Carbondale, located in Jackson County, Illinois, is less than two hours from St. Louis, MO. Carbondale is known as “Little Egypt” due to the direct line of business and transportation from Cairo, Illinois. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 25,083, making it the most populous city in Southern Illinois outside the Metro East region of Greater St. Louis. There is no shortage of outdoor activities in Carbondale due to numerus rivers, lakes, a variety of golf courses, Shawnee National Forest, and fourteen public parks. The southern end of Carbondale also has many wineries and is the starting point of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, which highlights eleven vineyards in scenic settings, offering local wines and farm-to-table dining. Carbondale is also home to Southern Illinois University.