Wilmington, Illinois
Wilmington is a city of 5,494 people in Will County, Illinois, founded in 1836.
Why visit Wilmington
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 12 parks and trails, 18 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Mar Theatre, Eagle Hotel, Small–Towle House and Cinder Ridge Golf Course.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 17°F.
Weather in Wilmington
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Wilmington
Wilmington is a city in Will County, Illinois, United States. Located on Illinois Route 53 and Historic U.S. Route 66 along the east bank of the Kankakee River, it is approximately 60 miles (97 km) south-west from downtown Chicago. The population was 5,664 at the 2020 census. Wilmington is just south of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, which is home to the largest bison herd in the state.
From the Wikipedia article Wilmington, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks5
Eagle Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Listed on the NRHP in Illinois
100 North Water Street, Wilmington
Small–Towle House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Gemini Giant
Monument and historic site · 1.1 mi
201 Bridge Street, Wilmington
Wilmington Historical Society Building
Museum · 1.0 mi
North Main Street, Wilmington
Parks, trails and playgrounds12
Restaurants and cafes18
6 more on the map.
History
Before European settlers arrived, much of Illinois was inhabited by the Illinois Confederation, a coalition of related Native American tribes. Unlike today’s fixed borders, tribal territories often overlapped, with members from various groups sometimes living together in the same village. The Illiniwek, meaning ‘men’ in the Algonquian language, formed an alliance with the French, who adapted their name to the present-day ‘Illinois.’ The Illini Confederation’s territory extended from Iowa in the west to the Ohio River in the south, and approximately to the current borders with Indiana in the east and Wisconsin in the north. Their alliance with the French ultimately contributed to their decline, as the French lost control of the land to the British following the French and Indian War. The Miami tribe also inhabited northeastern Illinois. Other tribal names familiar to Illinois residents include Peoria, Potawatomi, Kaskaskia, and Ottawa.
Thomas Cox purchased land near Alden's Island in 1834 and built a sawmill, corn cracker, gristmill, and a carding machine facility all of which were powered by water wheels situated on a mill right off of the Kankakee River which runs through Wilmington.
From the History section of Wilmington, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship10
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries16
Map of Wilmington
75 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 17°F | 2.1 in | 6.4 in |
| Feb | 37°F | 20°F | 1.7 in | 5.2 in |
| Mar | 48°F | 30°F | 2.1 in | 0.4 in |
| Apr | 61°F | 40°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 63°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 56°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 44°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 33°F | 2.5 in | 0.3 in |
| Dec | 37°F | 23°F | 2.0 in | 6.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Channahon Dresden Isl Dam (8 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
Will County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-09-20: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng (Flood)
- 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)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Joliet Regional Airport (JOT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- Braidwood 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- Diamond 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- Coal City 7 mi southwest, about 11 min by car
- Elwood 7 mi north, about 12 min by car
- Channahon 9 mi northwest, about 15 min by car
- Essex 10 mi south, about 15 min by car
- Minooka 11 mi northwest, about 18 min by car
- Manhattan 12 mi northeast, about 19 min by car
- Gardner 12 mi southwest, about 19 min by car
- Joliet 14 mi north, about 22 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
- Gemini-Giant, Original: unknown Photograph: Studiofox, Public domain
- Eagle Hotel 1837 & 8, publichall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Small-Towle House, QuartierLatin1968, CC BY-SA 3.0
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