Welcome to Aledo Main Street

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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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.
 
Aledo Semifinalist for Great American Main Street Awards®

WASHINGTON, DC — The 2009 Great American Main Street Awards (GAMSA) semifinalists have been selected from a nationwide pool of applicants and now move to the final round for consideration. A national jury composed of former award winners, community development professionals, representatives from government, foundations, and journalists who are active in community economic development and historic preservation will evaluate the semifinalists and select five winners. 

 

The GAMSA Awards recognize exceptional accomplishments in revitalizing America’s historic and traditional main street commercial districts and will be presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation at the opening session of the National Main Streets Conference in Chicago on March 1, 2009. 

 

“These semi-finalists have all worked hard to bring about profound, positive transformation in their communities. They are inspirations to communities throughout the country,” said Doug Loescher, Director of the National Trust Main Street Center®. “True revitalization happens incrementally and is sustained over a long period of time, with small improvements leading to bigger ones.” 

 

The ten 2009 Great American Main Street Awards semifinalists are: 
 

Aledo Main Street, Inc.   Aledo, Illinois    
Federal Hill Main Street   Baltimore, Maryland    
Livermore Downtown, Inc.   Livermore, California    
Main Street Toccoa    Toccoa, Georgia    
Main Street Oberlin, Inc.   Oberlin, Ohio    
Main Street El Dorado   El Dorado, Arkansas    
Main Street Fairmont   Fairmont, West Virginia    
On Broadway, Inc.   Green Bay, Wisconsin     
Rochester DDA   Rochester, Michigan    
Rehoboth Beach Main Street, Inc.   Rehoboth Beach, Delaware    

 

The five winners will receive national recognition for their excellence, a bronze plaque and certificate commemorating the award, and GAMSA road signs as entrance markers to their award-winning commercial districts. 

 

Semifinalists and winners demonstrate exemplary achievement in the process of strengthening their downtowns and commercial districts based on the following selection criteria:

Active involvement of the public and private sectors; 

Broad-based community support for the revitalization effort; 

Quality of achievements over time; 

Innovative solutions to significant problems; 

Commitment to historic preservation; 

Evolving track record of successful commercial district revitalization; 

Comprehensive revitalization effort: activity in all four points of the Main Street Four-Point Approach® to commercial district revitalization; 

Economic impact of the revitalization program; and 

Successful small business development.