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Edwardsville - Glen Carbon, IL
LocationLocation has always been one of the greatest assets shared by Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. Even as more and more Americans have headed west, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon have remained within 100 miles of the nation’s population center. And while that distinction may seem symbolic, it also reveals itself in a plethora of functional ways. From highways and railroads to waterways and airlines, these tandem towns are situated in the intensely beating heart of America’s transportation infrastructure. Whether you are visiting the area or looking to relocate a business, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon are models of accessibility.
Take, for instance, their precise geographic locale. Positioned almost exactly on the 90th meridian, these two towns are home to some 34,000 people. Along with the surrounding communities of Alton, Collinsville, Granite City, Highland, Troy and Wood River, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon are part of a five-county region in Illinois commonly referred to as Metro East, which describes their orientation within the greater St. Louis area.
With downtown St. Louis approximately 18 miles away, residents of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon enjoy easy access to three regional airports, as well as Lambert International Airport on St. Louis’ north side. Another advantage of being so close to St. Louis is the vast confluence of interstate highways that converge in the metropolitan area. Interstates 44, 55, 64, 70, 255 and 270 all find their way in and around the region. From a nostalgic perspective, two of the nation’s most recognized two-lane highways also slice through the area. Historic Route 66 cuts through Edwardsville, while Route 50 — the nation’s only coast-to-coast two-lane highway — skirts the southern extremities of Madison County.
Mass transportation is also an increasingly viable option in the area. A MetroLink light rail station is only 20 minutes away, and plans are being developed to bring the service even closer to Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. Regardless, the area already operates and maintains its own public transportation system, the award-winning Madison County Transit. Interstate rail travel is easily accessed through Amtrak in nearby Alton, and rail shipping is made possible by Norfolk Southern on Edwardsville’s northwest side.
As statewide road infrastructure initiatives continue to allow for the expansion and widening of Highways 159 and 157, the main arteries in and out of the area, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon will become even more ideal in terms of
their location.
