Moonshine, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moonshine
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 Moonshine
Location in Illinois
Moonshine
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Clark |
| Elevation | 568 ft (173 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 2 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 422996 |
Moonshine is a very small place in Clark County, Illinois, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it's not an official town or city. Even though it's tiny, Moonshine has been shown on the CBS Sunday Morning Show!
The main building in Moonshine is a grocery store that opened in 1912. In 1982, Helen and Roy Tuttle bought it. They turned it into a restaurant famous for its "Moonburger." People from all 50 states and many countries have visited and signed the restaurant's guestbook. In 2017, during the Terry Hammond Memorial Moonshine Lunchrun, they served a record 3,362 sandwiches! The restaurant is open from 6 AM to 1 PM, Monday through Saturday. The grill stops cooking at 12:30 PM.
Where is Moonshine Located?
Moonshine is a real place that you can find on maps. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) both list its exact spot. It's located at 39°11′26″N 087°53′44″W / 39.19056°N 87.89556°W.
How Moonshine Got Its Name
There are a couple of ideas about how Moonshine got its unique name. One story says it's because the moon used to shine brightly on the swampy land near the old store. Another idea comes from a local resident. They say that a family from Philadelphia named the area in the 1850s. They wanted to honor places back in Pennsylvania.
In the past, Moonshine was known as a "dry town." This means that stores there were not allowed to sell alcoholic drinks.
Who Lives in Moonshine?
Moonshine is so small that the United States Census Bureau doesn't count it as an official town. People often describe it as just "a wide spot in the road." In 2000, only two people lived there. By 2015, there was only one person living in Moonshine, a widow.
