The village of Glen Carbon is tucked into river bluffs in southwestern Illinois. European immigrants working at a brickyard and coal mines incorporated the village in 1892 and elected some of their peers to organize protection and services. In the 1900 US Census, the village’s population reached 1,200; in the 1930s, it dropped to 300. Families stayed together by buying company houses for $50 per room, and neighborhood and government programs helped them survive. As the economy improved, Glen Carbon’s leaders annexed affluent and well-planned subdivisions. While developing parks and bike trails, they protected and preserved Old Town, the heart of the village. Saving historic buildings and venues–along with the planning of newer annexations and modern shopping centers–helped create a peaceful village that unites the past and present. Old Town and other subdivisions are linked by tree-lined bike and hiking trails, which helped lead CNN Money to name Glen Carbon as one of the country’s Best Places to Live in 2007.