Welcome to Jacksonville
On behalf of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of
Commerce, I would like to welcome you to our
community. We are glad to have you here and believe
you will find Jacksonville to be a terrific place to live!
The Jacksonville Area is rich in options for all
residents:
• Education
• Parks & Recreation
• Housing
• Churches
• Cultural, Civic & Special Events
• Quality Health Care
Photo by John E. Nelson
Our friendly merchants invite you to stop by and explore the many diverse products
and services offered in the area. Antique shops, gift shops, clothing, jewelry,
restaurants, you name it. From A to Z, you can find it in Jacksonville. A listing of
Chamber members by category may be found at www.jacksonvilleareachamber.org.
We hope you will enjoy your new home and wish you every happiness! Please stop by
the Chamber office for more information on aspects of life in this area and to give us
the opportunity to visit with you about the Jacksonville area.
Sincerely,
Ginny Fanning
Chamber President
Table of Contents
1 Welcome to Jacksonville
2 Education
3 Parks & Recreation
4 Church, Cultural, Civic & Special Events
5 Jacksonville Area Facts & figures
6 Realtors & Apartments
7 Governing Structure
8 The Jacksonville Area on the Internet
9 Health Care Providers
10 History of Jacksonville
11 Public Services
For an online map of the
area, copy and paste the
following into your web
browser:
www.communitylink.com/jacksonville-illinois
1
Education
Education options in the Jacksonville Area include pre-school, primary, secondary, and
post secondary with public, private, specialized, and alternative facilities.
We are proud to be the home of two four-year liberal arts colleges, MacMurray College
and Illinois College as well as the Western Region Education Center for Lincoln Land
Community College.
Jacksonville is also home to the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for
the Visually Impaired.
For more information regarding area schools, please stop by the Chamber office or
visit our website at www.jacksonvilleareachamber.org.
Jacksonville School Dist. 117 Administrative
Offices and Kindergarten Center
Illinois College
MacMurray College
2
Parks & Recreation
Jacksonville offers recreational activities ranging from boating, fishing, and water-skiing
to cycling, racquetball, tennis, golf (4 courses), bowling, swimming, roller-skating, and
organized sports teams for all ages.
There are seven public parks so no matter where you live a park is nearby.
We also have 9 movie screens in Jacksonville and South Jacksonville.
For more information please stop by the Chamber office or visit the Jacksonville Area
Convention & Visitors Bureau website: www.jacksonvilleil.org.
3
Churches, Cultural, Civic & Special Events
The Jacksonville area offers various church options where families and individuals
may choose to worship. A listing of local churches is available at the Jacksonville
Area Convention & Visitors Bureau website, www.jacksonvilleil.org, click on the
Organizations link.
Cultural options include a theatre guild, an art gallery, symphony and chorale. Fine
arts are an important part of the Jacksonville lifestyle. The current Community
Calendar may be found at www.jacksonvilleil.org, click on the Annual Events link.
If you are interested in becoming involved in your new community, the area boasts
more than 100 civic organizations covering interests from literature to gardening,
business and amateur radio. For more information, Clubs & Organizations Directory
at http://www.jacksonvilleil.org/clubsorganizations.pdf.
Special Events abound in the area. General Grierson Days, Prairie Land
Chautauqua, Prairie Land Steam Show, Jacksonville Downtown Celebration, art
festivals, antique and craft shows, cruise night and car shows, bluegrass festivals,
burgoo festivals, and a minimum of six parades each
year bring friends and neighbors together to celebrate
life in the Jacksonville Area.
For more information, please stop by the
Chamber office or visit these websites:
Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce
www.jacksonvilleareachamber.org
Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.jacksonvilleil.org
Copy and paste the following link to
download the complete Visitor’s Guide:
www.jacksonvilleil.org/VisitorsGuide2011.pdf
4
Jacksonville Area Facts & Figures
Jacksonville, the county seat of Morgan County, Illinois is located in west central
Illinois, 35 miles west of Springfield, 235 miles southwest of Chicago,
and 85 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri.
The area of Morgan County is……………. 576 sq. miles
The area of Jacksonville is………...………10.1 sq. miles
Population (2010)
Morgan County…………………………….35,547
Jacksonville………………………………...19,446
South Jacksonville…………………………..3,331
Climate
Average Winter Temperature 28º F
Average Summer Temperature 74º F
Average Annual Rainfall 35 inches
Average Annual Snowfall 24 inches
Additional information can be obtained at the
Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce
located at 155 West Morton
Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
located at 310 East State Street
Jacksonville, IL 62650
Or visit our web sites
Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce: www.jacksonvilleareachamber.org
Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau: www.jacksonvilleil.org
City of Jacksonville: www.jacksonvilleil.com
Morgan County: www.morgancounty-il.com
Nichols Park
5
Realtors & Apartments
REALTORS
Chipman Realtors and Appraisers
307 West State Street
217-245-5539
www.chipmanrealtors.com
United Strategies
303 ½ W. State
217-245-0779
Waltrip Real Estate
1853 South Main
217-243-2000
www.waltriprealestate.com
Davidsmeyer Real Estate
1239 Exeter Rd., Bluffs, IL 62621
217-473-8803
www.DavidsmeyerRealEstate.com
Windsor Homes & Realty
2925 South Meadowbrook Rd Suite A
Springfield, IL 62707
217-793-4007
Grojean Realty/Insurance Agency
360 West State
217-245-4151
1-888-476-5326
www.grojeanagency.com
Worrell-Leka & Associates
2000 South Main, Suite A
217-245-1618
www.worrell-leka.com
Middendorf Bros. Auctioneers &
Real Estate
211 S. West
217-243-5486
www.middendorfs.com
JACKSONVILLE AREA LANDLORD
ASSOCIATION
For information on rental properties
217-248-5416 or 217-243-1409
www.jville4rent.net
RE/MAX Results Plus, Inc.
1046 W Morton
217-245-9613
www.remax.com
APARTMENTS
Balsam Terrace & Spruce Manor
1215-1217 Lincoln Avenue
217-245-1350
Steve Hills Realtors
900 South Main
217-245-9589
www.stevehillsrealtors.com
Dunlap Center Apartments
325 West State St
217-245-2324
The Hohmann Agency
1850 W. Morton Ave.
217-245-6166
High School Apartments
500 West State St
217-245-2324
The Real Estate Group
2080 Dixie Lane
217-248-3331
www.caronsells.com
All those listed above are Chamber members.
6
Governing Structure
The requirements for being able to vote in the Federal, State, County, and City elections are
that you must be a resident of the state for 1 year, the county for 90 days, and the precinct for
30 days.
MORGAN COUNTY
www.morgancounty-il.com
217-245-4619
300 West State Street, Jacksonville, IL 62650
County Commissioners
States Attorney
Sheriff
Morgan County
Courthouse
Bill Meier
Dick Rawlings
Bradley Zeller
Bobby Bonjean
Randy Duvendack
217-245-4619
217-243-5469
217-245-4143
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
www.jacksonvilleil.com
217-479-4600
Municipal Building, 200 West Douglas, Jacksonville, IL 62650
Mayor
City Clerk
Treasurer
City Attorney
Ward 1
Ward 2
Ward 3
Ward 4
Ward 5
Andy Ezard
217-479-4610
Skip Bradshaw
217-479-4613
Ron Smiljanich
217-479-4600
Daniel J. Beard
217-245-7111
Alderman Bill Scott
Alderman Adonnis Shaw
Alderman Tony Williams
Alderman Lori Large Oldenettel
Alderman Bruce McDaniel
Alderman Marcy Patterson
Alderman Jenny Geirnaeirt
Alderman Mike Wankel
Alderman Don Cook
Alderman Steve Warmowski
Water Tower at
Veteran’s Park
VILLAGE OF SOUTH JACKSONVILLE
www.southjacksonville.org
217-245-4803
301 Dewey Drive, South Jacksonville, IL 62650
Mayor
Village Clerk
Treasurer
Trustees
Gordon D. Jumper
Dani Glascock
Linda P. Douglas
Steven K. Douglass
S. Michael Elliott
John S. Gotschall
Kem Wilson
Sondra S. Smith
Steven L. Waltrip
7
South Jacksonville
Celebration
The Jacksonville Area on the Internet
www.ExploreJacksonvilleIL.com
www.ExploreJacksonvilleIL.com is brought to you by an exciting community partnership
between the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Jacksonville Journal-Courier.
These organizations have joined forces on this collaborative project to bring the greater
Jacksonville, Illinois region a community website that will comprehensively serve businesses
and organizations, both large and small.
Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce
www.jacksonvilleareachamber.org
Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
www.jacksonvilleil.org
City of Jacksonville
www.jacksonvilleil.com
Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation
www.jredc.org
Jacksonville Main Street
www.jacksonvillemainstreet.com
Village of South Jacksonville
www.southjacksonville.org
Morgan County
www.morgancounty-il.com
8
Health Care Providers
The Jacksonville community provides a wide range of health care
services including health care practitioners in various medical
and health-related areas, as well as suppliers of medicine and
medical equipment.
The Health and Community Agencies Committee of the
Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Passavant Area
Hospital, has prepared a Health Care Providers Guide as a service to the community.
The Health Care Providers Guide lists health care providers in the following
categories:
Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Ambulance
Audiologists
Chiropractors
Counselors
Dentists
Dentists – Oral Surgeons
Dentists – Orthodontists
Denture Lab
Dialysis
Home Health Care
Home Medical Equipment
Hospices
Hospitals
Massage Therapists
Natural Health Therapy
Nursing Homes
Optometrists
Pharmacies
Physician/Surgeons
Anesthesiology
Cardiology
Dermatology
Emergency
Family Practice
Internal Medicine
Nephrology
Physician/Surgeons (cont.)
Neurology
OB/GYN
Occupational Medicine
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedic Surgery
Otolaryngology
Pathology
Pediatrics
Podiatry
Radiation Oncology
Radiology
Rheumatology
Spinal Surgery
Surgery
Plastic Surgery
Vascular Surgery
Urology
Physical Therapy
Psychiatry
Psychologists
Public Health
Specialty Care
Speech Pathologist
Supportive Living
Wellness
The entire Health Care Providers Guide may be viewed on the Chamber’s website.
www.jacksonvilleareachamber.org
217-245-2174
9
History of Jacksonville
In 1819, at the north fork of the Mauvaisterre River, Charles Collins and brothers Colonel Seymour
Kellogg and Captain Elisha Kellogg, with their families, set up camp. Their vision was the humble
beginning of Jacksonville, Illinois.
By 1825, the Morgan County surveyor had staked out land at the center of a 160acre tract. Thanks to early settlers Alexander Cox, Joseph Fairfield and George
Hackett, the town square quickly developed. This would later become the
intersection of State Street and Main Street in Jacksonville.
Civil War Monument,
Downtown Square
Education was always a primary concern for city founders. Illinois College was
founded in 1829. The Reverend John M. Ellis, a Presbyterian missionary in the
West, felt the need for a “seminary of learning” in the new state. His plans came
to the attention of a group of Congregational students at Yale University. Seven
of them, in one of the now famous “Yale Bands,” came westward to help
establish the college. As one of the earliest institutions of learning in the
Midwest, the college was named after the state in which it was located. Soon
after came the courthouse, built on the square. In 1834, Jacksonville had the
largest population in the state, outnumbering even Chicago.
Jacksonville’s educational foundation grew stronger with the Illinois School for the Deaf, the School for
the Blind (later Illinois School for the Visually Impaired), the Jacksonville Mental Health and
Developmental Center, and the Illinois Conference Female
Academy (later MacMurray College), in addition to the
public schools. By 1850 Illinois College had conferred
Illinois’ first college degrees and opened the first medical
school in the state. Because of this commitment to
education, many referred to the community as “The Athens
of the West.”
Beginning with Capps Woolen Mills, established in the
1850s, businesses located in Jacksonville because of the
excellent economic climate and convenient access for
transporting goods. Farmers appreciated the fertile soil of
central Illinois, and agriculture enriched the economy as
well. In 1919, the Eli Bridge Company, the world’s oldest
manufacturer of Ferris wheels and other amusement rides,
relocated to the city. Founder W. E. Sullivan introduced
the “Big Elli” wheel on the Jacksonville Square in 1900.
Governor Duncan Mansion
Well-known residents who represented Jacksonville on the national scene included Joseph Duncan,
Richard Yates and Richard Yates, Jr., three Illinois governors; Dr. Greene Vardiman Black, the father of
modern dentistry; and attorneys Stephen Douglas and William Jennings Bryan.
In the mid-1800s, Jacksonville acted as a hub for the Underground Railroad, sheltering hundreds who
wished to escape the horrors of slavery. Several local historic homes served as havens on this journey
to freedom, making Jacksonville one of the first such stations in the area and by far the busiest.
Those who want to learn even more about Jacksonville’s history, the Prairie Land Heritage Museum and
the Governor Duncan Home may contact the Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The
Bureau also has Underground Railroad Tours of Woodlawn Farm and other Underground Railroad
Homes in the community. 217-243-5678, 1-800-593-5678 or www.jacksonvilleil.org.
10
Public Services
Police Dept. - Jacksonville Police Dept. is located in the Municipal Building, 200 W. Douglas,
217-479-4630. South Jacksonville Police Dept. is located at 301 Dewey Drive, S. Jacksonville,
217-245-4803.
Fire Dept. - The Jacksonville Fire Dept. has two fire stations,
and Emergency Medical Technicians serving the city. The Fire
Dept. is also located in the Municipal Building, 217-479-4656.
The second substation is located at 1600 West Lafayette, 217243-5233. The South Jacksonville Fire Dept. is located at 301
Dewey Drive, South Jacksonville, 217-245-4803.
Garbage Collection - Each resident is required to make his or her own arrangements for
garbage pick up. Sanitation services are supplied by the following area business:
*Buster Sanitation, 217-245-7204
Recycling - *Buster Sanitation, 217-245-7204, provides home or office pick-up within
Jacksonville city limits.
Post Office - The *US Post Office is located 200 W. Court, 217-245-2149. Mail is delivered
Monday-Saturday except on holidays. Post office boxes are available upon request. A Post
Office Annex is located at 1122 Veterans Drive.
United Parcel Service (UPS) is available through the following businesses:
*Signature Event Rental, 328 S. Main, 217-271-1585
*Production Xpress, Inc. 400 East Morton, 217-243 4258
Staples, 1813 West Morton, 217-245-9648
Utilities - Jacksonville Municipal Utilities Water and Sewer, 200 W. Douglas, 217-479-4615.
South Jacksonville, Water and Sewer, 301 Dewey Drive, 217-245-7014.
Electricity/Gas - *Ameren IP: Residential 1-800-755-5000, Hearing Impaired Customers
1-800-755-7995.
Telephone - *Frontier: Residential Service 1-877-462-8188, Hearing/Speech Impaired (TTY
Only) 711 or 1-800-526-0844
Cable TV - *Mediacom, 409 Massey Lane, 1-800-874-2924
Library - *Jacksonville Public Library is located at 201 West College, 217-243-5435. Library
hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on
Saturday. Be advised that holiday hours change for the holidays and during the summer
months. Contact the library for the hours, special programs, and events.
Secretary of State Drivers License Exam Station - Located at 901 West Morton in the
Lincoln Square Shopping Center, 217-243-4327. New residents of Illinois must apply for an
Illinois Drivers License within 90 days of establishing residency in the state. The fee for Illinois
automobile license plates varies depending on type of vehicle, vanity plate, etc.
*Designates Chamber member
11