Casey, IL

Casey is a Clark and Cumberland county city that turned roadside scale into its calling card. It grew out of the older Cumberland settlement, took its name from Zadok Casey around 1853, and later caught an oil boom that left flames on the horizon and money moving through the town. Today the big draw is a lineup of outsized objects - the wind chime, rocking chair, mailbox, and other Guinness-recognized pieces - spread through the downtown and nearby streets. Casey-Westfield schools serve the area, but the town's personality is easy to read from the sidewalk. This is Illinois small-town ingenuity with a tape measure and a sense of humor.