Southeren Illinois (Chicago, Champaign, Mattoon: crime, houses, high school)

[Switch625]

I live in east central Illinois, and I have no clue what you're talking about.

The southern part of Illinois was settled first. Vandalia was the first real state capital. The settlers came from Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia for the most part. That explains the "southern" nature of southern Illinois.

Central Illinois was settled by farmers from Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. Northern Illinois was settled relatively late, actually. Western Illinois is different in that it was initially settled as part of government land grants to retired soldiers.

[Juice13610]

And you misspelled southern.

[dmann304]

Southern Il kicks ass around this time of the year. cuz some of the folks go out into the country and get drunk and listen to loud music and barbercue and have fun.

I love sounthern IL actually broads are hot and its a getaway from the hustle and bustle.

[Juice13610]

Where do you live?

[dmann304]

I live in Berwyn just west of Chicago.

But back in the early 90's i lived in Jacksonville and Greenup for 2 years but livied in Jville on and off for 7 years cuz of schooling but was born in Chicago.

[computerguysd]

I'm originally from "downstate" and I agree with Switch625 about the settlement patterns in IL. My ancestors migrated to IL from TN and we just talk like everybody else we grew up around. Most of my "tree" consists of farmers and small business people from the south and they settled in IL between the late 1700's and early 1800's. Quite a few of my line are still in TN.

I think we've probably kept the "twang" or "drawel" in our speech to make sure that no one confused us with the a-holes from the Chicago area

[Manigault]

Didn't the singer who recorded "Redneck Woman" grow up in southern IL? Down there by Little Egypt, it is pretty southern.

[Mr Bigman]

Grechin Wilson.

Yea southern IL is full of Country singers too.

You be suprised how many came from south of 70.

Downstate IL is like Kentucky and Arkansas.

[arpschneider]

Originally Posted by Mr Bigman

Grechin Wilson.

Yea southern IL is full of Country singers too.

You be suprised how many came from south of 70.

Downstate IL is like Kentucky and Arkansas.

Sometimes, I don't think you can get any further "south" than central IL! They must have all moved here after the other states kicked them out.

As far as singers: Central IL has the (in)famous "Modern Cowboyz" hillbilly band. Unfortunately, they have decided to practice every Thursday evening in a garage located in our town that the rest of the 300 residents have to endure. It's bad enough in the Winter when the doors and windows of their garage are closed because of the cold but becomes twice as bad during the Summer when they open up the doors and windows!

It oftentimes got so bad that the village board even had to pass a law to limit their practice sessions to a 10PM curfew because they'd go on almost all night otherwise. And the more beers they got in them, the more "interesting" they sounded!

Crooning at the Moon! OWOOO!

[jojojohnson76]

Downstate Illinois is not like Kentucky or Arkansas.

I was raised "downstate." If you weren't, don't share your opinions on it.