Macoupin County Jail

215 S East St., Carlinville, IL
Phone:

East < GO > West

The 1869-1988 Macoupin County Jail is located across the street from the county courthouse and on the same site as the current jail. This was a "Jailer Residence" style jail, which meant the sheriff and his family lived here along with the bad guys. The sheriff had nicer accommodations though, he and his family had quarters on the second floor.

The sign on the door of the Macoupin County Jail proclaims "Since 1869".

It was built using the "cannon ball" method by cementing cannon balls into the stone walls to prevent jail breaks but one person did escape only to be caught later.

One of the Route 66 Shields has been placed in the parking lot on the east side of the jail. Carlinville is one of six communities that received a grand from the Great Rivers & Route Tourism Bureau in Illinois. This Route 66 monument was installed the weekend of October 1, 2022.

Photo(s): 2012, 2023