Vandalia, IL

Vandalia is a historic small town situated along the Kaskaskia River in south-central Illinois, about an hour northeast of St. Louis. Home to around 7,500 residents, it serves as the county seat of Fayette County and has deep pioneer roots. Founded in 1819, Vandalia spent twenty years as the early capital of Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln began his political career, and served as the western terminus of the historic National Road.

ATTRNyttend / Public domain

Today, daily life centers around a classic downtown area with local shops, government offices, and the preserved Vandalia Statehouse. Families are served by the local Vandalia school district, while outdoor recreation is easy to find at nearby Vandalia Lake and along the river. Positioned along Interstate 70 and Route 51, the town offers a quiet pace and an affordable cost of living with convenient highway access to larger regional hubs.