Townapedia
GMO Airslide (10567191773)
GMO Airslide (10567191773) · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
Illinois Central Gulf 3077 (GP40A) (10566831543)
Illinois Central Gulf 3077 (GP40A) (10566831543) · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
Illinois Central Gulf 2031 & 2025 (SD20), 8223 & 8447 (GP10) (10565888316)
Illinois Central Gulf 2031 & 2025 (SD20), 8223 & 8447 (GP10) (10565888316) · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
Illinois Central Gulf 8351 (GP10) (10565437404)
Illinois Central Gulf 8351 (GP10) (10565437404) · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
Illinois Central Gulf 2007 & 2038 (both SD20) (10565915355)
Illinois Central Gulf 2007 & 2038 (both SD20) (10565915355) · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0
GMO 524 (GP30) & Illinois Central Gulf 3025 (GP40) (10566060976)
GMO 524 (GP30) & Illinois Central Gulf 3025 (GP40) (10566060976) · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0

Tolono, Illinois

Tolono is a village of 3,566 people in Champaign County, Illinois.

Plan a trip
Loading the weather...
Population3,566 +10.2% since 2019
CountyChampaign County
Elevation732 ft 223 m
Land area2.1 sq mi
ZIP code61880
Nearest airportUniversity of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI) 3 mi

Why visit Tolono

Townapedia lists 2 parks and trails and 3 places to eat in and around town.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 18°F.

About Tolono

Tolono is a village in Tolono Township, Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,604 at the 2020 census. Its name was fabricated by J.B. Calhoun, land commission of the Illinois Central Railroad, who wrote about it simply: "[I] placed the vowel o three times, thus o-o-o, and filling in with the consonants t-l-n."

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

Parks, trails and playgrounds2

East Side Park

Park · 0.5 mi

Open in Google Maps

West Side Park

Park · 0.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Restaurants and cafes3

Monical's Pizza

Restaurant · Pizza

102 West Vine Street, Tolono

Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:30

Open in Google Maps · +1-217-485-5711

Lu & Denny's

Bar and pub · 0.4 mi

105 North Long Street, Tolono

Mo-Su 12:00-01:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-217-840-5212

Loose Cobra

Bar and pub · 0.4 mi

113 East Main Street, Tolono

Open in Google Maps

Churches and places of worship2

First Baptist Church of Tolono

Church · Baptist

204 West Holden Street, Tolono

Open in Google Maps · +1-217-485-8710

Tolono United Methodist Church

Church · United Methodist

301 North Bourne Street, Tolono

Open in Google Maps · +1-217-485-3610

Advertisement

Gas and EV charging2

Casey's General Store

Gas station

501 North Long Street, Tolono

Open in Google Maps · +1-217-559-2789

F&S Fuel 24

Gas station · 0.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

History

Founded in the early 19th century as a result of the land-grant Illinois Central Railroad's expansion southward, Tolono was initially home to many railroad employees. Many streets bear the names of the IC's administrative staff. The original homes in the community were small and narrow filling half lots adjacent to the railroad tracks. With the intersection of an east–west railway, Tolono became a featured stop for early rail passengers. The peak of the railroad's passenger influence in Tolono occurred when Tolono became the last stop in Illinois for Abraham Lincoln as he bid farewell to his home state in a speech given from the back of his coach.

In 1959, Tolono became home to the first Monical's Pizza restaurant. Although the original location does not bear the Monical's name any longer, the buildings still stand and another Monical's Pizza is operated less than a block away. Members of the entrepreneurial Monical family still reside in the village today.

After shooting in several locations in Tolono in 2006, Mark Roberts, a Tolono native, wrapped production on his feature-length movie "Welcome To Tolono". The film was highlighted on the 2007 film festival circuit. Welcome To Tolono focuses on an Alcoholics Anonymous group that meets in the basement of a Tolono church.

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

Schools, colleges and libraries6

Map of Tolono

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

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 2.1 in of rainFebruary: 1.8 in of rainMarch: 2.6 in of rainApril: 3.7 in of rainMay: 4.4 in of rainJune: 4.3 in of rainJuly: 3.9 in of rainAugust: 3.1 in of rainSeptember: 3.0 in of rainOctober: 3.0 in of rainNovember: 2.9 in of rainDecember: 2.1 in of rainJanuary: 34°FFebruary: 39°FMarch: 52°FApril: 65°FMay: 76°FJune: 84°FJuly: 85°FAugust: 84°FSeptember: 79°FOctober: 67°FNovember: 52°FDecember: 39°FJanuary: 18°FFebruary: 22°FMarch: 31°FApril: 41°FMay: 52°FJune: 62°FJuly: 64°FAugust: 62°FSeptember: 54°FOctober: 43°FNovember: 32°FDecember: 24°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRain
Jan34°F18°F2.1 in
Feb39°F22°F1.8 in
Mar52°F31°F2.6 in
Apr65°F41°F3.7 in
May76°F52°F4.4 in
Jun84°F62°F4.3 in
Jul85°F64°F3.9 in
Aug84°F62°F3.1 in
Sep79°F54°F3.0 in
Oct67°F43°F3.0 in
Nov52°F32°F2.9 in
Dec39°F24°F2.1 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Champaign Willard Ap (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$69,653median household income
$208,600median home value
$945median monthly rent
34.5median age
25.7%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
70.6%of homes are owner-occupied
18.1 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1829%18 to 3422%35 to 6437%65 and over13%

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

Disaster history

Champaign County has had 5 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)
  • 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
  • 2002-05-21: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding (Tornado)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

University of Illinois Willard Airport (CMI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.

  • Philo 6 mi east, about 9 min by car
  • Champaign 9 mi north, about 14 min by car
  • Urbana 9 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
  • Mahomet 15 mi northwest, about 25 min by car
  • St. Joseph 15 mi northeast, about 24 min by car
  • Lake of the Woods 16 mi northwest, about 26 min by car
  • Monticello 17 mi west, about 27 min by car
  • Bement 17 mi west, about 27 min by car
  • Arcola 21 mi south, about 34 min by car
  • Rantoul 22 mi north, about 36 min by car

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

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

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