Minonk, Illinois
Minonk is a city of 1,941 people in Woodford County, Illinois, founded in 1854.
Why visit Minonk
Townapedia lists 4 parks and trails and 3 places to eat in and around town.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 15°F, and about 22 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Minonk
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Minonk
Minonk is a city in Minonk Township, Woodford County, Illinois. As of the 2020 census, Minonk had a population of 1,928. The city is part of the Peoria, Illinois, metropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article Minonk, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
New Millennia Park
Park
Best park in Minonk. Features a skate park, hockey rink, and sprinklers for kids to play. The walking paths have stops for exercising...
1128 North Chestnut Street, Minonk
Minonk Westside Park
Park · 0.7 mi
Park in Minonk with a basketball court, a playground, a gazebo, and much greenery and trees for shade. It's easy to find as it is right...
Sutton's Park
Park
Very peaceful park; open and spacious. Prominently characterized by the abandoned railway that once ran through it when Minonk was still...
Restaurants and cafes3
Minonk Lanes
Bar and pub · 0.7 mi
454;456 North Chestnut Street, Minonk
Woody's Family Restaurant & Bakery
Restaurant · 0.8 mi
1311 North Carolyn Drive, Minonk
Churches and places of worship5
Saint Paul's United Church of Christ
Church · United Church Of Christ · 0.6 mi
236 West 5th Street, Minonk
Minonk United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist · 0.6 mi
306 East 6th Street, Minonk
Shopping1
History
The founding of Minonk corresponds with the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad. The Illinois Central Railroad main line was completed in 1854 and ran through Section Seven, eventually becoming the City of Minonk. The plat of the town was first recorded on November 7, 1854. The Pekin line of the Santa Fe Railroad, constructed in 1879, intersected with the Illinois Central Railroad in the city.
David Neal, an agent with the Illinois Central Railroad, is credited for naming the city. Local folklore provides varying accounts about the origins of the name “Minonk.” One version states that he originally named the area after a street in Boston, taken from the Mohican word meaning "high point," where he owned property. A second story suggests that he changed the name of the settlement, originally referred to as “Marquette” on old French maps, to the Ojibwe word “Minonk,” meaning “a good place.” Minonk is the only city in the world with that name.
From the History section of Minonk, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Map of Minonk
19 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 15°F | 2.0 in | 5.9 in |
| Feb | 38°F | 19°F | 1.8 in | 5.2 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 29°F | 2.5 in | 3.2 in |
| Apr | 63°F | 39°F | 3.7 in | 0.8 in |
| May | 74°F | 51°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 54°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 66°F | 42°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 51°F | 31°F | 2.6 in | 1.1 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 21°F | 2.2 in | 5.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Minonk Hcn (0 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
Woodford County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-11-26: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Tornado)
- 2013-05-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2008-10-03: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Illinois Valley Regional Airport (VYS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 31 miles away.
- El Paso 12 mi south, about 19 min by car
- Streator 18 mi northeast, about 30 min by car
- Eureka 18 mi southwest, about 30 min by car
- Metamora 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
- Chenoa 20 mi southeast, about 32 min by car
- Pontiac 21 mi east, about 33 min by car
- Lacon 21 mi west, about 33 min by car
- Hudson 21 mi south, about 34 min by car
- Washington 25 mi southwest, about 40 min by car
- Normal 27 mi south, about 44 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
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Minonk Tower - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.