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Vandalia, IL


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Vandalia, Illinois

Introduction to Vandalia, Illinois

Vandalia, Illinois, in Fayette county, is 61 miles S of Decatur, Illinois (center to center) and 67 miles E of St. Louis, Missouri. As of the 2000 census, 6,975 people lived in Vandalia.

Vandalia History

Vandalia is the county seat of Fayette County, which was founded in 1821. Fayette County was named after Marquis de LaFayette and was formed from Clark, Bond, and Crawford Counties. The city was founded in 1819, but the history of the city’s name is uncertain. Some believe that its name came from a Germanic Vandal tribe, while others believe that it was named after an Indian tribe which existed during the 19th century.

Vandalia and Nearby Attractions

  • Vandalia Statehouse
  • Archway Skydiving Center
  • William Jennings Bryan Museum
  • Keck's Marsh
  • Carlyle Lake Wildlife Management Area
  • Wolf Creek State Park

Things To Do In Vandalia

Vandalia Lake Marina provides camping, fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities. Fayette County Museum has a large collection of artifacts from the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, and Spanish American War. Some interesting places to visit in Vandalia are Old State Capitol, Lincoln Park, Tiger Lily Art Gallery, Madonna of the Trail, Farmers Monument, and Little Brick House. Proximate parks include Sangchris Lake State Park, Beaver Dam State Park, Stephen A. Forbes State Park, and South Shore State Park.

Vandalia Transportation

Flights are available at Lambert St. Louis International Airport.

Vandalia Higher Education

Colleges nearby include Kaskaskia College, Greenville College, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Millikin University, and Lake Land College.

High Points

Vandalia strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Illinois):

CategoryTrophy
Short Commute Times
(vs. State)		Top 1%trophyVandalia Short Commute Times
Affordability of Rents
(vs. Peers)		Top 11%Vandalia Affordability of Rents
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)		Top 19%Vandalia Racial Diversity

Comparative Profile of Vandalia, IL

Comparing Vandalia to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Illinois (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Male Share of the Population1010
Well-Paid Single Men88
Senior Citizens87
Racial Diversity79
Age of the Population54
Children Under 5 Years Old22
Female Share of the Population11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married32
Average Household Size21

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People in Middle Class or Better43
Median Family Income33
People Above Poverty32
College Educated Adults13

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Short Commute Times1010
Walking and Biking to Work23
Working at Home22
Public Transportation Use12

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Living Alone910
Affordability of Rents98
Affordability of Property Taxes88
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals79
Seasonal and Vacation Housing24
Housing Recently Built23

Detailed pages on related topics: Vandalia travel.

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Additional Details

Vandalia Hotels & TravelVandalia Hotels & Travel
Vandalia hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.

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