It's a pretty big deal to be considered one of these best things in your area. I'm not sure if being the "heart" of something means it's the best, or anything... but it sure is meaningful!

When someone says Illinois many think of Chicago, but some sources like Only In Your State think of small towns. Seven small towns to be exact.

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William Howell
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Seven Towns That Are The Heart Of IIlinois 

We used data and rankings from Only In Your State, and purewow.com to get our lis

  • Mackinaw, Illinois

Illinois is a small town near Peoria Illinois known as a “dry” town for over 80 years. Fun fact... after prohibition ended in 1933, the sale of alcohol was prohibited in Mackinaw all the way until 2013, thanks to this history it has become a popular spot and part of Illinois.

  • Macomb, Illinois

This spot has historical roots going back to 1855 when the Northern Cross Railroad turned this small town into a bustling destination. Home to Western Illinois University,  Macomb isn't the smallest of towns, but it is a charming town that blends the youthful exuberance of a college town with a rich history dating back to the 1800s.

  • Maeystown, Illinois

This spot is unique in that the whole town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While it has a long history, the town didn’t take off until Jacob Maeys arrived and built a sawmill and a town store, its roots date all the way back to 1782 when an American Revolution soldier staked claim to 100 acres. J

  • Madison, Illinois

This is home to the eastern edge of the historic Chain of Rocks Bridge on Chouteau Island. Needless to say, this spot has a major iconic bridge (A lot of towns do too, I know) The Chain of Rocks Bridge was inducted into the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

  • Princeton, Illinois

Known for its beauty... and bridges. The historical preservation around Princeton doesn’t stop there: In addition to a classic, old-timey main street, the town is also home to the Lovejoy Homestead, a stop on the Underground Railroad that will reopen for tours after the pandemic is officially over.

  • Galena, Illinois

Wow! Who would have seen that one coming... From a great history, a lot of beauty and of course great shopping. It makes sense why this spot is on here.

  • Ottawa

This spot looks absolutely amazing, and beautiful. Studded with well-maintained Victorian homes (and with the requisite charming downtown you’d expect on this list), Ottawa puts its own twist on the small-town experience with an abundance of modern murals to mix the old with the new. 

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Iowa Stingray Home

This home is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It holds two tanks, both around 300 gallons each. They both contain different types of stingrays. As for right now, this project is just for fun, though the owners do hope to someday breed these rays.

It's been about a 6-month process getting all the supplies, tanks, and stingrays.

Illinois Arcade House

If you want a place to entertain or be entertained...a short drive to Bloomington will put you right!

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