Peotone is a village in Chicago’s rural far south suburbs
The Village of Peotone, about 46 miles south of Chicago, is considered part of the far south suburbs, though it’s in a rural area known for agriculture. Though the surroundings are farmland and open space, the village has a walkable, small-town feel. Most residential lots include driveways and are fronted by sidewalks and shade trees. In 2022, Peotone received the "Tree City USA Growth Award" from the Arbor Day Foundation. “Everybody pretty much knows everybody here in Peotone. We're far enough out from the city that it's quiet. Farming is a big thing, and there are a lot of tradespeople,” says Ed Nelson, the president of the Peotone Historical Society.
Victorians, farmhouses, ranch-style homes and contemporaries
Among Peotone’s late-19th century and early 20th century homes are Victorians, farmhouses and American Foursquares. Ranch-style homes, split-levels and contemporaries followed. Most new construction is to the west and northeast. Prices range from about $140,000 to $530,000. Few townhomes are on the market, but estimated values are in the high-$200,000s to mid-$300,000s.
Homes in Peotone typically sell in less than a month. “Though prices have increased, you are seeing some properties that only last a couple of days on the market,” says Jorge Vigil, a Realtor with HomeSmart. “The suburbs are different than some parts of Chicago, where a home may be on the market for 60 to 70 days.”
The CAP Index Crime Score in Peotone is 2 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Railroad and settler history and a windmill with an annual festival
The region’s history is connected to the Illinois Central Railroad, which spurred development in the mid-19th century. Peotone was established by German and Dutch settlers in the 1850s. “We have a small historical district downtown, like two blocks long and two blocks wide. There are quite a few buildings that have the year on them at the top,” Nelson says.
The Peotone Mill, also known as the H. A. Rathje Mill, was built in 1872 and is listed on the Will County National Register of Historic Places. The windmill, now used as a museum, is open on Sundays. “We have a lot of things that came from Peotone over the years — everything from old antique desks to papers and a lot of photos,” Nelson says. Fundraisers are underway to maintain the mill and repair storm damages.
The Old Mill Fall Fest, in September, features music, antiques, a bake sale and an overall old-fashioned vibe. Historically themed demonstrators include a beekeeper, a cooper and a reenactor in the role of a Civil War surgeon. Though previously a Sunday event, the festival was expanded in 2025 to include a second day. “On Saturday, we’re going to have craft beer and a live band under the big tent,” Nelson says.
Downtown Peotone has stores, restaurants and bars
Downtown has a variety of businesses and services, including Daum Appliance & TV and Midtone Tattoo Studio. Cornerstone Coffee House offers specialty drinks, organic coffee and loose-leaf teas. Corner Cafe serves breakfast all day, as well as lunch and dinner.
In addition to NFL Sunday Ticket watch parties, Game On! Bar & Grill hosts karaoke, live bands, theme parties and events as unique as an inflatable costume pub crawl bingo. Suzy’s Saloon is another option for beer and socializing. A bit farther north, up Second Street, there’s Archy’s Sweet Treats, for ice cream, and Dolomiti, for artisanal sandwiches, pizza and pasta. On the same block is Peotone Bowl, an eight-lane bowling alley. Additionally, Berkot’s Super Foods on South Harlem Avenue is an option for groceries.
Students may enroll in the Peotone Community Unit School District
Schools include Peotone Elementary, which earns a B grade from Niche. Receiving B-minuses are Peotone Intermediate Center, for fourth and fifth grades, and Peotone Junior High School, for sixth through eighth. Peotone High School, which scores a B, has over a dozen athletics programs, including golf, football, volleyball and soccer.
The Hope Homeschool Pod, which offers a Christian faith-based educational program for kindergarten through eighth grade, opened downtown in 2025.
A lot of park amenities, events downtown and at the fairgrounds
The Peotone Park District includes a playground, a skate park, and facilities for volleyball, disc golf and other athletics. A walking trail extends through the large park, linking the different sections. The Market in the Park is held twice a month on Wednesdays from May through September.
The Market on Main is also held twice a month from May to September, though it is held downtown and on Tuesdays. Other downtown events include a car show, in July, cruise nights on Thursdays in August and the Sip n’ Stroll in September.
The Will County Fair brings many people to Peotone over five days in August. The fairgrounds is also the site of the Haunted Hollows Fest, a regional destination for Halloween-season fun and scares.
Access to state Route 50, Interstate 57 and a medical facility
Peotone no longer has passenger rail services, but freight trains do pass through regularly. The community is fairly car dependent. State Route 50 goes through Peotone, and there’s access to Interstate 57 close by, to the west. Seniors and people with disabilities can book transportation through Will-Ride, a Dial-A-Ride provider. The Kevin Strohl Family Healthcare Clinic is on Main Street.
Airport plan stalled, yet an interstate interchange is in the works
Though the idea has been floating around for decades, Peotone may still get an airport. The proposed South Suburban Airport would be a supplemental cargo airport for Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport, which are about 60 and 37 miles from Peotone, respectively. There are concerns over the proposed airport’s environmental impact, as farmland, flood plains and wetlands would be destroyed to build it.
In 2025, construction was underway on a $205-million interchange for Interstate 57, which would provide a direct route to the airport site. The Illinois Policy Center has referred to the interchange as the Exit to Nowhere, as the airport’s future remains uncertain. An extension of the Metra commuter rail line from Chicago has also been considered.
Written By
Robin Silberman
