Shawneetown, IL

Tucked away in southeastern Illinois near the Kentucky border, Shawneetown is a small, quiet community of around a thousand residents that serves as the Gallatin County seat. Anyone looking at a map will quickly notice there are actually two towns: Old Shawneetown right on the Ohio River, and the current town sitting about three miles inland along Route 13. The original riverfront settlement was once a bustling frontier hub for banking and river trade, but after a catastrophic flood submerged the area in 1937, the community chose to relocate to higher, safer ground.

ATTRDougtone / CC BY-SA 2.0

Today, modern Shawneetown is where you will find the county courthouse, local schools, and everyday neighborhood spots. Old Shawneetown still sits just down the road, keeping its historic brick buildings and wide river views as a reminder of the region's early days. Life here moves at a relaxed, rural pace, offering affordable small-town living with straightforward drives to outdoor recreation and larger shopping centers like Harrisburg.