The American Midwest with a Southern Soul

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Southern Illinois is a geographic paradox. While technically part of the Midwest, it shares deep cultural roots with the Upland South. From its prehistoric mound builders to its history of coal mining and family feuds, this region carries a complex identity shaped by migration, rebellion, and industrial struggle.

The cultural DNA of Southern Illinois is rooted in migration. While French colonists were the first Europeans to reach the area around 1673, the modern identity was forged by settlers from Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, and the Carolinas traveling up the Ohio River. These migrants brought with them a plantation economy, rural culture, and racial ideologies that persisted even after slavery was prohibited in the territory. This heritage is so distinct that many areas are still culturally aligned with the Upland South rather than the neighboring Midwest states.

The region's history is marked by extreme cycles of development and violence. In the 19th century, it was a site of intense conflict, including the 'Bloody Vendetta'—a ten-year family feud in Williamson County involving nearly 500 deadly assaults. Later, during the early 20th century, coal mining became the economic backbone. This era saw the 'Herrin Massacre' of 1922, where a riot left 24 men dead, and gave rise to notorious Prohibition-era gangs like the Shelton Brothers and Charles Birger.

Today, Southern Illinois is navigating an economic transition from heavy industry to agriculture. The 1990 Clean Air Act initially devastated the local economy by restricting high-sulfur coal markets, though demand has recently rebounded. While rural populations have thinned as people move toward hubs like Belleville and Carbondale, the region remains a significant cultural landscape, anchored by institutions like Southern Illinois University and the vast Shawnee National Forest.

Before these migrations, the land was home to sophisticated societies. The Mississippian culture built Cahokia near present-day Collinsville, which features the largest prehistoric earthworks in the Americas. These complex urban centers, featuring pyramidal mounds for religious and political purposes, were abandoned between 1400 and 1500 AD, long before European explorers arrived.

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