Clinton County

Clinton County is an administrative area in south-central Illinois that encompasses rural countryside and small towns spread across the landscape. The county contains mixed terrain with croplands, pastures, and scattered residential communities.

The county was established in 1824 from portions of neighboring administrative areas. It was named after DeWitt Clinton, a figure important to American infrastructure development.

The area is rooted in farming practices, with dairy operations, hog raising, and grain fields shaping daily life across the county. You see these activities woven throughout the landscape wherever you travel here.

The area is accessible by state highways that connect to nearby towns and surrounding regions. A car is necessary for exploring, since this is rural territory with limited public transportation options.

In 1960, federal census officials calculated that this county contained the geographic center point of the entire American population. This statistical coincidence briefly put the region on the national map for a unique reason.

Location: Illinois

Inception: December 27, 1824

Capital city: Carlyle

Shares border with: Madison County, Washington County, Bond County, Fayette County, Marion County, St. Clair County

Website: https://clintonco.illinois.gov

GPS coordinates: 38.61000,-89.42000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:23