Editing Calhoun County, Illinois (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|284|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|254|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|30|sqmi}} (10.5%) is water.<ref name="census-density"/>

Calhoun County is a narrow {{convert|37|mi|km|adj=on}}-long peninsula of mostly high, rolling ground located between the [[Mississippi River]] and the [[Illinois River]]. The rolling hills escaped the leveling of [[glacier]]s.

County transportation is served by two state-operated, free [[ferry|ferries]] crossing the Illinois River (the [[Brussels, Illinois|Brussels]] Ferry in the south and the [[Kampsville, Illinois|Kampsville]] ferry in the north).  ''The Golden Eagle'' ferry, which is privately operated and charges a toll, crosses the Mississippi River to [[St. Charles County, Missouri]]. A bridge spans the Illinois River at [[Hardin, Illinois|Hardin]]. Land routes connect to the north to bordering [[Pike County, Illinois|Pike County]].

When transportation was mainly by river, the county had many prosperous farms and orchards. It still produces a major portion of the peach crop of Illinois, and farmers raise corn and other commodities. The hotel in Brussels dates from 1847, when it was a stagecoach stop.

Tourists visit the area for the natural environment of the Illinois River valley and for its proximity to the [[Great River Road]] on the Illinois side. It includes part of the [[Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge]] and attracts thousands of birds in [[bird migration|migration]] seasons as part of the [[Mississippi Flyway]]. The county has several designated historic districts in the villages and properties listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

Calhoun County was added to the [[Greater St. Louis|St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area]] in 2003, along with [[Bond County, Illinois|Bond]] and [[Macoupin County, Illinois|Macoupin]] counties in Illinois, and [[Washington County, Missouri]].

The [[Center for American Archeology]] is located in [[Kampsville, Illinois|Kampsville]] in the northern part of the county. It has been the center for study of [[prehistoric]] [[indigenous peoples|indigenous]] culture in the area. It has created educational opportunities for children and adults to participate in its archaeological digs.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Greene County, Illinois|Greene County]] – northeast
* [[Jersey County, Illinois|Jersey County]] – east
* [[St. Charles County, Missouri|St. Charles County]], [[Missouri]] – south
* [[Lincoln County, Missouri|Lincoln County]], [[Missouri]] – west
* [[Pike County, Illinois|Pike County]], [[Illinois]] – north
* [[Pike County, Missouri|Pike County]], [[Missouri]] – northwest

===National protected area===
* [[Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)

===Major highways===
* [[Image:Illinois 16.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 16]]
* [[Image:Illinois 96.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 96]]
* [[Image:Illinois 100.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 100]]
* [[Image:Illinois 108.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 108]]