Western Region, IL Land for Sale

The Western region of Illinois is in the west central area of the state, and borders Missouri and the Mississippi River and Missouri River to the west. Peoria is the largest city in the region, and other large cities include Princeton, Galesburg, Monmouth, Macomb, Jacksonville and Quincy. There are four national wildlife refuges and 23 state parks, wildlife areas, forests and nature preserves. Most notable are Argyle Lake State Park, Big River State Forest, Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park, Johnson Sauk Trail State Park, Jubilee College State Park, Lincolns New Salem State Park, Montebello State Park, Nauvoo State Park, Sand Ridge State Forest, Siloam Springs State Park, Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area, Spring Lake State Park and Weinborg-King State Fish and Wildlife Area. National parks include Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, which Brigham Young used to lead 70,000 Mormons 1,300 miles from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City, Utah, from 1846-1869.

Peoria is a center of industry in the region, producing corn and ethanol and heavy equipment and engines. Top employers are in the area of technology services, healthcare and education. It is also a center for culture, with 20 registered historical places, as well as the Peoria Riverfront Museum, a zoo and botanical garden, the Steamboat Classic, the world's largest four-mile race, and the performing arts, such as the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and the Central Illinois Youth Symphony. Quincy is known for its historic districts, including Downtown Quincy Historic District and South Side German Historic District, showcasing the architecture of Quincy's many German immigrants in the late 1800s. It also features an extensive parks district, with 26 parks covering 1,000 acres. There are a number of colleges and universities in the region, which include Qunicy University, Western Illinois University, Eureka College, Illinois Central College, Knox College, Monmouth College, Bradley University, Midstate College, Methodist College, Robert Morris University ? Peoria Campus, MacMurray College, Spoon River College, Carl Sandburg College, John Wood Community College.

Tazewell County is located in the middle eastern part of Eastern Illinois. Pekin is the largest city and the county seat, and other cities include Delavan, East Peoria, Morton and Washington, and there are nearly 40 other villages, townships and unincorporated communities. The county on the Illinois River adjacent to Peoria and part of the Peoria-Pekin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county provides a hometown feel in the middle of a growing progressive region with a strong employment base and plenty of amenities to complement the rural landscape. Agriculture is important to the history and economy of the county, with 78% of the land in the county consisting of farmland, with agriculture as one of the defining industries. The rest of the landscape includes wooded slopes, ravines and forested riparian areas. Some attractions include the Pekin Loop of the Illinois River Country Nature Trail, Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Dirksen Park, McNaughton Park, which is known for its impressive white oak specimens and wildlife to observe, Independence Park, Fort Crevecoeur Park and Tante Park, known for its Woodland Wildflower Trail and the grandest white oak in the county. Between December and February, bald eagles flock to the Illinois River in Pekin, and are celebrated with the annual Pekin Main Street's Eagle Census Festival. Western Illinois University is the only university in the county, located in Macomb.

Marshall County is located in the northeastern part of Western Illinois. It is named in honor of John Marshall, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in the early 1800s. Henry is the largest city and Lacon is the county seat, with Toluca and Wenona being the other cities in the county, and there are around 25 other villages, townships and unincorporated communities. The retreat house of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria is located in this county. Henry is the site of the first lock and dam built on the Illinois River, which is mentioned in the city's slogan, "Best Town in Illinois by a dam site." Some attractions in Henry include Henry Marina and Riverfront Park, Charles Perdew Museum, featuring the Perdew homestead and workshop, Cameron National Wildlife Refuge, Goose Lake, Weis Lake and Billsbach Lake.

Peoria County is located in the middle of the Illinois' Western region, adjacent to Tazewell County and Marshall County. The city of Peoria is the largest city and the county seat. Other cities are Chillicothe and West Peoria, and there are more than 60 other villages, townships and unincorporated communities. As mentioned, Peoria is the largest city in the region and a center of industry and culture, with a number of attractions. Additional attractions in the county are Glasford Crater, Jubilee College State Park, Glen Oak Park, which includes Glen Oak Zoo and George L. Luthy Memorial Botanical Garden, Spirit of Peoria, a paddle wheel riverboat, Wildlife Prairie State Park and Fort Creve Coeur State Park.