Little Egypt - the region

[Matthew Cissell]

The recent discussion on Appalachia (language and possible Traverse origins or routes of westward movement) got me to thinking about my neck of the woods. I have lived in southern Illinois and also attended university at So. Ill Uni, so I know the area a little bit.
A specific part of southern Illinois is called Little Egypt. It is mentioned on p.18 of AD.
"Coming in over 'Egypt', downstate Illinois to you, Darb, we caught us an upriser off a cornfield by Decatur, thought we'd be onto the dang moon..."
The thing is, Decatur is well north of Lil Egypt. If you are 'coming in over' you are above something, no? And to catch "an upriser off a cornfield by Decatur" one would have to be close, no? For someone from southern Illinois this wouldn't make much sense. (Check a map.) But then they might say, 'Well to folks up north everything south of Chicago is southern Illinois and the state stops at Springfield' (the capital). 
Of course, we are on an airship so we must consider aviation, airmanship and the language used in flight. Sadly, I am rather ignorant regarding these things so maybe is my problem.
I'd like to hear what you folks think.

mc otis