Monmouth is a small college town in rural Illinois
In the countryside of Warren County, nearly 9,000 people live in the small city of Monmouth, a working-class community with a college-town vibe and a thriving Main Street. “People typically move here to work in the factories or at Monmouth College,” says Annette Thompson, a Realtor with Western Illinois Realty who has been selling homes in Warren County for more than 25 years. Smithfield Foods is the largest employer, followed by the private liberal arts college founded in 1853, 22 years after the city was founded and established as the county seat. Nicknamed the “Maple City,” Monmouth is dotted with towering maple trees about 15 miles from the Iowa state line.
Monmouth is home to 8,500 residents.
The plethora of mature maple trees in Monmouth is celebrated in a festival every summer.
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Early to mid-1900s houses with an uncompetitive market
Single-family homes closer to downtown are from the early 1900s, while those farther out were mostly built in the mid-1900s. Fully renovated ranch-style houses sell for as much as $290,000, and mobile homes go for as low as $15,000, with a median home price of $113,000. There isn’t a high demand in Monmouth, as houses stay on the market for an average of 84 days compared to the national average of 47 days.
Many historic Monmouth homes have been renovated and modernized.
New Traditional homes can be found in small pockets throughout Monmouth.
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A local park, nature center and community pool
Monmouth’s Parks & Recreation department maintains several green spaces. Monmouth Park features athletic fields, a playground and a scenic gazebo between two hills frequently used for weddings. There are also many pocket parks with ball fields used by Monmouth Little Lions Baseball. LeSeur Nature Preserve, owned by Monmouth College but open to the public, has more than 16 acres of nature to explore. For fun on the water, Citizens Lake is popular for fishing and boating, and the Pattee Foundation YMCA Water Park has an outdoor community pool with a tall, twisting water slide and a splash pad.
Monmouth Park is home to a playground, golf course, and a popular gazebo.
Several bridges cross the creek at LeSuer Nature Preserve in Monmouth.
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Nearly 2 miles of stores and restaurants on downtown Main Street
Main Street runs through downtown and is lined with nearly 2 miles of local businesses, big-box retailers and chain restaurants. The busiest section is near Public Square, a roundabout with a green space. Century-old brick buildings surround the square and continue down Main Street, which includes the county courthouse, city hall and several bars that stay open late, some until midnight. “There’s definitely some nightlife because of the bars,” says Thompson. “A lot of college kids like to hang out in that area.”
Monmouth's Public Square is the central hub of the city.
Abner's Bar and Lounge offers ample outdoor seating in a quiet pedestrian mall.
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Public schools, a private catholic school and Monmouth College
Kindergarteners and first graders attend Lincoln Early Childhood School, which receives a B-minus from Niche. Harding Primary School, rated C, serves second and third graders, followed by fourth through sixth grade at Central Intermediate School, rated C-plus. Monmouth-Roseville Junior High, rated C, is 20 minutes away in Roseville. Meanwhile, Monmouth-Roseville High is in Monmouth and receives a B-plus. Immaculate Conception School, which is currently unrated, provides private Catholic education for kindergarten through eighth grade. Monmouth College, a private Presbyterian institution, offers more than 50 programs. The Monmouth Fighting Scots compete in NCAA Division III men’s and women’s sports. “It’s like your typical college town where everyone goes to the football games,” Thompson says.
Monmouth students go through Monmouth-Roseville Schools, eventually graduating from Monmouth-Roseville High School.
Monmouth College is a small private college with rich and proud history.
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Annual events and history museums
The Warren County Prime Beef Festival has been going strong since 1948, celebrating the area’s longtime relationship with the livestock industry. The weeklong event features several activities, including a parade, livestock shows, fair rides, a demolition derby and the crowning of the prime beef princess. The parade runs down Main Street, where other events are held throughout the year, including the Maple City Street Machines Car Cruise and the annual Christmas Tree lighting at Public Square.
Residents can learn about local history at the Warren County History Museum. Several historic figures have lived in Monmouth, including Ronald Reagan, who lived there for a few years as a kid, and Wyatt Earp, a legendary lawman of the Wild West whose birth home has been transformed into a museum.
The Warren County History Museum showcases the past of Monmouth and surrounding countryside.
The home that Wyatt Earp was born and raised in is now a museum and rental home.
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A primarily car-dependent community with access to two highways
While there is no public bus route system, Warren County Public Transportation offers shuttle services to pick up residents at home. U.S. 34 runs east and west, while U.S. 67 runs north and south. Locals can take U.S. 67 less than an hour north to the Quad Cities International Airport.
Monmouth is connected to nearby cities and towns by Highways 34 and 67.
Highways 34 and 67 connect in Monmouth, making travel to other parts of Illinois and Iowa easy.
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Written By
Nicolas Stuart
Photography Contributed By
Drew Davis
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Thomas Knapp,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Monmouth, IL sell after 39 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Monmouth, IL over the last 12 months is $115,500, up 29% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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