In August 1853, Daniel Harmon Brush, John Asgill Conner, and Dr. William Richart bought a 360-acre (1.5km2) parcel of land between two proposed railroad station sites (Makanda and De Soto) and two county seats (Murphysboro and Marion). Brush named Carbondale for the large deposit of coal in the area.[citation needed] The first train through Carbondale arrived on Independence Day 1854, traveling north on the main line from Cairo, Illinois. By the time of the American Civil War, Carbondale had developed as a regional center for transportation and business, surrounded by agricultural development. This part of Illinois was known as "Little Egypt" because of the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, where the town of Cairo is located.
The city has had a college since 1856 beginning with the Presbyterian-founded Carbondale College which was later converted to an elementary school. Carbondale also won the bid for the new state teacher training school for the region, and Southern Illinois Normal University opened in 1874. This gave the town new industry, new citizens, and a supplement to public schools. In 1947, the name was changed to Southern Illinois University (SIU). It has become the flagship of the Southern Illinois University system. This institution, now recognized as a national research university, has nearly 18,000 students enrolled (as of 2014) and offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate specialties.
On April 29, 1866, one of the first formal Memorial Day observations following the Civil War was held at the city's Woodlawn Cemetery.[5] Local resident, General John A. Logan, gave the principal address.[5] Logan, as co-founder of the Civil War veteran's group the "Grand Army of the Republic", issued General Order #11 on March 3, 1868, calling for a national day of remembrance for Civil War dead. This order served as the basis for the creation of a formal Memorial Day.[6] Logan called observance day "Decoration Day" and proposed it for May 30, to assure flowers would be in bloom nationwide.[7]
In the early 20th century, Carbondale was known as the "Athens of Egypt," due to the expansion of the college and university, and the region's moniker of "Little Egypt."[8] The phrase dates to at least 1903, when it appeared in a local paper.[9] By 1922, the Carbondale Free Press was using the phrase on its flag.[10]
On November 12, 1970,[11] a largescale shootout occurred between local police and members of the local chapter of the Black Panther Party who were meeting at a house in town.[12] The event was later chronicled in the documentary 778 Bullets, made by a professor at SIU.[13]
An area near campus known as "The Strip" was also the site of several infamous riots on Halloween in the 1980s and 1990s. The last Halloween riot occurred in 2000, when students clashed with and were tear gassed by police. Property and trees in the area of The Strip were destroyed. After the 2000 riot, measures were taken to prevent violence on Halloween weekend. The campus and the bars along Southern Illinois Avenue were closed on Halloween in following years.[14]
Eclipse Crossroads of America
Carbondale experienced two total solar eclipses in seven years.
The area was in totality during the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, with Giant City State Park, just south of the city, experiencing the longest period of totality during the eclipse (approximately 2 minutes and 40 seconds). It was also within the path of totality of the solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, making it one of only a handful of cities within the direct paths of both eclipses. The combination of these events earned it the nickname "Eclipse Crossroads of America".[citation needed] In February 2017, the City of Carbondale spent $98,000 to rebrand itself with a new eclipse-themed logo, hiring the marketing consultation firm North Star Destination Strategies, Inc., based out of Colorado, to design the new logo. This rebranding effort aimed to capitalize on the prominence of these celestial events.[15]
According to the 2010 census, Carbondale has a total area of 17.519 square miles (45.37km2), of which 17.09 square miles (44.26km2) (or 97.55%) is land and 0.429 square miles (1.11km2) (or 2.45%) is water.[17]
Climate
Carbondale lies in the northern limits of a humid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa), with four distinct seasons. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 32.4°F (0.2°C) in January to 77.9°F (25.5°C) in July.[18] On average, there are 38 days of 90°F (32°C)+ highs, 16 days where the high fails to rise above freezing, and 1.6 nights of sub-0°F (−18°C) per year.[19][18] It has an average annual precipitation of 48.95 inches (1,240mm), including an average 11.4 inches (29cm) of snow.[18] Extremes in temperature range from −25°F (−32°C) on January 11, 1977 up to 113°F (45°C) on August 9, 1930.[19]
Carbondale receives thunderstorms on an average of 50 days per year. Particularly in the spring, these storms can often be severe, with high winds, damaging hail, and tornadoes.
Climate data for Carbondale Sewage Plant, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1898–present)
Carbondale city, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the 2020 census[24] there were 21,857 people, 11,103 households, and 3,757 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,225.72 inhabitants per square mile (473.25/km2). There were 12,312 housing units at an average density of 690.44 per square mile (266.58/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 54.33% White, 25.74% African American, 0.53% Native American, 7.86% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 3.88% from other races, and 7.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.48% of the population.
There were 11,103 households, out of which 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 18.83% were married couples living together, 12.57% had a female householder with no husband present, and 66.16% were non-families. 49.42% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 1.96.
The city's age distribution consisted of 11.9% under the age of 18, 38.3% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,093, and the median income for a family was $53,590. Males had a median income of $18,141 versus $20,475 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,878. About 24.6% of families and 39.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.8% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Traditional measures of income and poverty can be misleading when applied to cities with high student populations, such as Carbondale.[25][26]
In addition to Southern Illinois University, which presents regular concerts and theatrical productions, as well as art and history exhibits, the city has a variety of unique cultural institutions.
SIU has a teaching museum on campus, the University Museum, which has 60,000 artifacts in its collection and hosts traveling shows from known artists. In addition to the University Museum, there is the African American Museum and The Science Center. Theater-goers can see both professional and student-produced plays and performances at the university's McLeod and Kleinau Theaters. SIUC is also home to the largest auditorium in Southern Illinois, Shryock Auditorium. Shryock Auditorium has brought in many performing artists, such as B.B. King, the Supremes, Ray Charles, and Judy Collins, along with orchestras and other musical productions.[27] Carbondale is also home to Lost Cross, the longest running DIY punk venue in the country, which has hosted local and national acts.[28][29]
Theater-goers can also attend off-campus productions by The Jackson County Stage Company (Stage Company). In 2007, the Stage Company and Carbondale Community Arts (CCA) partnered to purchase and renovate the Varsity Theater, which had been vacant since 2003, into the Varsity Center for the Arts (VCA). The VCA is now the performing home of the Stage Company and also supports a variety of other fine arts and performances through the CCA.
The Women's Center, in continuous service since its founding in 1972, was one of the first domestic violence shelters in the United States.[citation needed]
Spirituality finds expression in Carbondale in churches of a variety of Christian denominations, a Unitarian Universalist fellowship, two mosques, a Jewish congregation, a Sufi community, and two Buddhist organizations – the Shawnee Dharma Group and the Sunyata Center. The first Hindu temple in Southern Illinois held its grand opening in Carbondale in June 2013. The Gaia House Interfaith Center provides space for intercultural exchange and personal growth. It is also an education center to help the community become more ecologically conscious, understand how to incorporate better practices into daily life, and set goals for the future.
Carbondale also has a growing stand-up comedy scene, notably including Hannibal Buress, who began his comedy career in the city.
Events
Carbondale is known for a number of yearly festivals, including the Lights Fantastic parade in December,[30] the Big Muddy Film Festival (February/March), the Southern Illinois Irish Festival (April), the Indian (Hindu, Sikh and Jain) celebration of Diwali (October/November), the Great Cardboard Boat Regatta (April), the Sunset Concerts (a summer series of free outdoor concerts on the Southern Illinois University campus and in city parks), and Brown Bag Concerts (a spring and fall series of free outdoor concerts in the Town Square Pavilion).
Retail
The city's business districts include several large shopping malls (including University Mall on the east side of town), featuring a mixture of national chain stores and locally owned businesses. In addition, Carbondale is home to many small shops and restaurants, many of them located in the downtown area. The downtown district is supported by Carbondale Main Street, which has listings and information about individual businesses. Because of the large student population in the city, there is a great variety of restaurants, featuring many nationalities of cuisine. Several bars and coffeehouses offer live music, poetry readings, and other entertainment. The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce offers information on local businesses in over 60 categories.
Parks and recreation
Campus Lake
Carbondale has 18 public tennis courts. It is home to the Superblock, which is a sports multi-complex with baseball, softball, soccer, football, and track fields. The Carbondale Park District maintains seven parks and an indoor pool for public use. In 2010 the park district opened a new spray park in Crispus Attucks Park,[31] and a water park opened in May 2016 at the Superblock.[32][33][34] Southern Illinois University's Recreation Center is open to the public; it provides swimming, bowling, rock climbing walls, tennis, basketball, an indoor track, racquetball, weight training, and a variety of exercise equipment.
Five minutes south of Carbondale is the city reservoir, Cedar Lake, which is open to kayaking and canoeing. The north access features several dramatic rock bluffs and secluded bays. Other lakes nearby include Little Grassy Lake, Devils Kitchen Lake, Crab Orchard Lake, and Kinkaid Lake. Another more remote location is Cache River Swamp, the northernmost cypress swamp in North America. The surrounding areas also offer hiking and mountain biking.
Also a few minutes south of Carbondale is Jeremy Rochman Memorial Park, established by Barrett Rochman in memory of his son Jeremy "Boo" Rochman, who died in an auto accident at age 19. It features a castle with life-sized figures on a Dungeons & Dragons theme.
The Shawnee National Forest, close to Carbondale, is home to many wineries. The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail visits twelve vineyards in scenic settings, offering local wines and dining facilities. Several of the vineyards are bed-and-breakfasts or offer cabins for close accommodations.
The presence of Southern Illinois University also means that Carbondale area residents can attend Division I events of SIU's "Salukis" sport teams. The mascot term "Salukis" is a reference to a dog breed from ancient Egypt, a nod to the fact that the Southern Illinois region is frequently referred to by the nickname "Little Egypt."
Activism
Due to the presence of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale residents have a tradition of political activism. During the Vietnam War, and especially after the Kent State shootings, massive anti-war demonstrations took place on the SIU campus and on the streets of Carbondale. They resulted in the closure of SIU, more than $100,000 of property damage, more than 400 arrests,[35] and the deployment of the National Guard to restore order.[36]
In 2011, the Occupy Movement took up residence on the lawn of Quigley Hall at Southern Illinois University, occasionally clashing with local police and with university policy.
SIU's Faculty Association went to the picket lines on November 3, 2011, after an agreement could not be reached between the Association and the administration concerning contracts. The other unions—the Non-Tenure Track Faculty Association, the Association of Civil Service Employees, and Graduate Assistants United—all settled with the administration within hours of the picketing action. The Faculty Association came to an agreement with the administration on November 10.[37] The strike was the first ever in the school's history.
Several local organizations are concerned with peace, justice and the environment, including the Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois/Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Shawnee Green Party, the Student Environmental Center, the Southern Illinois Center for a Sustainable Future, and local chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Sierra Club, and the National Audubon Society.
The city of Carbondale has a council-manager government.[38] There are a total of seven elected city officials: a mayor and six city council members elected at-large for four-year staggered terms. The City Manager, a professional hired by the city council, appoints the department heads. The city provides services such as police, fire, development services, public works, and public library. Several boards and commissions allow for citizen participation, bringing more citizens into civic activities and helping to bridge the gap between the residents and the government. Carbondale is a zoned, home rule municipality. In 2010, the city approved a new comprehensive plan that lays out goals for the future and ways to accomplish these goals.[39] On April 5, 2011, Joel Fritzler was elected mayor for a four-year term,[40] but on February 3, 2014, he resigned to accept a job in Arizona. The City Council chose Don Monty as acting mayor to finish Fritzler's term.[41] On April 7, 2015, John "Mike" Henry was elected mayor, and he took office in May 2015.[42] On April 4, 2023, Carolin Harvey was elected mayor, the first African-American to hold the office; Harvey had been acting mayor since Henry took a leave of absence.[43]
This statue was placed here by Station Carbondale, Inc. through donations from people dedicated to the preservation of Carbondale's railroad history. The first train came to Carbondale on July 4, 1854. At the peak of the city's railroad traffic, as many as 53 passenger trains passed through here each day.
Highways
The city of Carbondale sits on the intersection of U.S. Route 51 and Illinois Route 13. Interstate 57 is accessible to the east on Route 13 at Marion, and to the south on Rt. 51 near Dongola. Interstate 64 is accessible to the north on Rt. 51. Interstate 24 is accessible six miles south of Marion on I-57. The city is 331 highway miles from Chicago, 96 highway miles from St. Louis, and 213 highway miles from Memphis.[44] (A historical note: When Illinois first developed the state highway system in the 1920s, what is now Rt. 51 was Illinois Route 2, which ran the length of the state).
Carbondale is also served by Amtrak Train 390/391, the Saluki, daily in the morning, and Amtrak Train 392/393, the Illini, daily in the afternoon/evening. Both the Saluki and the Illini operate to Chicago, originating and terminating in Carbondale.[45]
Amtrak uses the tracks of the Canadian National Railway, which provides freight service to the city's industrial park. The railroad runs along the original line of the Illinois Central Railroad that began service in 1854 in Carbondale.
The Southern Illinois Airport is located northwest of the city and offers private aviation services and is home to SIU's aviation program. On April 2, 2010, state and university officials broke ground on a Transportation Education Center on the airport grounds.[47]
Public transit
The Saluki Express provides bus service around the city. SIUC students, faculty, and staff, as well as the greater Carbondale community, are encouraged to use the service.[48] This system offers eleven routes operating seven days a week while the university is in session, and a "break route" operating during semester breaks.[49]
Carbondale did not provide abortions from 1985 to 2022, but after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization court ruling in 2022 paved the way for many US states to prohibit abortion, Carbondale experienced a sharp rise in the number of abortion providers thanks to it being the closest town with legal abortion access to many southern U.S. states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi, with the Choices abortion clinic moving there from Memphis, Tennessee.[53]
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois with a population of 52,974 at the 2020 census, the county is located 98 miles southeast of St. Louis. Its county seat is Murphysboro, and its most populous city is Carbondale, home to the main campus of Southern Illinois University. The county was incorporated on January 10, 1816, and named for Andrew Jackson. The community of Brownsville served as the fledgling county's first seat. Jackson County is included in the Carbondale-Marion, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as "Little Egypt".
Rantoul is a village in northern Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,371 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area.
Centralia is a city in Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Illinois with the largest portion in Marion County. The city is the largest in three counties, Clinton, Marion, and Washington, but it is not a county seat for any of them. The population was 12,182 as of the 2020 census, down from 13,032 in 2010.
Homewood is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,463 at the 2020 census.
Du Quoin is a city in Perry County, Illinois, United States. It is best known for hosting the annual DuQuoin State Fair and the Street Machine Nationals. The population is estimated at 5,761 in the 2020 census.
The city of Marion is the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois, United States. The population in Marion, IL was 16,855 according to the 2020 census.
Southern Illinois is a region of the U.S. state of Illinois comprising the southern third of the state, principally south of Interstate 70. Part of downstate Illinois, it is bordered by the two most voluminous rivers in the United States: the Mississippi below its connection with the Missouri River to the west and the Ohio River to the east and south, with the tributary Wabash River, extending the southeastern border. Some areas of Southern Illinois are known historically as Little Egypt.
Southern Illinois University (SIU) is a public research university in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Chartered in 1869, SIU is the oldest and flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system. SIU enrolls students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Originally founded as a normal college, the university today provides programs in a variety of disciplines, combining a strong liberal arts tradition with a focus on research. SIU was granted limited university status in 1943 and began offering graduate degrees in 1950. A separate campus was established in Edwardsville, Illinois in 1957, eventually becoming Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Southern Illinois University is a system of public universities in the southern region of the U.S. state of Illinois. Its headquarters is in Carbondale, Illinois.
Banterra Center is an 8,284-seat multi-purpose arena, on the campus of Southern Illinois University, in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Construction on the arena began in the spring of 1962 and took nearly two years to complete. It was completed in 1964 and is the home of the SIU Salukis basketball team.
The Illini and Saluki are a pair of passenger trains operated by Amtrak along a 310-mile (500 km) route between Chicago and Carbondale, Illinois. They are part of Amtrak's Illinois Service and are primarily funded by the state of Illinois. The service provides two daily roundtrips; Saluki being the morning trains and Illini the afternoon trains. The route is coextensive with the far northern leg of the long-distance City of New Orleans.
Southern Illinois Airport is a public airport in Jackson County, Illinois, United States. It is located three nautical miles (6 km) northwest of the central business district of Carbondale and east of Murphysboro. This airport is included in the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2025–2029, which categorized it as a regional general aviation facility.
Carbondale station is an Amtrak intercity train station in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. The southern terminus of Amtrak's Illini and Saluki routes, it is also served by the City of New Orleans. Amtrak Thruway service between Carbondale and St. Louis, Missouri connects with the City of New Orleans. Carbondale is the southernmost Amtrak station in Illinois.
Metro Lakeland is a name that was coined in the 1960s for an area of southern Illinois that is centered on the intersections of Interstate 57, Interstate 24, and Illinois Route 13—a four-lane east-west highway connecting the communities of Murphysboro, Carbondale, Carterville, Herrin, Marion, and Harrisburg. Metro Lakeland was defined as Jackson, Williamson, Franklin, Saline, and Perry counties, with a combined population of approximately 210,000. Carbondale, Herrin, and Marion are the key urban areas, with a combined city-proper population of over 65,000 Carbondale, the site of Southern Illinois University, is the region's largest city. Metro Lakeland is about 88 miles (142 km) southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, or 120 miles (190 km) by Interstate highway.
The Southern Illinois Salukis are the varsity athletic teams representing Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The nickname comes from the Saluki, the Royal Dog of Egypt and the Persian greyhound, which ties into the fact that southern Illinois has had the nickname "Little Egypt" for just under 200 years.
The Southern Illinois Salukis football program represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in college football. The Salukis are a member of the NCAA and compete at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. The Salukis are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference and play in Saluki Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois, which has a seating capacity of 15,000.
Shryock Auditorium is an auditorium located on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. The auditorium was named for the university's fifth president, Henry William Shryock, who died inside the building just before a student convocation on April 13, 1935. The auditorium is a focal point for musical performances and distinguished lectures in the local area.
Lance Rhodes is an American baseball coach and former pitcher. He is the head baseball coach at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Rhodes played Saint Louis University in 2005 through 2006 and at Southeast Missouri State University from 2007 to 2008.
Bob Steele was a competitive swimmer for Southern Illinois University and a collegiate swim coach for California State Bakersfield from 1997 through 2004 where he led the team to 5 NCAA Division II National Championships, and was named Division II Coach of the year four times. From 1984 through 1995, he was a director of athlete development for USA Swimming. Receiving wide recognition for his service to collegiate coaching and the American swimming community, he was selected as one of College Swimming Coaches Association of America's (CSCAA) Top 100 Coaches of the Century.
↑ February 24, 1921. "Slogans of the Various Illinois Cities," Woodland Daily Democrat (Woodland, California), p. 2
↑ January 7, 1903. "Local Items." The Free Press (Carbondale, Ill.) 3. A social item was reprinted from the Mt. Vernon News: "Mrs. Dr. McAnally, née Pace, of Carbondale has returned to the Athens of Egypt after a week's visit with her sisters..."
↑ Carbondale Free Press (Carbondale, Ill.), March 31, 1922, p. 1
Wright, John W. D. 1977. A History of Early Carbondale, Illinois, 1852–1905. Carbondale, Ill.: Southern Illinois University Press. 384 pages. ISBN978-0-8093-0789-0.
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