Aledo honors its farming past while inviting revitalization
The City of Aledo has deep roots in the Illinois countryside and continues to grow where it's been planted. While the city reveres its history as a farming and manufacturing community, it also welcomes revitalization, from redeveloping the downtown area to adding new residential subdivisions. The community may be far from busy metropolitan areas like the Quad Cities, but locals create a welcoming, energetic atmosphere. "The community really seems to band together, especially for community events," says Jarod Dale, Aledo's city clerk. "There's a lot of volunteerism that happens, and we have momentum in redeveloping our city that other communities our size aren't experiencing." Aledo also has a low CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national score of 4.
The downtown district has restaurants and mom and pop businesses
People exploring the downtown historic district experience Aledo's original architecture while walking past brightly painted murals and locally owned mom and pop businesses. Cheers on Main is a favorite local bar, offering laidback fare and daily specials while live music plays. Kids play arcade games at Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream, and Koffee Junktion's drive-through serves everything from lattes to fruity energy drinks. Walmart and Mercer Market are the community's main grocery stores, and people also shop for seasonal produce at Main Street Farmers Market, which opens every Thursday afternoon from June to September.
Subdivisions hope to draw new residents to Aledo
Aledo has a suburban structure with wide residential roads, sizable lots and mature trees. Bungalows, ranch-style homes and American Foursquares cost between $45,000 and $177,000, depending on their condition. The area also has large Cape Cods, Colonial-inspired houses and custom homes priced between $200,000 and $400,000. New housing developments, like Sponsler Manor Third Addition, are slowly expanding the community. "We're hoping this new construction will draw people who don't live in the city but work for our big employers, like General Grind & Machine," Dale says.
Aledo has local green spaces and is near hiking, fishing and skiing
Central Park hosts special events, open-air markets and performances. During summer, people spend evenings there watching outdoor movies or enjoying live music at the Aledo Band Shell. Mercer County YMCA holds baseball practices at North Side Ball Park, and Oak View Country Club gets its name from the hundred-year-old oak trees along its private fairway. People swim at the Aledo Park District Swimming Pool in Fenton Park on summer afternoons. The city is collecting funds to build a new Aledo Aquatic Center downtown, featuring a large pool, splash pad and spray park.The community is also within 20 miles of Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge and Big River State Forest, where people hike, hunt, fish, kayak and ski.
Buying pies in the Rhubarb Capitol of Illinois
Aledo has a busy year-long event schedule. The annual Rhubarb Fest is its standout, drawing up to 10,000 visitors. This two-day festival held in June is what prompted former Governor Pat Quinn to nickname the city the "Rhubarb Capital of Illinois." Festival activities range from rhubarb cook-offs to live music to rhubarb pie sales. "People flock in quite early to buy pies because the vendors run out quick, even though they sell well over 2,500 to 3,000 pies," Dale says. "That's where the phrase 'Rhubarb Regret' comes from — because if you come to get one too late in the day, you'll be out of luck." Another big event is Antique Days, where people enjoy a vintage car show, tractor rides and a Pin-Up contest. The community is also home to the Mercer County Fairgrounds, where the annual fair has been held since 1869. Attendees enjoy carnival rides, festival food and the demolition derby, where racecars deliberately crash on the track.
State routes and highways get locals to the Quad Cities
Aledo has no public transportation, but a shared-use pathway connects different parts of the city. Most residents get around by car or street-legal golf carts with city permit stickers. State Routes 94 and 17 are the main thoroughfares. Route 17 connects to Highway 67, which leads to the Quad Cities and the Quad Cities International Airport in about 30 miles. Genesis Medical Center is the area's only hospital.
Mercer County schools encourage community service
Students start at Apollo Elementary School, which has a C-plus rating on Niche. Next are Mercer County Junior High School and Mercer County High School, which both have B-minus ratings. The high school requires students to complete 25 hours of community service before graduating, encouraging kids to support their community's growth and quality of life.
