Robinson blends refinery roots and candy-coated history
Robinson is a small community set on the plains of southeastern Illinois with roots in not only the 19th-century oil boom, but the chocolate industry. The community grew up around its refinery, and today, the large Marathon Petroleum complex on the west side continues to process oil from local wells—making energy a cornerstone of the local economy. "We are seeing an increase in the number of young people, here, largely due to the presence of major employers in the area like Marathon," says Becky Michl of Prairie Heart Realty. "As employment opportunities grow, the demographic gets younger." Beyond its industrial side, Robinson is known as the birthplace of the Heath candy bar. In 1914, the Heath brothers created their famous toffee-and-milk-chocolate bar here, and the small Heath Candy Bar Museum on South Cross Street still displays original ovens, copper kettles and hand-wrappers from the candy’s heyday.
Ranch-style homes and new subdivisions
As the seat of Crawford County, Robinson’s tidy courthouse square rules a street grid laid out in equal-length blocks, and that same square sets the tone for its housing stock. Most neighborhoods west of Illinois 1 follow a simple grid lined with post-war ranch-style houses, a few split-levels and occasional early-1900s American Foursquare homes. Newly built houses on larger lots command the highest prices, while unrenovated century-old homes sit at the low end of the market. The median sales price here is $90,000.
Career-focused courses
Local kids can start out at Washington or Lincoln elementary schools, both of which earn B-minus scores from Niche. Nutall Middle School Robinson High School both earn B grades. The high school’s career-and-technical wing lets students weld, rebuild engines and log simulator time in an ag-mechanics program that feeds directly into refinery and factory jobs.
Forest preserve and Quail Creek golf
Robinson City Park has ball diamonds, a public pool and seasonal festivals, while the Crawford County Forest Preserve offers hiking and fishing on about 400 acres. Golfers use the 18-hole course at Quail Creek Country Club and Resort, and the Heath Candy Bar Museum doubles as an indoor attraction on rainy days. Housed in the old Heath family candy shop on Court Street, the museum mixes displays of vintage candy-making gear with a 1914 soda fountain. The Robinson Civic Center regularly hosts events like Bingo and movie nights. During the holiday season, a three-day "Home for the Holidays" festival takes place, featuring an ice rink and opportunities for photos with Santa.
Limited dining options along Main Street
There are less than a dozen restaurants in Robinson, but most of them clustered on Main Street. Here, Tuscany Grill is a local favorite for the Italian fare and Button Bucks Bar & Grill offers pub food. Fast-casual options along the same road include Dairy Queen, Jersey Mike's and Wendy's. Day-to-day shopping relies on a Walmart Supercenter and a Ruler Foods.
Highways, curb-to-curb buses and nearby airports
Illinois Route 1 and Illinois Route 33 meet in downtown Robinson, giving drivers direct links to Interstate 70 at Effingham and U.S. 50 near Lawrenceville. General-aviation flyers use Crawford County Airport, set about three miles south of Main Street, while commercial flights typically connect through Evansville Regional Airport about 80 miles southeast.
