Mount Morris has deep historic roots and a rural feel
Settled in 1837, Mount Morris is a small, rural village surrounded by farmland in northwestern Illinois. It initially attracted new residents by opening two institutes of higher education: Rock River Seminary in the 1800s, the region's first college, and Mount Morris College in the early 1900s. Today, the original campus and college buildings still stand and are actively used as event spaces for the community. "This is an extremely small village, and for the Rockford area, pretty far out there. I think something is appealing about that," says Allison Hawkins, a local Realtor with Keller Williams, who's been selling homes for over two decades. "At some point, there's only so much difference between these rural towns. But I think there's always a little unique something, and Mount Morris has a really involved community."
Restored, well-loved vintage homes across the village
A walk along the sidewalks of Mount Morris' neighborhoods fully displays the village's historic roots. Instead of subdivisions and modern homes, the community has well-preserved and renovated vintage homes. Some of the oldest properties in the village were built in the late 19th- and early 20th centuries, with architecture spanning from Tudor cottages to Craftsman and Queen Anne dwellings. Ranch-style homes and split-levels dominated the midcentury, and they are a common sight on the quiet residential streets. Mount Morris' median sales price for single-family homes is $150,000, which is on par with the median price in the greater Rockford area.
Parks, golf courses and historic Village Square offer local recreation
The village has four maintained green spaces, the largest being Dillehay Park. It offers an expansive playground, tennis and volleyball courts, baseball fields and a walking track. Sunset Golf Course provides a small yet challenging nine-hole course on the north side. Founded in 1937, the course is open to the public. Much of Mount Morris' personality can be seen at Village Square, which has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and serves as the village's central gathering place for events. It's home to the historic Mt. Morris College Hall, which operates as an arts gallery and center for classes and exhibitions.
Nearby school options with the Oregon Community Unit School District
Mount Morris is part of the Oregon Community Unit School District 220, and all school buildings are roughly 5 miles away; the community has full bus service provided by the district. Most kids will start at Oregon Elementary School before moving on to Oregon Junior/Senior High, and both get B ratings from Niche. According to the Illinois Report Card, OJSHS is designated as a Commendable School, meaning there are no underperforming student groups; the graduation rate is 96%.
Volunteer-powered community events for every season
While Mount Morris is small, it stays active with events, many powered by the all-volunteer organization Encore! Mt. Morris. This arts-based group organizes the annual Porchfest in June, a music festival where local musicians play from residential porches, and the National Straw Sculpting Competition in August. They all maintain the Sandstone Art Gallery, housed in College Hall. On Fridays in the summer, various music genres light up the amphitheater for the Mt. Morris Jamboree on the Village Square.
Small-town shops and restaurants serve loyal regulars
Village Square, which sits at the heart of Mouth Morris, is bordered by historic brick buildings that now house locally owned shops and restaurants. It's a tiny area, but these downtown businesses have been loyally supported for years, from the home-style breakfasts at Campus Café to the live music and bar food at The Idle Hour. "It's your typical small-town shopping and dining scene. They've got a small grocery store, and a few chain restaurants, but mostly people go to Dixon for Walmart trips and things like that," Hawkins says.
Route 64 links the village to surrounding cities
Illinois Route 64 is a major east-west thoroughfare stretching from Iowa to the Chicago suburbs. The route runs directly through Mount Morris, connecting to several other state highways around the community and Interstate 39. While the neighboring town of Oregon has a few medical centers, the closest general hospital, KSB Hospital, is located 18 miles south in Dixon.
