Freight trains and the Vermilion River pass through small-town Streator
Streator historically earned its bread through coal mining and a long stint as the "Glass Bottle Capital of the World." The city's largest glass plant closed its doors in 2024, leaving behind a more diversified sector with brands like U.S. Foods and heavy vehicle manufacturer Vactor. However, one aspect of the city's deep-rooted industrial legacy still rattles this small city in the north-central Illinois prairie land. "A huge number of freight trains pass through every day, a couple of times a day," says Kyle Cortez, a local agent and founder of Right Start Realty. "There's a pretty large railyard and a lot of manufacturing opportunities in the city. For some, that could definitely be a reason to move there, and for others, a reason not to." In the orbit of its neighboring cities Ottawa and Peru, Streator holds an affinity for the dwarf planet Pluto, discovered by local astronomer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930.
The Vermillion River flows through Streator.
Industry in Streator is powered by it's large railyard and numberous freight trains.
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Streator’s older home market amid Chicagoland expansion
The median home price in Streator is below those of Ottawa and Peru – and far below the national median – at around $110,000. Church spires dating as far back as the late 1800s shoot above folk-style homes and bungalows close to downtown. "The east side is where the 1970s homes were built, and the west side is a lot of '50s and '60s," Cortez says. Though options from the early 2000s and onwards are hard to come by, new developments could be on the horizon as Chicago's southwest suburbs creep into the central Illinois region. "The direction they're going right now is towards Marseilles and Ottawa-Peru," he says. "As the suburbs expand, they'll eventually make their way to Streator in the coming years."
High-end homes can be found closer to the Downtown Streator area.
Streator homes come in a variety of architectural styles.
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Mural-adorned Streator businesses and trips to Ottawa-Peru
Seventeen murals highlight aspects of Streator's history amid downtown shops and eateries, from baseball legends to past major employers. "Restaurants are mostly gonna be family-owned, with your normal chains," Cortez says. "There's a row near the Walmart with your Mcdonald's, Wendy's and stuff like that." Kroger and Aldi also have locations here, with more robust shopping in Illinois River cities to the north, like Ottawa and Peru.
Mural-adorned buildings line the streets of Downtown Streator.
Streator's downtown area features a number of mostly family-owned restaurants.
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Food trucks, free live music and theater in Streator
Iconic scenes from Shakespeare, Socrates and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow adorn the interior of Streator Public Library’s formidable dome. Established in 1903 with Carnegie Foundation funding, the library is a home base for scavenger hunts, guest speakers and other community programs. Live acts play at Streator City Park during Pluto Fest in the fall, the Streator Food Truck Festival in the spring and other events. The Community Players of Streator debuted in 1960 and now perform six shows yearly at Engle Lane Theater, a 247-seat venue set back from a quiet residential street.
The historic Streator Public Library hosts numerous events throughout the year.
Streator City Park acts as a venue for many annual events.
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Parks in Streator and popular LaSalle County nature
Streator City Park packs a playground, splash pad, urban forest preserve and live music pavilion into four city blocks. Other parks range from ball fields to golf courses. Nine holes with Pluto-themed names make up Anderson Fields Golf Course, where the first transcontinental flight landed in 1911. Kayaks and canoes drop in the Vermilion River at public launches. Streator is also 23 miles southeast of the most visited state park in Illinois: Starved Rock State Park, known for its sandstone canyons and waterfalls.
Residents can enjoy elevated views of the Illinois River at Starved Rock State Park.
Enjoy the nearby nature trails at Streator City Park for an evening hike.
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School district boundaries on the county line between LaSalle and Livingston
Streator Elementary School District 44 scores a C-plus from Niche, covering most of the city and westward rural areas of LaSalle County. Streator Township High School’s Future Farmers of America chapter celebrated its 90th year in 2024. Niche gives the high school a B-minus. Kids living south of the Livingston County line are served by B-minus-scoring Woodland Community Unit School District 5 for prekindergarten through 12th grade.
After school programs at Streator Township High School are plentiful.
Students are the highest priority at Streator Elementary School.
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En route from Streator to Chicagoland
Interstates 39, 55 and 80 form a rough triangle around Streator. The city is deep within it, as motorists must drive 15 miles or more through farmland to reach an on-ramp. Despite its high train volume, the city doesn’t have passenger rail. Cortez points to the Amtrak station about 24 miles east in Dwight. “When you live in that rural type of area, 20 minutes is not that bad of a drive,” he says. It’s 48 miles to Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal, but even more commercial flights are available at Chicago Midway International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport over 100 miles away. The closest larger hospital is in Ottawa, though OSF Center for Health - Streator provides outpatient and emergency care.
Streator's crime and weather patterns
FBI and Illinois State Police data show that crimes against people and property in Streator have trended upward since 2021. The city's largest tornado event in recent history was a category EF-2 tornado that destroyed or damaged dozens of homes in 2010. Cortez says there’s a small risk throughout the region, though outdoor warning sirens sound more often for monthly testing. "The running joke is that they test them so often that nobody will do anything if they go off in a real storm," Cortez says.
Written By
Emma Downes
Photography Contributed By
Patrick Kelley
Video By
Amon Parson
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Doug Carroll,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Streator, IL sell after 49 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Streator, IL over the last 12 months is $120,000, up 17% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Charming 3 bedroom home with 1 bathroom, fenced yard, 1 car attached garage, and full basement. Home has new windows installed 2023, furnace and AC 2023 and new appliances 2022. Brick has recently been tuckpointed. The home has lovely flooring, some hardwood, and beautiful built-ins. Do not miss out on the opportunity to own this lovely home!
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