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Why visit Petersburg
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails and 3 places to eat in and around town.
Highlights include Petersburg Historic District and Lincoln's New Salem.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 17°F.
Weather in Petersburg
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Petersburg
Petersburg is a city in and the county seat of Menard County, Illinois, United States, on the bluffs and part of the floodplain overlooking the Sangamon River. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois metropolitan area. The population was 2,258 at the 2020 census, nearly unchanged from 2010. Petersburg is located approximately 2 miles (3 km) north of New Salem, the original location where Abraham Lincoln first settled, as he started his career.
From the Wikipedia article Petersburg, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks3
Petersburg Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic district in Illinois, USA
Lincoln's New Salem
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Recreated former frontier village in Menard County, Illinois
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes3
Gillmore's Cafe
Restaurant · Home Style, Country · 0.5 mi
501 South 6th Street, Petersburg
Churches and places of worship8
History
The town began as a planned community organized by real estate speculators Peter Lukins (for whom the town is named) and George Warburton. Abraham Lincoln worked as the surveyor who first mapped, measured and help to divide lots on the land. Petersburg quickly grew, due to an advantageous placement on the river, becoming the county seat in the 1830s and eventually drawing off the population of New Salem, which was abandoned in 1840.
Many of the Victorian-era homes built by early wealthy inhabitants still stand on the bluffs of Petersburg. The town itself takes pride in these structures, which has even preserved some of the original cobblestone streets to complement the classical architecture.
From the History section of Petersburg, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shopping1
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Map of Petersburg
24 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 17°F | 2.0 in | 5.4 in |
| Feb | 39°F | 20°F | 1.8 in | 2.7 in |
| Mar | 51°F | 30°F | 2.5 in | 1.4 in |
| Apr | 64°F | 41°F | 4.1 in | 0.5 in |
| May | 74°F | 53°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 55°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 66°F | 43°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 52°F | 32°F | 2.8 in | 1.2 in |
| Dec | 39°F | 23°F | 1.9 in | 4.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Petersburg 1E (1 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
Menard County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for snowstorms.
- 2021-12-13: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Tornado)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 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
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 15 miles away.
- Athens 7 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- Leland Grove 18 mi southeast, about 30 min by car
- Grandview 18 mi southeast, about 29 min by car
- Springfield 19 mi southeast, about 30 min by car
- Jerome 19 mi southeast, about 31 min by car
- Havana 22 mi northwest, about 36 min by car
- Chatham 25 mi south, about 40 min by car
- Lincoln 27 mi east, about 43 min by car
- Jacksonville 28 mi southwest, about 46 min by car
- Manito 28 mi north, about 45 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
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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
- Edgar Lee Masters Home, Kenrossalex, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Menard County Courthouse, IL (4504031312), Matt Turner, CC BY 2.0
- New Salem village, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.5
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