Illinois Route 146

Illinois Route 146 (IL-146) is an east-west state highway in the U.S. state of Illinois. It serves the extreme southern region of the state, commonly called Little Egypt or the Illinois Ozarks. IL-146 is 92.93 miles (149.56 km) long. An east-west highway, it serves Hardin County, Pope County, Johnson County, and Union County. These are some of the least-populated counties in Illinois. IL-146 serves two sections of the Shawnee National Forest.

Route description

IL-146 generally follows a land route of the Trail of Tears, a trail taken by bands of approximately 9,000 Cherokee who were forced to march through southern Illinois from November 1838 until January 1839 as part of a U.S. government mandated relocation. In 2006, the state of Illinois designated IL-146 as a historic highway and route of the Trail of Tears.

IL-146 intersects with two U.S. Interstate Highways: Interstate 24 at exit 16 near Vienna, and Interstate 57 at exit 30 near Anna.

IL-146 passes through an area of Illinois noted for scenic beauty and significant tourist visitation. State-operated parks and recreation areas on or adjacent to IL-146 include, from west to east:

• Union County Conservation Area near Jonesboro
• Trail of Tears State Forest near Jonesboro
• Cache River State Natural Area near Vienna
• Dixon Springs State Park near Dixon Springs
• Rauchfuss Hill State Recreation Area near Golconda
• Rose Hotel State Historic Site in Elizabethtown
• Cave-in-Rock State Park in Cave-in-Rock

The city of Jonesboro was the site of an open-air debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in 1858. The site of the debate is preserved as a picnic area and park in Jonesboro.

History

SBI Route 146 originally ran from East Cape Girardeau east to Golconda. In 1937 it was extended east to Elizabethtown, replacing a leg of Illinois Route 34. In 1942 the road was extended east to Cave-In-Rock. There have been no changes since 1942.

External links

• Rose Hotel Bed and Breakfast in Elizabethtown