[4] When the village incorporated as a city, it became politically separate from Girard Township which surrounded it.

[5] Illinois Route 4 passes through the center of town as Third Street, leading southwest 14 miles (23 km) to Carlinville, the county seat, and north-northeast 26 miles (42 km) to Springfield, the state capital.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Girard has a total area of 0.93 square miles (2.41 km2), all land.

[2] The city drains west to tributaries of the East Fork of Otter Creek, flowing southwest to Hodges and then Macoupin Creek, a west-flowing tributary of the Illinois River.

Girard is located at the south end of the Sangamon Valley Trail right-of-way.