Wilmington, IL (City)

Sitting along the Kankakee River about sixty miles southwest of Chicago, Wilmington is a quiet community of around 5,600 residents known as the Island City. Life here often revolves around the water, with scenic river channels shaping the town center and offering easy access for boating, fishing, and riverside walks. Right next door, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie opens up thousands of acres for hiking, biking, and spotting grazing bison.

ATTROriginal: unknown Photograph: Studiofox / Public domain

The town also carries plenty of historic Route 66 charm, marked by vintage diners, local antique shops, and the famous Gemini Giant statue. Families are served by a local public school system covering kindergarten through high school within the community. When you need to head out of town, nearby Interstate 55 makes for straightforward commutes north toward Joliet and Chicago, giving residents a relaxed pace to come home to.