Jacksonville is a proud and diverse community located in the heart of central Illinois and is surrounded by many smaller communities. It is situated 30 miles west of the state capital, Springfield, and 60 miles north of St. Louis. It is also the county seat and economic center of Morgan County. A small town feel with big city perks, Jacksonville offers so many opportunities for education, employment, and entertainment. Jacksonville has a thriving small business community with many of these small businesses located in the town’s charming Downtown Square and along Morton Avenue. Jacksonville’s school district (JSD117) is one the oldest in the state. It is home to the first college in the state, Illinois College which has been in continuous operation since 1829, and it has an extension of Lincoln Land Community College. Jacksonville also boasts the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired and the Illinois School for the Deaf. It also has a strong industrial base, housing such businesses as Nestle, Reynolds, ILMO, and many more. Of fascinating note is the Big Eli Ferris Wheel which was built in 1900 by W.E. Sullivan, the owner of the Eli Bridge Company. Jacksonville also has its own hospital- Jacksonville Memorial Hospital- and a branch of Springfield Clinic that continues to add more providers.
On weekends, spend time at Jacksonville’s Downtown Square where you will find many boutiques, restaurants, a charming bookstore, a yoga studio, an ax throwing facility with a virtual escape room, a microbrewery, and one of the newest businesses- a place to go and play board games. Jacksonville also boasts an art gallery, many festivals, historical homes and tours, and a public library. In warmer months, spend time boating on or picnicking at Lake Jacksonville. There are also recreational facilities such as the YMCA, Fitness World, Anytime Fitness and more. Jacksonville is also home to Future Champions Sports Complex.
Go beyond Jacksonville into the small towns and rural areas to find the rolling hills of the Illinois River valley and some of the richest farmland in the nation. There are many perks waiting to be discovered in Jacksonville and its surrounding communities. Jacksonville is a unique and thriving town that anyone would be proud to call home.