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Welcome to Aledo! We hope you’ll enjoy a visit to our rural farm community soon to experience our hometown charm, 19th century architecture and slower pace. Aledo, Illinois, with a population of 3,700 is centrally located in Mercer County, about 160 miles west of Chicago and about 45 minutes south of the Quad Cities. Founded in 1855, Aledo is the County Seat of historical Mercer County.
A stroll down Main Street, or through our historic residential neighborhoods, is an architectural history tour, as our town looks much like it did at the turn of the century. Since Aledo is the county seat, the 19,000 residents of Mercer County travel here to shop and conduct business. One trip to Aledo can accomplish a great deal since Aledo has much to offer. The historic downtown business district, located just off the main route of Illinois 17 and 94 is one of which we are justly proud. Spend time browsing through our antique stores, specialty shops and cafes. In 2002, Lt. Governor Corinne Wood designated Aledo as Illinois’ newest Main Street Community.
Aledo is rich in history and there are several opportunities to experience that history first hand. You can have a truly unique bed and breakfast experience at the historic former Mercer County Jail turned into The Slammer Great Escape Bed and Breakfast. In addition, Aledo boasts Mercer County’s oldest family entertainment center with the century old Aledo Opera House. Current, feature-length movies are being presented in the Opera House which was built in 1904 and restored in 2002. You can also step back in time and tour the Mercer County Courthouse. This grand building, built in 1894, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Aledo is home of the Essley-Noble Museum, Rhubarb Festival, Blue Grass Festival, the 150 year old Mercer County Fair, Antique Days, and the Mercer County Speedway.
Aledo is just 45 minutes south of the Quad Cities. Follow Hwy. 67 south from Milan, Illinois, turn west at the stoplight in Viola on to Route 17 which will take you directly to Aledo. If you enjoy a small town atmosphere, a trip to Aledo will be like coming home.
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| This 500 piece puzzle is a great collectible momento of the annual Rhubarb Festival in Aledo, the rhubarb capital of Illinois. Order today, quantities are limited. $15.00 plus $3.00 shipping |
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Aledo Main Street was designated an Illinois Premier Main Street Program in 2007 - 2009 with plans to pursue the designation again in 2010. Premier Communities are mature Main Street programs that serve as a model to those just beginning the downtown revitalization process.
Aledo was originally designated an Illinois Main Street Community in 2002. A designated program has met the National requirements and is successfully applying the Main Street Approach in their communities. Designated programs receive a full range of services from Illinois Main Street. To request design assistance from Illinois Main Street Architecutal Services, complete this form and return to the Aledo Main Street office.
For the second year in a row, Aledo has been selected as one of ten semifinalists for the Great American Meain Street Award.
Ten Main Street communities have been selected from a nationwide pool of applicants and now move to the final round for consideration. These semifinalist communities have created more than 1,100 new businesses and nearly 4,800 new jobs, rehabbed more than 950 buildings and decreased their vacancy rates by an average of 31 percent. They have also generated an average of $24,104,868.70 in public investment and $43,494,647.40 in private investment.
The ten 2010 Great American Main Street Awards semifinalists are:
- Downtown Aledo, Aledo, Ill.;
- Main Street Columbus, Columbus, Miss.;
- Downtown Fairmont, Fairmont, W.Va.;
- Farmland Downtown Historic District, Farmland, Ind.;
- Downtown Ferndale, Ferndale, Mich.;
- Downtown Fort Pierce, Fort Pierce, Fla.;
- Downtown Lee's Summit, Lee's Summit, Mo.;
- Historic Downtown and LowerTown Arts District, Paducah, Ky.;
- Pontiac P.R.O.U.D., Pontiac, Ill.; and
- Downtown Rochester, Rochester, Mich.
A national jury composed of former award winners, community development professionals, representatives from government and foundations, and journalists who are active in community economic development and historic preservation will evaluate the semifinalists and select five winners.
Those winners will be announced on May 4, 2010, during National Main Streets Conference in Oklahoma City. Read more about the semifinalists.
The 2010 Great American Main Street Awards are sponsored by Chesapeake Energy, one of the leading producers of natural gas in the U.S and the most active driller of new wells in the country. The Oklahoma City-based company has long been in the forefront of promoting increased use of clean-burning, abundant, and domestic natural gas.
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