Wilmington

"The Island City" of Wilmington has witnessed a lot of history and has intricate ties to The Illinois & Michigan Canal, Route 66, and even the Underground Railroad. The city’s historic downtown is an antiquarian’s dream with 20 different antiques shops to browse. The annual Catfish Days Festival is a great place to get a taste of local flavor and a bite of catfish. Another popular stop along Route 66 is The Gemini Giant, a fiberglass man sporting a space helmet and rocket ship which serves as a tribute to the country’s obsession with space travel during the 1960’s. Outside the city, one can enjoy boating and fishing on the Kankakee River, as well as, The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve.

Wilmington is located on the banks of the Kankakee River, along the original 1926 alignment of Illinois Route 66. Wilmington has a unique geographic feature - a large island in the Kankakee River, which divides the river into a large channel and a small channel. This is why it is known as, "The Island City." The city's origins date back to 1834, but it wasn't until 1854 that it was incorporated officially as the city of Wilmington. The population is 5,134 as of the 2000 U.S. census. The portion of Route 66 traveling from Joliet to Wilmington was placed on to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

City of Wilmington
1165 S. Water St.
Wilmington, IL 60481
(815) 476-2175
https://www.wilmington-il.com