Dongola, IL

united states

Dongola is a small Union County town of about 550 people in far southern Illinois, near where the Mississippi and Ohio rivers meet. Take I-57 to the Route 146 exit near Anna, then head west 12 miles to reach town. Route 3 runs north-south through Dongola, connecting to river communities and Shawnee National Forest areas. The town sits along the historic Trail of Tears route, with markers commemorating the Cherokee forced relocation of the 1830s.