Junction, IL

Junction is a quiet, small village in southern Illinois that originally started as a railroad crossroads in the late 1800s. Located along Route 13 just north of the Shawnee National Forest, it sits only a few miles from the Ohio River, making it a handy base for outdoor recreation. Life here is low-key and surrounded by open countryside, though the flat, low-lying ground near the river means anyone looking to move here will want to keep an eye on local flood plains.