The
River Bend is a small
region in western
central Illinois and
southern Illinois that comprises parts of
Madison County and
Jersey County. The name comes from a section of the
Mississippi River that flows roughly west to east instead of the usual north to south, causing a bend in the river. The area is within the
Metro East region, which is within the
Greater St. Louis Metropolitan area.
The western boundary is dictated by the flow of the Mississippi river, beginning at the confluence of the Illinois and ending at the confluence of the Missouri. The eastern boundary stretches through a contiguous urbanized area revolving around the cities of Alton and Wood River.
List of communities within the River Bend
Cities
Villages
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities