Dixon, Illinois
Dixon is a city of 14,910 people in Lee County, Illinois, founded in 1828.
Why visit Dixon
Townapedia lists 17 museums and landmarks, 23 parks and trails, 35 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home, Christopher Brookner House, Lowell Park and Timber Creek Golf.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 14°F, and about 31 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Dixon
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Dixon
Dixon is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. The population was 15,274 as of the 2020 census. The city is named after founder John Dixon, who operated a rope ferry service across the Rock River, which runs through the city. The Illinois General Assembly designated Dixon as "Petunia Capital of Illinois" in 1999 and "The Catfish Capital of Illinois" in 2009.
From the Wikipedia article Dixon, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks17
Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Building and historic site in Illinois, United States
816 South Hennepin Avenue, Dixon
Christopher Brookner House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in Dixon, Illinois, USA
Dixon Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic district in Dixon, Illinois
Illinois Central Stone Arch Railroad Bridges
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
John Deere House and Shop
Museum · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house museum in Grand Detour, Illinois, USA
Nachusa House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic building in Dixon, Illinois
William H. Van Epps House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Illinois, United States
5 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds23
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Lowell Park
Park · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Municipal park in Dixon Township, Illinois
11 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes35
Pizza Hut
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.3 mi
1740 South Galena Avenue, Dixon
Galena Steak House
Restaurant · Steak House · 1.2 mi
1101 North Galena Avenue, Dixon
The Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe
Brewery and winery · 0.4 mi
219 West 1st Street, Dixon
23 more on the map.
History
Around 1828, Joseph Ogee, a man of mixed French and Native American descent, established a ferry and a cabin along the banks of the Rock River. In 1829, an employee of Ogee was named postmaster at the newly constructed post office. John Dixon, the eponymous founder, bought Ogee's Ferry in the spring of 1830 and brought his family to his newly purchased establishment on April 11 of that year. Shortly after, the name of the post office was changed to Dixon's Ferry.
On May 4, 1873, the Truesdell Bridge collapsed resulting in the deaths of 46 people. About 150-200 people were on the bridge in order to watch a baptism ceremony in the river below.
From the History section of Dixon, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship17
Bethel Church
Church · Evangelical Congregational · 1.3 mi
131 North Court Street, Dixon
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries18
Healthcare2
Map of Dixon
129 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 14°F | 2.0 in | 13.0 in |
| Feb | 34°F | 17°F | 1.8 in | 5.7 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 28°F | 2.6 in | 4.5 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 4.0 in | 0.6 in |
| May | 71°F | 51°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 61°F | 5.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 64°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 62°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 2.4 in | 1.8 in |
| Dec | 34°F | 20°F | 2.2 in | 5.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dixon 1W Hcn (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Lee County has had 6 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-09-19: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2006-12-29: Snow (Snowstorm)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Whiteside County Airport (SQI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Lost Nation 7 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
- Franklin Grove 9 mi east, about 15 min by car
- Polo 11 mi northwest, about 18 min by car
- Amboy 11 mi southeast, about 18 min by car
- Sterling 12 mi west, about 19 min by car
- Rock Falls 12 mi southwest, about 20 min by car
- Rockford 36 mi northeast, about 58 min by car
- DeKalb 38 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Belvidere 42 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Campton Hills 55 mi east, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Dixon Il Dixon Theatre1, IvoShandor, CC BY 2.5
- Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home (8030104930), Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Dixon Il Van Epps House2, IvoShandor, CC BY 2.5
- Lowell Park Dixon, Illinois, Kepper66, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Christopher Brookner House, Nyttend, Public domain
- John Deere House11, IvoShandor, CC BY 2.5
- Dixon Il Nachusa House8, IvoShandor, CC BY 2.5
- The Neon Arch on Galena Avenue in Dixon, IL, Framerotblues, Public domain
- Dixon IL ICRR First St Bridge1, IvoShandor, CC BY 2.5
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