Carbondale is a city in Southern Illinois in the midwest United States, is 96 miles (154 km) miles southeast of Saint Louis, Missouri. It is known mainly as the site of the main campus of Southern Illinois University. The city is located in Jackson County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 25,597. The city's current mayor is Brad Cole
History
Carbondale was named by founder Daniel Brush, who had aspirations of developing coal mining operations in the region. By the time of the American Civil War, the area had been incorporated as a village. After the war it developed into a center of business and transportation for the region.

 On April 29, 1866 one of the first formal Memorial Day observations was held at the city's Woodlawn Cemetery[3], with local resident General John A. Logan giving the principal address.Southern Illinois Normal University, a major factor in Carbondale's economy, which later became known as Southern Illinois University (SIU), was founded in Carbondale in 1869 . Originally a teachers' college, it now has more than 21,000 students.
The city is in an area of the state known as Little Egypt.