Although Elgin, Illinois has the largest number of Sears catalog homes at 210, the Carlinville area called Standard Edition has the largest single grouping of these 1918 houses with 152 of them set in one 12 block subdivision. The house plan, called the Carlin, was named after the city.
Carlinville, IL is about 50 miles away from St
Although Elgin, Illinois has the largest number of Sears catalog homes at 210, the Carlinville area called Standard Edition has the largest single grouping of these 1918 houses with 152 of them set in one 12 block subdivision. The house plan, called the Carlin, was named after the city.
Carlinville, IL is about 50 miles away from St. Louis, MO and is the county seat of Macoupin County. With a population of roughly 5,917, Carlinville may not have a fancy arch like its neighbor, St. Louis, but it does have a flashy cupola on its "Million Dollar Courthouse," so nicknamed because it was a big budget buster. Built in 1870, the Macoupin County Courthouse has actually paid off well as it functions both as a center of law and as a popular tourist attraction. The silver domed cupola adds a distinctive sparkle to Carlinville's skyline and can be seen all over the city almost as a constant reminder that this isn't just any old small town. Another special distinction Carlinville has is being included on Sperling's Best Places for a Block Party, so that may be a fun way to meet and greet your neighbors while bonding over barbecued burgers.
Let us now get to how to find apartments here, because no matter what you prefer on your burger, you may not get your housing exactly to order. This is mainly because rental apartments and houses here are limited and much of the real estate is for sale, not rent. Start looking as far in advance as possible. The rents tend to be less than many other small cities for the same size apartment. That bit of good news can also make the competition for rentals fierce and is yet another reason not to let the glare from the courthouse's shiny cupola daze you into a happy Carlinville fog.
Instead, get your ducks in a row, and by ducks we mean references and credit. And don't forget to pack a map! About a third of Carlinville residents work outside the city, but still have short commute times at under nine minutes. That being said, almost any city has a hot spot of month-to-month home rentals and serviced apartments if you know where to look.
Well this isn't really a neighborhood since a city of three square miles is basically its own neighborhood, but a good area to check when trying to seek out the limited supply of rental housing right in Carlinville is:
Walnut Street: With a few dozen different rental properties here like the Walnut Villa Apartments, you might hit it lucky with a Carlinville duplex for rent, especially for a one, two or three-bedroom place. But the early bird gets the worm. Keep thinking like a bird and expand your search from Walnut to Oak, Chestnut, Spruce, Orange and South Plum streets. You'll find everything from apartments and townhouses to three-bedroom houses -- so it shouldn't be too hard to vacancy too!
Once you've found your new home, get your kicks along what was once Route 66 by checking out the historical markers there. Get around Carlinville by walking or driving and hop on Amtrak to St. Louis, Springfield or Chicago. For swimming, fishing and boating, hang out at Carlinville Lake. To stock up on groceries and household supplies, head over to Carlinville Plaza for all types of shopping. Be sure to also go to Magnolias restaurant for some home cooking as you make your home here in Carlinville!
