South Central Illinois

South Central Illinois is a region in the southern part of Illinois located approximately between U.S. Highway 50 in the south and Illinois Highway 16 in the north. Blessed with fertile soil throughout the region, agriculture is a chief industry here. Some of the largest communities in South Central Illinois include Alton, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Effingham, and O'Fallon. There is also a South Central Conference of the Illinois High School Association that includes the schools of Carlinville, East Alton- Woodriver, Gillespie, Marquette (Alton), Roxana, Southwestern (Piasa), Greenville, Hillsboro, Litchfield, Pana, Staunton, and Vandalia.