Barry, IL

Barry has been around since the 1830s, though it got its name almost by accident. An early resident named Mary Brown wanted to name the village after her hometown of Barre, Vermont, but a clerk misspelled it as "Barry" on the official paperwork, and the name stuck for good. The community was originally laid out around several open green spaces, and you can still see traces of that early blueprint when strolling past the older homes and down to Lafayette Park, the centerpiece of the original town square.

ATTRUnknown photographer / Public domain

Like many historic Pike County towns, Barry grew up alongside the railroad and rebuilt its downtown with sturdy brick storefronts after a pair of fires around the turn of the century. Today, life here moves at an easy, relaxed pace centered on local traditions and familiar faces. Every October, the community gathers for the annual Barry Apple Festival for a weekend of parades, crafts, and food, while the town pool and neighborhood parks keep kids busy all summer long. It is a welcoming, down-to-earth place where neighbors still look out for one another.