Gallatin County, Illinois
Gallatin County is a tiny slice of southeastern Illinois, right along the Ohio River. Shawneetown is the county seat, a historic river town with more history than people these days.
It’s one of the least populous counties in southern Illinois, with barely 5,000 residents calling it home. The Shawnee National Forest reaches into the southwestern edge, bringing some hills to an otherwise flat landscape.
Farming remains the way of life, though there’s some oil and gas activity as well. Flooding is a constant concern, and the old part of Shawneetown was moved inland after suffering one too many floods. On a clear day, you can see three states from the right spot along the river.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| County Name | Gallatin County |
| County Seat | Shawneetown |
| Cities, Towns, and Communities | Shawneetown, Equality, Ridgway, Old Shawneetown, New Haven, Junction, Omaha, and various other unincorporated communities. |
| Interstates and Highways | Illinois Route 1, Illinois Route 13, Illinois Route 141, Illinois Route 142, Illinois Route 169 |
| FIPS Code | 17-059 |
| Total Area (Land and Water) | 328 square miles (land: 323 sq mi, water: 5 sq mi) |
| Adjacent Counties (and Direction) | White County (North), Posey County, Indiana (Northeast), Union County, Kentucky (East), Hardin County (South), Saline County (West), Hamilton County (Northwest) |
| Time Zone | Central Time Zone (CT) |
| State | Illinois |
| Coordinates | 37.7583° N, 88.2171° W |
| Etymology | Named after Albert Gallatin, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Jefferson and Madison |
| Major Landmarks | Old Shawneetown Bank, Garden of the Gods (nearby in Shawnee National Forest), Illinois Iron Furnace Historical Site, Saline River Wildlife Management Area |
| Population | Approximately 4,500 |
