Monroe County, Administrative division in southwestern Illinois, United States.
Monroe County occupies southwestern Illinois and features a landscape of limestone bluffs, caves, and natural springs. The terrain stretches across the Mississippi River floodplain with numerous sinkholes dotting the ground.
The county was established in 1816 and named after James Monroe, the fifth president. It grew from earlier French settlements that had been built in the early 1700s.
The area reflects German and Irish roots through local customs and celebrations held across its towns. These influences shape how people here mark important occasions and gather as communities.
The county seat of Waterloo serves as the main hub for services and is connected by Interstate 255 and Highway 50. These routes provide direct access to the St. Louis area for residents and visitors.
The area contains roughly 500 limestone sinkholes that create a distinctive karst landscape uncommon in Illinois. This geological pattern shapes the ground beneath visitors' feet in unexpected ways.
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Jefferson Barracks Military Post
25.5 km
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
26.2 km
Cliff Cave County Park
22.4 km
Illinois Caverns State Natural Area
6.2 km
Jefferson Barracks Bridge
24.6 km
Cathedral of Saint Peter
30.6 km
Kolmer Site
21 km
Lunsford-Pulcher Archeological Site
24.3 km
Koch, Missouri
24.3 kmWilliam and Florence Schmidt Art Center
34.7 km
Gov. Daniel Dunklin's Grave State Historic Site
17.3 km
Gustave Koerner House
31.4 km
Fountain Creek Bridge
5.3 km
Belleville Historic District
31.4 kmSt. Clair County Courthouse
31 km
Gustave Greystone-Meissner House
17.7 km
Windsor Harbor Road Bridge
18.5 km
Waterloo Historic District
6.6 km
Gundlach-Grosse House
18.8 km
Kimmswick Historic District
18.8 km
Red Bud Historic District
18.1 km
Turkey Hill Grange Hall
30.4 km
Hotel Belleville
31.1 km
West Park Bowl
18.5 km
Dupo Park Splash Pad
26.4 km
Jefferson Barracks
26.4 km
Kidd Lake State Natural Area
15.1 km
Lincoln Theatre
31.2 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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