Equality is located in southern Illinois in western
Gallatin County about 50 miles southeast of
Mt. Vernon between
Harrisburg and
Shawneetown along Highway 142 on the banks of the South Fork of the
Saline River about 10 miles west of the
Ohio River. It abuts the
Shawnee National Forest to the south and is about 5 miles northeast of
Saline County State Park. Native Americans called the area the "Great Salt Springs" as they produced salt from the briny water. The salt was then used as a food preservative and in animal hide tanning as well as its "normal" use as a cooking and table spice.
The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 716, a decrease of 32 since 1990.