Although
Jersey County has been inhabited for thousands of years by Native Americans, the
history of modern day Jersey County began when Louis Joliet and Jacques
Marquette became the first Europeans to set foot in Illinois in 1673 at a spot
just north of Grafton. By virtue of the Joliet and Marquette expedition France
governed Illinois until it was ceded to the British after the end of the French
and Indian War in 1763. During the Revolutionary War Illinois was captured by
George Rogers Clark and his “Long Knives” and Illinois became a county of
Virginia. American settlers began arriving in Jersey County after the War of
1812 attracted by the excellent timberlands, unsurpassed soil that yielded
excellent crops, and easy access to the transportation provided by the
Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Communities like Grafton and Jerseyville
began forming in the 1830s and Jersey County was organized as a separate county
in 1839.
Today, with approximately
26,000 residents, some may view Jersey County as just another of the many rural
farming counties up central and southern Illinois. But Jersey County is located
on the northern portion of the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway, has the
Great River Road meandering along its western border, and is home to Pere
Marquette State Park, the state’s largest and most visited park. Jersey County
offers visitors excellent opportunities to get in touch with nature, whether it
is its extraordinary fall beauty along the bluffs lining the Mississippi River
or on the back roads, fruit orchards in the summer and early fall, and bald
eagles in the winter.
Taking advantage of its
unique geographical location at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois
Rivers, Jersey County offers an abundance of water related activities. A number
of public boat ramps and marinas provide access to Alton Lake, the large body of
water created by the Melvin Price Locks and Dam just to the south. The river
town of Grafton provides rentals of all types of watercraft from jet skis to
canoes and pontoon boats. Anglers can search for their favorite fish in both the
main river channels or in back water lakes and sloughs.
Outdoor activities aren’t
limited to water sports. The Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail parallels the Meeting of
the Great Rivers Scenic Byway and the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers until it
ends at Pere Marquette State Park. The Park offers 12 miles of hiking trails of
varying difficulties through woodland and prairie habitats and along the tops of
the bluffs. Bird watching in the area is excellent with the area home to
hundreds of species including the bald eagle, white pelicans, and an assortment
of owls.
Jersey County offers its
visitors unique shopping adventures. Both Grafton and Jerseyville are noted for
an abundance of antique and specialty shops. Equal opportunities await the
culinary adventurers with establishments ranging from dining in a Victorian
atmosphere, eating fresh fish while watching their brethren in tableside
aquariums, to having lunch or dinner on a deck overlooking the river. For those
planning an extended stay, Jersey County has a large number of unique Bed
& Breakfasts.
The communities and
organizations of Jersey County stage events and activities throughout the year
that highlight the area’s strengths and heritage. In June the Great Rivers
Towboat Festival in Grafton lets visitors board the towboats seen transporting
goods up and down the two rivers. Augusts features the Tri-County Antique
Club’s Olden Days that highlights the rural heritage of the area. The
Fulkerson Mansion just north of Jerseyville hosts the annual Jersey County
Victorian Festival. This popular event features a daily Civil War battle
reenactment, living history demonstrations, and a lot of good wholesome fun.
Home For the Holidays in December features tours of the historic houses in
Elsah, a village that is one of the few communities placed on the National
Register of Historic Place in its entirety.
Events,
nature, history, the Great River Road, the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers: all
this and more make Jersey County “A Surprising Place to Visit!”
