Carlinville Historic Square is the town's old civic centre, a compact piece of small-town Illinois wrapped around the Macoupin County Courthouse. The square keeps much of its Route 66-era character, with storefronts, local businesses, and several of Carlinville's main historic sights close by.
It works best as a short walk rather than a single stop: circle the courthouse, look at the old commercial blocks, then continue to the jail and Sears Homes district.