Southern Illinois Southern Illinois Southern Illinois (also known as "Little Egypt") is the southern third of the state of Illinois. The southern part of Illinois has a unique cultural and regional history. Part of downstate Illinois, the Southern Illinois region is bordered by the two most voluminous rivers in the United States: the Mississippi River and its connecting Missouri River to the west, and the Ohio River to the east and south with the Wabash as tributary. Southern Illinois' most populated city is Belleville at 44,478. Other principal cities include Alton, Centralia, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Effingham, O'Fallon, Harrisburg, Herrin, Mt. Vernon, Marion, and
Egypt River Egypt River The Egypt River is a stream in Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States. The river is formed by the confluence of Bull and Dow brooks below their reservoirs, and in turn joins the Muddy River and then the Rowley River, which empties into the Plum Island Sound. The Rowley River runs through salt marshes, in which it forms a narrow and winding inlet about in total length. The name "Egypt River" is recorded as early as 1635. In early colonial times, it was also termed the "North River". It was then a source of herring and smelt, but few have