Villa Grove, IL

Villa Grove is a Douglas County city along the Embarras River, built in two stages when the railroad first created an old town and then returned to make the place a division point. The village began in 1887 as crews laid rail between Danville and Tuscola; after the Frisco acquired the Chicago and Eastern Illinois line, Villa Grove became a halfway repair and crew-change point between Chicago and St. Louis. New Villa Grove grew across the river in 1903, and the city form followed in 1904. The railroad yards once held up to 1,000 cars. Villa Grove's Pancake Festival ran from 1940 to 1958 and drew crowds approaching 25,000 before Ag Days took its place. Villa Grove is an Illinois rail town whose river, yards, and festival history still shape the streets.