Bonnie, IL

Bonnie Map

Bonnie is a village located in the southern part of Jefferson County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 424 people. It is part of the Mount Vernon Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The first settlement in this area was Spring Garden, about four miles southeast of Bonnie. There were several springs in the area. Early in the 19th century, Uriah Compton walled them up and built a resort called "Compton's Springs". In 1848, the village of Spring Garden was platted next to the resort. Spring Garden grew rapidly, becoming the second largest settlement in the County, even having a high school by 1888. In 1905, however, the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad was built about three miles to the west. Spring Garden began a long decline as the business and population shifted to the rail depots at Bonnie and Ina. George Washington Hayes (1842–1927) donated some of the land originally making up Bonnie.

The Bonnie Campground is located to the west of Bonnie. This campground was the scene of large religious outdoor gatherings in the early and mid-20th century.

Nearby cities include Woodlawn, Sesser, Dahlgren, Bluford, Benton.