Glen Carbon (Images of America)

The village of Glen Carbon is tucked into river bluffs in southwestern Illinois. European immigrants working at a brickyard and coal mines incorporated the village in 1892 and elected some of their peers to organize protection and services. In the 1900 US Census, the village's population reached 1,200; in the 1930s, it dropped to 300. Families stayed together by buying company houses for $50 per room, and neighborhood and government programs helped them survive. As the economy improved, Glen Carbon's leaders annexed affluent and well-planned subdivisions. While developing parks and bike trails, they protected and preserved Old Town, the heart of the village. Saving historic buildings and venues--along with the planning of newer annexations and modern shopping centers--helped create a peaceful village that unites the past and present. Old Town and other subdivisions are linked by tree-lined bike and hiking trails, which helped lead CNN Money to name Glen Carbon as one of the country's Best Places to Live in 2007.