Vienna ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Illinois, United States, and it is the site of two well-known state penitentiaries. The population of Vienna was 1,434 at the 2010 census. History Vienna was originally an Indian trading post in the early 1800s, the forming of Vienna far preceded the rise of the railroad and coal industries in the region. Platted as early as 1818 - the same year Illinois became a state - and named the county seat, Vienna was incorporated as a village in 1837 and then as a city in 1893. It has served as the county seat for close to 200 years. In fact, the first post office opened in 1821 before the town was ever incorporated. Vienna is also one of the settlements tens of thousands of Native Americans were forced to pass through in 1830 en route to Oklahoma where they were relocated by the U.S. government. That forced migration westward came to be known as the Trail of Tears due to the brutal conditions that the Native Americans faced. Having to walk barefoot in the middle of winter, thousands died by order of the U.S. government. The Johnson County Courthouse was built in 1868 and is one of the oldest active courthouses in the state. Total cost of the project 140 years ago was a little more than $80,000 (approximately $1.5 million in 2021). Notable locations Vienna Correctional Center—6695 State Route 146 E., Vienna, IL 62995—was opened in November 1965. Vienna is a minimum-security prison. The operational capacity is 1,963. This is an adult male facility only. The Average Annual Cost Per Inmate is $21,310 (FY16). Heron Pond - Little Black Slough Nature Preserve, a National Natural Landmark, is nearby. The Tunnel Hill State Trail trail-head and headquarters is located in Vienna. The Trail of Tears halfway point commemorative totem and flags are located in the adjacent city park. Vienna is home to the Johnson County Courthouse and the Vienna Public Library, which are on the National Register of Historic Places. Dixon Springs State Park is located nearby in Dixon Springs, which is about 15 minutes from downtown Vienna. The Garden of the Gods Wilderness is located a short distance east of Vienna, offering hikers a place to hike locally. Education The city, which has about 700 students within its two districts, is home to Vienna Grade