Carlinville offers rural charm with city-style convenience
About halfway between Saint Louis and Springfield , Carlinville is a city of 5,700. Surrounded by farmlands, this Macoupin County seat is a central hub for nearby rural communities like Chesterfield and Brighton . “It’s an island in the middle of the corn and the soybeans,” says Kimberly Hunt, a 360 Prime Realty Group broker who’s served the area since 2019. “It’s a little metropolis of its own.” With its shopping, restaurants and educational institutions, the area is known for being self-sufficient. “They have doctors and a Walmart,” Hunt says. “So you really don’t need to leave if you don’t want to.” Access to larger cities and outdoor recreation also pulls in potential homeowners.
Traditional styles dominate in a mix of old and new homes
Amidst a checkerboard pattern of streets, most of the area’s homes were built near the turn of the 20th century. Traditional styles are typical, with some midcentury ranch-style homes also included. Lots are typically about a quarter-acre in size and have outbuildings like sheds and carports. Prices range from around $40,000 to $230,000, depending on condition and size. Turn-of-the-21st-century New Traditional homes on larger acreage are available on Carlinville’s outskirts, generally selling for between $290,000 and $410,000. The median price for a home in the city is about $150,000, compared to the Macoupin County median in the $140,000s.
Public schools and a historic college shape local education
Carlinville Primary School teaches kindergarten through second grade and has an A-minus grade from Niche. For third through fifth grades, students generally attend Carlinville Intermediate School, which has a B-plus. Carlinville Middle and High schools have Bs from Niche. Athletics are important at the high school, with a football team that made the playoffs every year from 2021 to 2024.
Established in 1837 as a seminary, Blackburn College is now one of the country’s only recognized work colleges. Students are required to work on campus for a minimum of 10 hours per week to gain leadership skills, work ethics and a discount on tuition. The college prides itself on sustainability, and has a solar farm, green food service and an in-depth recycling program.
Outdoor spaces range from city parks to golf and tennis
Parks like Tom Thumb and Denby offer standard features like playgrounds and basketball courts. Loveless Park has lit soccer fields, batting cages and a fitness trail. The City Pool is open all summer and has swimming lessons for all ages. Established in 1960, the Carlinville County Club is a private facility with a 9-hole golf course, driving range and tennis courts.
Dining includes pizza, bar food and wine slushies
Most shopping is in the center of town, clustered around Main and Broad streets, with auto shops, fast food and grocery stores like Dollar General and Our Market. Walmart Supercenter is on Alton Road. More retail options can be found out of town. “Fairview Heights is where you’d go for a full day of shopping,” says Hunt. “Or you’d drive to St. Louis.” The Route 66 Old-Fashioned Restaurant and Speakeasy offers a lively atmosphere with bar food and specialty drinks like the wine slushie. In addition to thin-crust pies and pasta dinners, Reno’s Pizzeria and Ristorante has a daily lunch buffet.
Annual fair and spring festival bring Macoupin County together
Held every summer since 1852, the Macoupin County Fair is a week of celebration with 4-H exhibitions, carnival rides and livestock auctions. Hosted by the Macoupin County Historical Society, the annual Spring Festival attracts guests from all over southern Illinois with Civil War reenactments, craft demonstrations and a tractor show.
State routes connect to Springfield and St. Louis
The convergence of state Routes 4 and 108 is at the center of Carlinville. Springfield is about 50 miles away, while St. Louis is around 60 miles away. Carlinville Area Hospital offers emergency services and general care, with specialists in allergies, podiatry and more.
