Incorporated in 1818, Edwardsville is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city is named after Ninian Edwards who was the territorial governor of Illinois at that time. It is also the county seat of Madison County.
With just a little over 24,000 inhabitants, Edwardsville offers the charm of a small town that kept its green feel. Leclaire Park and the Gardens at SIUE are just some of the many parks in town. The Watershed Nature Center is a 48 acre wildlife preserve where native Illinois plants and animals can be found. In addition, Edwardsville and the surrounding area offer 85 miles of bike trails (http://www.mcttrails.org).
Despite its size, Edwardsville offers all the amenities of a larger town in regards to shopping and entertainment. Edwardsville is only 25 minutes from downtown St Louis with its many attractions, for example the Arch, the City Museum and the St Louis Zoo.
Edwardsville is the twin city of Glen Carbon, a former mining town. The settlement was first called 'Land of Goshen', after the biblical land of Goshen. The area has kept this nickname which is still reflected in the Goshen Market, a green market that is held every Saturday from May until October in downtown Edwardsville. An all organic supermarket 'Green Earth' can also be found in town.
The climate in this area varies widely. There are four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. Winter temperatures average approximately 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), and summer temperatures average 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.6 degrees Celsius). The coldest months are December through February. The warmest periods are July through August.
The website of the City of Edwardsville can be found here. The local newspaper is the Edwardsville Intelligencer.
