Bly, the famous reporter for the New York World, in 1894. She described it in glowing terms.

Glen Carbon’s name translates to ■■

“Valley of Coal”; however, its coal mines, founded in 1892 by the Madison Coal Company, shut down around 1930.

Col. Samuel Judy of Glen Carbon ■■

became the first resident of Madison County.

The highlight of Glen Carbon’s centen-■■

nial celebration in 1992 was the dedication of the 1853 Yanda Log Cabin on Main Street as a museum and educational center operated by the Village.

Sam Birger built his first store in ■■

Glen Carbon in 1893, and a street in town is named for his family. Ironically, Charlie Birger, his notorious brother, was the last man to be hanged in Illinois.

Rev. David Badgley, a Baptist min-■■

ister from Virginia, scouted the area look-ing for a new place to settle. He was so impressed with the American Bottom and bluff area near present-day Route 157 and Glen Carbon Road that he called it Land of Goshen, from the Book of Genesis.

Ed Hightower, District 7 superin-■■

tendent, is also a highly respected NCAA basketball official for Division I universities.

Mannie Jackson, an Edwardsville ■■

High School alumnus, is the current owner of the Harlem Globetrotters.

Glen Carbon has a new fire house, ■■

library, village hall, and post office; it is cur-rently one of the fastest-growing communities in the state.

Jackson Browne recorded part of his ■■

album, Running on Empty, at the Edwardsville Holiday Inn, currently Comfort Inn, on Route 157/Route 66.

Laurie Metcalf, another Edwardsville ■■

High School graduate, portrayed Roseanne Barr’s sister, “Jackie,” on the award-winning Roseanne show.

In 1998, Edwardsville’s American ■■

Legion baseball team won the national championship in Las Vegas, and the high school Tigers baseball team was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Glen Carbon’s History Museum is ■■

located in a renovated brick school that was built in 1914.

At one time, Glen Carbon had ■■

three coal mines and a large brickyard. The St. Louis Brick Company made bricks that were used for the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.

Edwardsville residents George ■■

Musso and Harry Gallatin are in the Football Hall of Fame and Basketball Hall of Fame respectively. Musso played for the Chicago Bears and Gallatin played for the New York Knicks.

Submitted by Glen Carbon resident Bill Nunes, a retired District 7 school teacher and author of 12 self-published books about Southern Illinois.

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce36

e d w a r d s v i l l e / g l e n c a r b o n t r i v i a

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Business Development

Better Business Bureau .............314-645-3300E dwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce ................... 656-7600

I l linois SBDC International Trade Center at SIUE ....................... 650-3851

M adison County Planning & Development Department .............. 692-4468

S IUE Small Business Development Center ....................... 650-2929

S outhwestern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center ................. 650-2669

T he Alliance of Edwardsville & Glen Carbon .................................... 656-7601

University Park SIUE Inc. ................... 650-9300

City of Edwardsvillewww.cityofedwardsville.com

Emergency ................................................91124-Hour Water System ..................... 692-7503C ity Clerk Office/

General Information ........................ 692-7500City Treasurer ................................... 692-7532Community Center ............................ 656-0300Community Service Officer ............... 656-2131Crane Street Community Center ....... 656-0292ECTV Cable (Channel 10) .................. 692-7551

Fire (non-emergency)........................ 692-7541Mayor’s Office .................................. 692-7531Parks & Recreation ........................... 692-7538Public Works Department ................. 692-7535Senior Citizens of Crane Street ......... 656-1052Senior Citizens Services Inc. ............. 656-0300

Edwardsville Township

Supervisor .........................................656-0292Township Highway Commissioner ......288-9331Township Tax Assessor ......................656-6305Water & Sewer ..................................692-7500

Education

PublicM adison County Regional

Office of Education No. 41 ..............692-4530Edwardsville Head Start .....................692-9604E dwardsville District 7 Administration Office .......................656-1182

www.ecusd7.org

PrivateLahr-Well Academy ............................288-8024Metro-East Lutheran High School ......656-0043St. Boniface Catholic School ..............656-6917

St. Mary’s Catholic School .................656-1230Trinity Lutheran School ......................656-7002W estminster Christian

Academy of Edwardsville ................659-4810

Colleges/UniversitiesL ewis and Clark Community College ..........................466-7000

L ewis and Clark N.O. Nelson Complex .......................656-8800

S outhern Illinois University Edwardsville ....................650-5555

Government Offices (State & Federal)

Il linois Bureau of Employment & Training Center ........ 656-6100

Ill inois Department of Motor Vehicles................................ 656-8956

Il linois Department of Public Health ............................800-252-4343

Il linois Office of Secretary of State ....................800-252-8980

Illinois State Attorney General ....800-243-0618Internal Revenue Services .........800-829-1040Social Security Administration .......... 463-6568

Frequently Called Numbersk e e p i n t o u c h

ALL TELEPHONE NUMBERS BEGIN WITH A 618 AREA CODE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

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Health Care

Anderson Hospital .............................288-5711Anderson Hospital Express Care .......656-9777G ateway Regional

Medical Center - Edwardsville ........659-9520 G ateway Regional

Medical Center - Granite City .........798-3000Poison Control Center ............... 800-543-2022

Housing

G reater Gateway Association of Realtors® ................ 692-8300

Madison County Housing Authority .... 345-5142M etro East

Landlord’s Association ................... 877-6352

Madison Countywww.co.madison.il.us

Information ....................................... 692-6200Metro East Humane Society .............. 656-4405Voter Registration ............................ 692-4682

Post Offices

Edwardsville ......................................656-8460Glen Carbon .......................................288-9503

Tourist Information

E dwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce ................... 656-7600

Village of Glen Carbon www.glen-carbon.il.us

Emergency ................................................911Administration .................................. 288-1200Civil Defense Office/Police ................ 288-9411Fire (non-emergency)........................ 288-1220Glen Carbon Seniors ......................... 288-7476M ayor’s Office and

City Clerk ..........................288-1200 ext. 222Public Works Director ....................... 288-1200

Transportation

AirL ambert-St. Louis International Airport .................314-890-1333

St. Louis Regional Airport, Bethalto ... 258-0619

HighwayEnterprise Rent-A-Car ....................... 288-8812Greyhound Bus Lines .................800-231-2222M adison County Transit

(Bus Service) .......................931-RIDE (7433)

RailAmtrak ......................................800-872-7245Amtrak, Alton .................................... 462-1879

Utilities

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Electricity/Natural GasAmeren – Illinois Power .............800-552-7583S outhwestern Electric

Cooperative, Inc. ......................800-637-8667

Edwardsville Water/SewerCity of Edwardsville ...................618-692-7500

Glen Carbon Water/SewerG len Carbon

Public Works Department ........618-288-2614

Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Trash CollectionAllied Waste ...............................618-656-6883

TelephoneAT&T/SBC ..................................618-465-9995 ..............................................800-244-4444McLeodUSA ...............................618-624-1001 ..............................................800-500-3453MCI ............................................800-950-5555

CableCharter in Maryville ...................888-438-2427

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www.EDGLENCHAMBER .org 39

ADvERTISER ................................................................................................PAGE NUMBER

Able Sign Company ....................................................................................................... 20

Allison’s Comfort Shoes & Boots .................................................................................. 22

Alvareita’s College of Cosmetology .............................................................................. 20

American Family Insurance – Kathy Goclan .....................................................................8

Anderson Hospital ............................................................................................................1

Associated Bank.............................................................................................................. 11

Auto-Owners Insurance ................................................................................................. 14

Brueggeman Chiropractic Center ................................................................................... 22

Byron Gerber Petri & Kalb, LLC .................................................................................... 20

Cassens Transport Company .......................................................................................... 14

Cherry Hills Properties, Inc. .......................................................................................... 10

City of Edwardsville ............................................................................. Inside Front Cover

Coldwell Banker – Linda Shaffer .................................................................................. 14

Commerce Bank ............................................................................................................. 18

Country Hearth Inn & Suites ......................................................................................... 32

DRDA Electric Co. ............................................................................................................ 11

The Edge Bank .................................................................................................................4

Edwardsville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center .......................................................... 25

Edwardsville Public Library ............................................................................................4

Edwardsville Sleep Center............................................................................................. 25

First Christian Church ....................................................................................................34

First Community State Bank..........................................................................................38

First Presbyterian Church .............................................................................................. 32

Fitness 4 Life Physical Therapy .....................................................................................38

Foehrkolb Insurance, Inc. ............................................................................................... 16

Gateway Regional Medical Center ..................................................................................21

GCS Federal Credit Union ............................................................................................... 11

Glen Carbon Centennial Library .....................................................................................30

Greater Gateway Association of Realtors .......................................................................8

Hawkins Law Office, P.C. ................................................................................................ 11

Hortica Insurance & Employee Benefit ...........................................................................13

Imaging Center of Southern Illinois ................................................................................ 7

Lahr-Well Academy ....................................................................................................... 14

Lewis and Clark College N.O. Nelson Campus ................................................................ 17

Madison Mutual ............................................................................................................. 10

Maryville Medical Plaza ................................................................................................. 23

Edward T. McCarthy, Attorney at Law .............................................................................4

Mr. Handyman................................................................................................................ 10

National Bank of Edwardsville........................................................................................8

The Park at Plum Creek .................................................................................................. 14

RE/MAX Integrity Realty Group ..................................................................................... 11

Richards Brick Company ..................................................................................................8

Rock Hill Trails ..................................................................................................... 4, 8, 18

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ..................................................Center Spread

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville – University Park ...................................... 20

Sunset Hills Dental..........................................................................................................4

The Tutoring Center ....................................................................................................... 16

The UPS Store ................................................................................................................ 10

verizon Wireless ............................................................................................................ 32

village of Glen Carbon ...........................................................................Inside Back Cover

village of Pontoon Beach ................................................................... Outside Back Cover

Walmart ..........................................................................................................................13

Weber & Rodney Funeral Home .....................................................................................34

West & Company, LLC .....................................................................................................13

What to Wear ................................................................................................................ 14

Index of Advertisers

edwardsvilleSerials0112aw.indd 39 1/15/10 12:53:07 PM

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