Norwood, IL

Norwood is a quiet village of just over 500 residents, tucked along Farmington Road on the western edge of Peoria. The area started out in the 1800s as a scatter of homesteads, limestone quarries, and coal shafts before evolving into a peaceful residential neighborhood that officially incorporated in the 1950s. Today, it appeals to newcomers looking for spacious lots, quiet streets, and a relaxed, semi-rural atmosphere, all while keeping you within a ten-minute drive of Peoria's major shopping districts, hospitals, and employers.

Day-to-day life here revolves around neighborhood gatherings, local churches, and Norwood School, where community roots run deep. The school teams are named the Tornadoes in memory of how the town banded together to rebuild after a 1965 storm damaged the original classrooms. Norwood also claims a fun slice of vintage pop culture history as the birthplace of Jim Jordan, the actor behind radio star Fibber McGee. It is a down-to-earth Midwestern pocket that pairs small-town elbow room with easy access to city conveniences.