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Charleston is a city in, and the county seat of, Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 17,286, as of the 2020 census. The city is home to Eastern Illinois University and has close ties with its neighbor, Mattoon. Both are principal cities of the Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Charleston, located in Coles County, Illinois, is home to Eastern Illinois University, a public university with a strong reputation for its teaching programs. Our city is also known for its historic downtown district, and rich Lincoln history.
Charleston, city, seat (1830) of Coles county, east-central Illinois, U.S. It lies near the Embarras River, about 45 miles (70 km) south of Champaign. First settled by Benjamin Parker (1826), it was named for Charles Morton, its first postmaster.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Downtown Charleston. The mainstay in downtown Charleston is the magnificent Coles County Courthouse, built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style in 1898.
- Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum. On October 7, 1858 Charleston witnessed the fourth in a series of seven public debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas (incumbent) in the United States Senate race.
- Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site. Ten minutes south of downtown Charleston is the place where Abraham Lincoln’s father, Thomas (1778-1851) settled with his second wife, Sarah (Abraham’s step-mother) in 1831.
- Tarble Arts Center. One of a few reasons to keep the EIU campus in mind, the Tarble Arts Center is a superb contemporary art museum with a permanent collection of more than 1,000 pieces, around half of which is devoted to Illinois folk arts from the late 20th century.
Top Things to Do in Charleston, IL. Places to Visit in Charleston. Enter dates. Attractions. Filters. Sort. Category types. Types of Attractions. Traveller rating. & up. Good for. Free Entry. Good for Kids. Budget-friendly. Hidden Gems. Show more. 21 places sorted by traveller favourites. 1. Lincoln Douglas Debate Museum. 7. Speciality Museums.
Did you know Charleston is the Butterfly Capital of Illinois? Visit over 20 butterfly hotspots, more information at www.urbanbutterflies.org. Choose Charleston for shopping - Shop our historic downtown square for unique products, local antique shops for those hidden treasures, and charming gift shops for the perfect gift.
In 2022, Charleston, IL had a population of 17.8k people with a median age of 29.4 and a median household income of $47,533. Between 2021 and 2022 the population of Charleston, IL declined from 18,130 to 17,795, a −1.85% decrease and its median household income grew from $44,371 to $47,533, a 7.13% increase.
