Editing Gillespie, Illinois (section)

==Geography==
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File:Gillespie City Hall Pavilion.jpg|Gillespie's city hall pavilion
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Gillespie is located mainly in eastern Gillespie Township but extends east into the west part of Cahokia Township. It is bordered to the north by the village of [[East Gillespie, Illinois|East Gillespie]].

Illinois Routes [[Illinois Route 4|4]] and [[Illinois Route 16|16]] pass through Gillespie, joining in the center of town as East Elm Street. Route 4 leads north {{convert|13|mi}} to [[Carlinville, Illinois|Carlinville]], the [[county seat]], and south {{convert|8|mi|0}} to [[Staunton, Illinois|Staunton]]. [[St. Louis]] is {{convert|47|mi}} to the southwest. Route 16 leads northeast {{Convert|10|mi|0}} to [[Litchfield, Illinois|Litchfield]] and west {{convert|28|mi}} to [[Jerseyville, Illinois|Jerseyville]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Gillespie has a total area of {{convert|1.48|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/> The city is drained to the southeast by Bear Creek, a tributary of Cahokia Creek, which runs to the [[Mississippi River]] northeast of St. Louis. To the northwest are Old and New Gillespie Lakes, reservoirs on the Dry Fork of [[Macoupin Creek]], a west-flowing tributary of the [[Illinois River]]. The two lakes are {{convert|3|to|5|mi}} northwest of the city, and many people from surrounding towns enjoy fishing, boating, water-skiing and sunbathing there.