Flags St. Louis was named for the River King Coal Mine located in Freeburg. The 2,000-acre mine site was operated by Peabody Coal (now named Peabody Energy) from 1957 to 1989. After the closure of the large mine in 1989, Peabody donated some 1,800 acres of the 2,000-acre site to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in 1994. The site is now the state owned and managed Peabody-River King State Fish and Wildlife Area and is open to the public for use by anglers, hunters, and other outdoor enthusiasts for recreational opportunities in the southeastern portion of Greater St. Louis. Today, Freeburg remains a community with a highly diversified business economy that also serves as a bedroom community for Belleville and the St. Louis metroplex, while still providing essential services needed in any small community. Geography Freeburg is located at (38.426949, -89.910451). According to the 2010 census, Freeburg has a total area of , of which (or 96.37%) is land and (or 3.63%) is water. Freeburg has historically been a farming community, but as the nearby cities of Belleville and Fairview Heights have grown, parts of Freeburg have been developed with subdivisions that resemble a suburb. Freeburg enjoys a low crime rate, particularly compared to the cities immediately to its north, and land values have attracted some commuters who live in Freeburg and work the short distance to St. Louis, Missouri. Climate The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Freeburg, IL has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 3,872 people, 1,414 households, and 1,063 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 1,485 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 98.55% White, 0.15% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population. There were 1,414 households, out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years