The history and eventual naming of Germantown Hills
It took a while for the Village of Germantown Hills to get that name. Many Germans, predominantly of Catholic faith, had settled in the area by the 1830s. In 1850, a tavern and hotel called the Germantown House opened. The village, originally named Oak Grove Park, was incorporated in 1954. In the late 1960s, it was renamed Germantown Hills after the tavern. Though the terrain is not overly hilly, the "Hills" portion of the name was added to avoid replicating that of another village in Illinois.
A bedroom community for Peoria, a short commute away
Rural Woodford County surrounds Germantown Hills, which has a population of about 3,200, according to U.S. Census estimates. "It's a great community, and very highly sought after — the school districts there are great," says Amanda Allsup, a Realtor with Re/Max Traders Unlimited. The village is a bedroom community for Peoria , which is about 8 miles to the southwest. Significant employers in Peoria include OSF Healthcare, Caterpillar Inc. and Maui Jim, a sunglasses manufacturer.
Many of the homes are contemporaries built in recent decades
Though there are early to mid 20th century homes and newer townhouses/condos, much of Germantown Hills real estate consists of ranch-style and contemporary single-family homes built from the 1990s to the 2020s. Some subdivisions, like Coventry Farm, have homeowners associations and private amenities like pools and clubhouses. Water sports are popular in the White Oak Lake community, which has its own beach. Single-family prices typically range from about $120,000 to $700,000. There may be competition for homebuyers. "It's a tighter market, not a lot of things pop up," Allsup says. Another option, manufactured homes in communities like Tuckaway Village, have estimated values from about $25,000 to $90,000.
Good grades and lots of activities at the area's public schools
Students may attend public schools in the Germantown Hills School District, which is zoned to much of the village. The school serves kindergarten through eighth grade and receives an A grade from Niche. Metamora Grade School covers the same levels, has an A-minus and corresponds to a smaller portion of students, mainly those living toward the east. Metamora Township High School receives a B-plus and has a robust athletics department with football, soccer, swimming, volleyball and golf. The band, drama, choir and visual arts programs are well regarded.
Recreation and activities in the village and a preserve by Peoria Lake
MTCO Park is a 19-acre sports complex affiliated with the Germantown Hills School District. It offers a soccer field, ball diamonds and pickleball courts. J.R. White Memorial Park has athletics amenities and a playground. In 2025, the first phase of Oak Grove Park's improvements consisted of a new trail segment and parking lot, and plans were in the works for a dog park and a restroom in 2026. Sites on Peoria Lake include the Spring Bay Fen Nature Preserve, about 5 miles to the west.
Kids join scouting troops and participate in sports through school teams and the Germantown Hills Athletic Association. Groups like the Metamora-Germantown Hills Junior Woman's Club and the local council of the Knights of Columbus have active participation.
Shopping options in Germantown Hills, Metamora or nearby cities
Commercial areas in Germantown Hills are on both sides of state Route 116. Family owned businesses are the norm. North of the highway, there's Nena Ace Hardware, which has a gift shop, The Nook, inside. South of SR-116 are Michael's Italian Feast, the Germantown Grille and MadMac's Coffee, which is operated by a mother-daughter team.
Metamora , about 6 miles northeast, has more businesses, such as Kirby Foods Metamora. "Germantown Hills and Metamora are different towns but share the same zip code," Allsup says. "They have that little grocery store there, but otherwise you would go to Washington or Peoria." Within a 12-mile drive of Germantown Hills are Save A Lot, Alwan & Sons Meat Company, Menards and Walmart. Peoria also has the Northwoods Mall, home to over 60 businesses, including brand-name stores, eateries and Tilted 10 bowling alley.
Events in Germantown Hills and Metamora bring folks together
Various area events bring the community together. The Germantown Hills Farmers Market is held in the parking lot of Germantown Crossing shopping center on Saturdays from June through October. The Germantown Hills Branch Library hosts movie nights, a book club, craft activities and educational programs. Old Settlers Days Metamora takes place in June, with carnival rides, crafts and food vendors.
Highway access in town, medical facilities and an airport in Peoria
Germantown Hills is spread out and generally car dependent, though individual subdivisions are walkable with sidewalks. The four-lane divided highway SR-116 connects to Peoria and other communities. There's access to state Route 26 to the west, and U.S. Route 24 runs east-west, about 8 miles south of the village. The nearest medical facilities include Peoria's Carle Health Proctor Hospital and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, which is a teaching facility for the University of Illinois College of Medicine. General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport, about 16 miles from Germantown Hills, has nonstop passenger flights on several airlines.
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Written By
Robin Silberman
