Coal mines to recreational opportunities on the Indiana border
Danville, Illinois, in the eastern part of the state, on the Indiana border, has a rich coal mining and industrial past. After many of the coal mines closed in the start of the 20th century, some have become large parks. “Whether it’s city, county or a state park, recreation is end to end in the Danville area,” says Tracey Fentem, sales and events coordinator at the Danville Area Visitors Bureau. The parks in the city often are the site for community events. “Volunteers run a lot of these, and there’s usually no problem getting them,” says Andrea Calamari, a Realtor with Classic Homes Realty. “That’s the spirit of this area.”
Kickapoo State Recreation Area river freezes in the winter time.
Winter Park has vast open spaces used for a variety of outdoor activities and sports.
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City and Vermilion County parkland total over 15,000 acres
There are nearly two dozen parks in Danville, which, combined with surrounding Vermilion County, total over 15,000 acres. Kickapoo State Recreation Area has almost 35 miles of hiking trails that attract cross-country skiers in the winter, and plenty of ponds and lakes are suitable for canoeing and warm and cold weather fishing. Winter Park is on the city's north end, with multiple soccer and baseball fields and a 10,000-square-foot playground accessible to children of all abilities. Golfers enjoy the public courses at Harrison Park Golf Course and Turtle Run Golf Club.
Winter Park has two baseball diamonds with room to spare.
Kickapoo State Recreation Area is a vast network of waterways snaking around and though the park.
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First Fridays in downtown Danville
Every month, the community gets together in downtown Danville for events on the first Friday that are either free or low-cost. During the winter, indoor activities include Danville’s Got Talent at the Fischer Theatre. During the summer, street festivals include live music and carnivals. The Vermilion Regional Airport on the city's north side is the site for Balloons Over Vermilion, a hot-air balloon festival over two days in July. Arts in the Park has been a long-standing tradition in Lincoln Park, held annually in late June.
History in Danville
Abraham Lincoln practiced law in the Danville area in the mid-19th century before he became president. The Vermilion County Museum on North Gilbert Street features a reproduction of the courthouse where Lincoln spent most of his time. The Fithian House on the museum property is connected to Lincoln, an 1855 Italianate home. The Lamon House on the west side of Lincoln Park is an 1850 cottage home to Lincoln’s law partner. Not connected to Lincoln, the Fischer Theatre opened in 1884 and started as an opera house. It was vacant for at least 15 years before the Vermilion Heritage Foundation took the reins and restored the building. Today, it has live music and classic movies.
You'll find murals of Abraham Lincoln all around the Danville area.
The Vermilion County Museum in Danville, IL was organized in May of 1964.
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Danville houses well below the national average
The median price for a home in Danville is $100,000, well below the national average. North of downtown are pockets of homes around or over 100 years old. Most of the housing in Danville is single-family, while there are far fewer condos and multi-family houses. “You can have a lakefront house or one that backs up to a golf course for $300,000,” Calamari says. “There are many people who commute to Champaign because of that.”
The Danville Police Department said that in 2023, the number of violent crimes was down. While crime levels grew slightly in the two-year period before then, they remained far below previous high points from 2015 to 2017.
The median price for a home in Danville is $100,000, well below the national average.
Danville has condos right on Lake Vermilion on the north end of town.
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Danville School District 118
Danville Community Consolidated School District 118 is rated a C on Niche. Private schools include the A-rated Schlarman Academy, a Catholic school serving grades seven through twelve. Niche gives First Baptist Christian a B-minus. Danville Area Community College is a two-year school with an enrollment of just under 2,000, while the Lakeview College of Nursing was established in 1894 and has an enrollment of about 120. It’s located a block from the area’s largest hospital, OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center.
First Baptist Christian School serving kids pre-k through high school.
Schlarman Academy has many large donors to help the school grow, including the community.
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Local shops and the Village Mall
The downtown area has locally owned businesses and restaurants, while the other retail section features chains and big-box retail stores north of downtown on Vermilion Road. The Village Mall is part of this corridor, has about 30 stores, and been open for about 50 years. “Someone recently bought the mall, and we’ll see what happens to it, but it’s seen better days,” Calamari says.
Country Market of Danville, IL is located in Village Mall and one stop shop for grocery.
Village Mall has a mix of big box stores and smaller retail and fast food restaurants.
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Written By
Jeff Stapleton
Video By
Stewart Taveras
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Laura Heiser,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Danville, IL sell after 42 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Danville, IL over the last 12 months is $114,400, up 30% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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