Carbondale, "The Capital of Southern Illinois", is a city in Southern Illinois in the midwest of the United States. It is located at the junction of Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Route 51, 96 miles (154 km) miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, on the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest. Carbondale is the home of the main campus of Southern Illinois University. The city and the university have developed a dynamic economy and diverse population that totals over 45,000. The city is located in Jackson County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 26,367. The city's current mayor is Brad Cole. In 1971 Carbondale won the All American City achievement award, and was a finalist in the 2009 contest.