Townapedia
Byron, IL Post Office 03
Byron, IL Post Office 03 · Ben Jacobson ( Kranar Drogin ), CC BY 2.5
Byron, IL Downtown
Byron, IL Downtown · Ben Jacobson ( Kranar Drogin ), CC BY 2.5
NRC Sr. Resident Inspector Discusses Byron Nuclear Plant at Open House (34146818250)
NRC Sr. Resident Inspector Discusses Byron Nuclear Plant at Open House (34146818250) · Nuclear Regulatory Commission from US, Public domain
Byron, IL Soldiers Monument 04
Byron, IL Soldiers Monument 04 · Ben Jacobson ( Kranar Drogin ), CC BY 2.5
Wm. Moats Farm
Wm. Moats Farm · IvoShandor, CC BY 2.5
Soldiers Monument (8030102444)
Soldiers Monument (8030102444) · Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0

Byron, Illinois

Byron is a city of 3,743 people in Ogle County, Illinois, founded in July 1835.

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Population3,743 +3.7% since 2019
Elevation728 ft 222 m
FoundedJuly 1835
Land area4.6 sq mi
ZIP code61010
Nearest airportChicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) 9 mi

Why visit Byron

Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 16 places to eat and 1 attraction in and around town.

Highlights include Soldier's Monument, William Moats Farm and Prairie View Golf Course.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 14°F, and about 37 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Byron

Byron is a city in Ogle County, Illinois, United States, probably best known as the location of the Byron Nuclear Generating Station, one of the last nuclear power plants commissioned in the United States. Byron is located in Byron Township, along the Rock River. As of the 2020 census, Byron had a population of 3,784. The town bills itself as the "Gateway to the Rock River Valley".

From the Wikipedia article Byron, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do1

Stage

Cinema and theater · 0.8 mi

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Museums and landmarks6

Soldier's Monument

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Monument in Illinois, United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

William Moats Farm

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Building in Illinois, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Byron Museum

Museum · 0.4 mi

110 North Union Street, Byron

Feb 01-Dec 31 We-Sa 10:00-15:00; PH closed "CLOSED Independence...

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Heritage Farm Museum

Museum · 0.4 mi

Mo-Fr 08:00-16:30; Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 14:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-815-234-8535

Byron Drag Strip

Monument and historic site · 0.7 mi

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Youth Center

Monument and historic site · 0.7 mi

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Parks, trails and playgrounds3

Prairie View Golf Course

Golf course · 0.7 mi

6734 German Church Road, Byron

Open in Google Maps · +1-815-234-4653

Riverside Park

Park

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Sunshine Park

Park · 0.5 mi

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Restaurants and cafes16

The Cave

Bar and pub · 0.4 mi

113 West 2nd Street, Byron

Mo-Sa 08:00-01:00; Su 11:00-24:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 815-234-3000

Bub's

Bar and pub · 0.4 mi

135 North Union Street, Byron

Mo-Th,Su 11:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-13:00; PH unknown; Sa 11:00-21:00

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Costa's Pizzeria & Ristorante

Restaurant · Pizza · 0.5 mi

133 East Blackhawk Drive, Byron

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Dos Amigos

Restaurant · Mexican

523 West Blackhawk Drive, Byron

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2nd Chance Tavern

Bar and pub · 0.4 mi

109 West 2nd Street, Byron

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China King

Restaurant · Chinese · 0.5 mi

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Hairy Cow Brewing Company

Bar and pub · 0.6 mi

450 East Blackhawk Drive, Byron

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NeonTap & Grill

Bar and pub · 0.4 mi

120 North Union Street, Byron

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Sunday Social

Ice cream · 0.4 mi

114 West 2nd Street, Byron

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Sunrise Restaurant

Restaurant · 0.4 mi

101 West 2nd Street, Byron

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Swedish Pancake House

Restaurant · 0.4 mi

127 West 2nd Street, Byron

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Sweetbean Cafe & Bakery

Cafe

114 South Franklin Street, Byron

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4 more on the map.

History

The city that is now Byron was founded when a settler rode through the area on his way from Galena to Midway.

From the History section of Byron, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Churches and places of worship6

Shopping2

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Gas and EV charging4

Schools, colleges and libraries10

Healthcare3

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Map of Byron

51 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 1.6 in of rainFebruary: 1.6 in of rainMarch: 2.4 in of rainApril: 3.8 in of rainMay: 4.2 in of rainJune: 5.2 in of rainJuly: 3.8 in of rainAugust: 4.2 in of rainSeptember: 3.6 in of rainOctober: 2.6 in of rainNovember: 2.3 in of rainDecember: 1.9 in of rainJanuary: 29°FFebruary: 33°FMarch: 46°FApril: 60°FMay: 71°FJune: 81°FJuly: 84°FAugust: 82°FSeptember: 75°FOctober: 62°FNovember: 47°FDecember: 34°FJanuary: 14°FFebruary: 18°FMarch: 28°FApril: 38°FMay: 50°FJune: 60°FJuly: 64°FAugust: 62°FSeptember: 54°FOctober: 42°FNovember: 30°FDecember: 20°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan29°F14°F1.6 in10.9 in
Feb33°F18°F1.6 in8.5 in
Mar46°F28°F2.4 in4.9 in
Apr60°F38°F3.8 in0.9 in
May71°F50°F4.2 in0.0 in
Jun81°F60°F5.2 in0.0 in
Jul84°F64°F3.8 in0.0 in
Aug82°F62°F4.2 in0.0 in
Sep75°F54°F3.6 in0.0 in
Oct62°F42°F2.6 in0.2 in
Nov47°F30°F2.3 in2.3 in
Dec34°F20°F1.9 in9.4 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rockford Gtr Rockford Ap 72543 (10 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$78,852median household income
$198,700median home value
$929median monthly rent
36.7median age
31.5%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
70.6%of homes are owner-occupied
26.2 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1827%18 to 3419%35 to 6437%65 and over16%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Ogle County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for snowstorms.

  • 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2013-05-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
  • 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
  • 2010-08-19: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2008-03-13: Record Snow And Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.

  • Rockford 14 mi northeast, about 22 min by car
  • Loves Park 20 mi northeast, about 32 min by car
  • Machesney Park 21 mi northeast, about 34 min by car
  • Belvidere 22 mi northeast, about 35 min by car
  • Freeport 22 mi northwest, about 36 min by car
  • Dixon 22 mi southwest, about 36 min by car
  • Roscoe 25 mi northeast, about 40 min by car
  • DeKalb 30 mi southeast, about 48 min by car
  • Beloit 30 mi northeast, about 49 min by car
  • Sycamore 31 mi east, about 50 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.