.jpg){kind=link}
Watseka, Illinois
Watseka is a city of 4,780 people in Iroquois County, Illinois, founded in 1843.
Why visit Watseka
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 3 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Watseka Theatre, Old Iroquois County Courthouse and Watseka Union Depot.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 16°F.
Weather in Watseka
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Watseka
Watseka is a city in and the county seat of Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. It is located approximately 15 miles (24 km) west of the Illinois-Indiana state line on U.S. Route 24.
From the Wikipedia article Watseka, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks3
Old Iroquois County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
County courthouse in Watseka, United States of America
Watseka Union Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Railway station in Watseka, the United States of America
Iroqouis County Historical Museum
Museum
103 West Cherry Street, Watseka
Mo-Fr 10:00-16:00, Su[1] 13:00-16:00
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Restaurants and cafes3
History
Incorporated in 1865, the name "Watseka" derives from the Potawatomi name "Watch-e-kee", "Daughter of the Evening Star", the wife of early eastern Illinois settler Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard.
The Old Iroquois County Courthouse was constructed in 1866, with two additions built in 1881 and 1927. In the early 1960s, an Iroquois County resident, Mrs. Katherine Clifton, bequeathed to the county in her will a large sum of money and a site upon which to build a new courthouse. It is the only courthouse in the United States built entirely with private funds.
The old courthouse was advertised for sale and fell into disuse. In 1967, during the Centennial Celebration of Watseka, the Iroquois County Historical Society was organized, and circulated petitions throughout the county not to sell the Old Courthouse. The petitions were approved by the County Board of Supervisors, and the Old Courthouse re-opened as a museum that same year. In 1975, the Old Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Watseka Union Depot, built in 1906 to serve the two railroads that passed through the town, was moved to a new location in 1989 and listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
From the History section of Watseka, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship2
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries11
Healthcare1
Map of Watseka
30 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 16°F | 2.1 in | 5.4 in |
| Feb | 37°F | 18°F | 2.0 in | 4.7 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 28°F | 2.4 in | 1.6 in |
| Apr | 62°F | 38°F | 3.6 in | 0.3 in |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 63°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 60°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 52°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 66°F | 41°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 51°F | 31°F | 2.6 in | 0.7 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 21°F | 2.1 in | 4.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Watseka 2 Nw (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
Iroquois 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)
- 2008-03-07: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2002-05-21: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding (Tornado)
- 2001-01-17: Illinois Winter Snow Storms (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kentland Municipal Airport (KKT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Gilman 14 mi west, about 23 min by car
- Clifton 15 mi northwest, about 25 min by car
- Hoopeston 22 mi south, about 35 min by car
- Kankakee 24 mi north, about 38 min by car
- Momence 27 mi north, about 44 min by car
- Rossville 27 mi south, about 44 min by car
- Bradley 28 mi north, about 44 min by car
- Limestone 28 mi northwest, about 44 min by car
- Bourbonnais 29 mi north, about 47 min by car
- Paxton 29 mi southwest, about 47 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
- 20120324 073 Theater, Watseka, Illinois (7379411860), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Watseka Union Depot, Nyttend, Public domain
- Watseka Elevator monument, Huwmanbeing, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.