Collinsville (Illinois)



Collinsville is a city in Southern Illinois in the Saint Louis Metro East area. It is the "Horseradish Capital of the World": 85 percent of the world's horseradish is grown in Collinsville and the surrounding area. It is also the home of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage.

Understand
Collinsville is a small city and is a suburb of St. Louis in the Metro East. It is roughly in the middle of a string of towns extending from Edwardsville to Belleville. The city consists mainly of the original town on the river bluff and an expansion built up around I-70 at the base of the river bluffs. This part has all/most of the major restaurant chains, hotels, and several "big box" stores. You will also find the Gateway Conference Center in this area.

Up on the bluff you will find the older part of the city. It is largely a white, blue-collar midwestern town. It has more of a small-town feel than a suburban feel. The original downtown is called "uptown" to differentiate it from the newer commercial area by I-70. Although it was run-down for the past few decades, "uptown" is being revitalized.

Collinsville is located at longitude 90W, making it one quarter of the way around the world from Greenwich.

Climate
The Mississippi River makes this area humid, though temperatures are generally moderate. Storms can occur at any time of the year. July and August are hottest and most humid, and January and February are cold, with occasional snow. Average temperatures range from 21°F in the winter to 90°F in the summer (-6°C to 32°C), but summer highs of 100°F and winter lows of 0°F are not uncommon (38°C and -18°C).

Get in
Most people will arrive by car via I-55/70.

Get around
Most people will get around by car. MCT provides bus service in the city.

Do
Collinsville has a variety of festivals throughout the year including:


 * Italian Festival
 * Italian Festival

Buy
There isn't much in the way of shopping in Collinsville. There are a handful of retail stores in "uptown" and a couple of big box stores in "downtown". Most people in Collinsville will drive to Fairview Heights to shop.

Eat


Most major chain restaurants and fast food franchises are represented in Collinsville, primarily in "downtown" around I-70.

Drink
There are several bars mainly concentrated in "uptown" Collinsville some are more upscale and some are dives.

Some of the better establishments are:
 * Friday's South - a bar & grill.

Sleep
You'll find most major hotel chains around the Gateway Conference Center.



Go next

 * Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, site of the largest Native American city north of Mexico from centuries ago.