Why visit Gillespie
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 7 places to eat and 1 attraction in and around town.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 19°F.
Weather in Gillespie
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Gillespie
Gillespie is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States, and part of the Metro East region of the St. Louis metropolitan area. The population was 3,168 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Gillespie, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks2
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes7
History
The first group of settlers arrived to the area of Gillespie in the late 1820s from Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. The township thrived in the 1830s, increasing in population and businesses. In 1835 the first schoolhouse was built. Gillespie was incorporated as a town in the spring of 1853. By 1904, the population rose to 3,100 and there were a number of businesses, churches, and schools. On January 29, 1905, a fire swept through the business district and destroyed most businesses and some homes.
For years, Gillespie's main source of employment were the multiple coal mines scattered throughout the township operated by the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. It is said that Gillespie boasted three of the largest coal mines in the world.
Gillespie is named for Judge Joseph Gillespie, who was active in Illinois state politics.
On May 31, 2013, a low-end EF2 tornado tore through Gillespie, causing major damage to a brick gymnasium at Gillespie High School. It was on the ground for three minutes and resulted in zero injuries or fatalities.
From the History section of Gillespie, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship5
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Healthcare1
Map of Gillespie
30 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 19°F | 2.3 in | 5.8 in |
| Feb | 41°F | 23°F | 2.1 in | 4.7 in |
| Mar | 52°F | 32°F | 2.9 in | 2.3 in |
| Apr | 65°F | 43°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 74°F | 54°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 63°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 85°F | 64°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 55°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 44°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 53°F | 33°F | 3.5 in | 0.9 in |
| Dec | 41°F | 25°F | 2.3 in | 2.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Carlinville Hcn (12 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Macoupin County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for tornados.
- 2021-12-13: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Tornado)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2008-10-03: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2007-02-09: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Saint Louis Regional Airport (ALN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.
- Benld 2 mi south, about 4 min by car
- Carlinville 11 mi north, about 18 min by car
- Brighton 18 mi west, about 29 min by car
- Wood River 23 mi southwest, about 37 min by car
- East Alton 23 mi southwest, about 37 min by car
- Alton 24 mi southwest, about 38 min by car
- Edwardsville 25 mi south, about 40 min by car
- Godfrey 25 mi southwest, about 40 min by car
- Highland 26 mi south, about 41 min by car
- Glen Carbon 27 mi south, about 43 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Gillespie, IL, Green254, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gillespie IL Downtown, Green254, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gillespie City Hall Pavilion, Green254, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.