Area Code 618 Location - Illinois

Belleville, IL is one of the oldest towns in Illinois. It has been mentioned many times throughout history as a port of call for travelers headed out west in search of gold.

As these ships started to make their way across the great state of United States of America the travelers were passing through the town of Belleville for historical information. They were on the lookout for anything that would clue them in to the variety of opportunities presented by the land west of what we now call California. Those who had driven on this route before making notes of their daily impressions and left those notes in the city of Belleville.

The richness of the land in California was clearly revealed in the vast amounts of gold in the fields. For those who found the site of land to be worthy of the time spent exploring, they were able to buy a piece of it. The difficulty of traveling the long way to the gold fields was not an issue since there were carts and wagon rides to take you to the door of the field. The rewards of gold paid off and so did the expense and the hardship.

However, the area around the towns of Carbondale and East Alton had other attributes to offer. The central location of both towns enabled easy access to these places, but the towns of Carbondale and East Alton also offered most of the same activities that the travelers had discovered earlier on. These small towns with a population of only about half a million had plenty of people all in close proximity for commerce was booming. The settlement of Washington D.C. during the Revolutionary War spurred on the settlers who had come from across the nation to the shores of what was once known as Canada.

Soon a cottage industry was developed with people using their skills to turn their knapsacks into more decorative and fashionable pieces. The first pottery designs were created to go with the cottage industry and soon the arts flourished in the area. After the American Revolution people began to return to these quaint towns with stories of the towns past and the wealth and hardships which were suffered here during the old days.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Belleville, IL and East Alton, IL is the Burlington Coat of Charm School. This was established by Paul and Diane Haddock. Their special interest is in carpentry and woodwork and the students learn everything they need to know about building things with wood. The atmosphere of this school is relaxed and the instructors are caring and enthusiastic.

In addition to the charm of the schools in Belleville and East Alton there is also a charming little village. Carle is in a beautiful valley that borders the Saint Joseph River and the river is wide enough to accommodate the historic ferry called the Maginot. It is located across the village of Delavan near the town of Belleville. There is also the four-season market in Carle at which everything you could possibly need to make sure that you remain warm and dry will be available.

If you are thinking of moving to an area and want to begin a new small town, there is no better place to start than Illinois. Illinois offers a variety of places for different people and the villages that dot the landscape offer up their own charms. With the allure of the famous horse racing track and the variety of festivals and art events in place there is sure to be something for everyone.