Beyond the City of Springfield lie numerous county communities that offer a more rural environment while remaining in close proximity to urban conveniences in the city.
City of Auburn
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The City of Auburn, Illinois is located at the crossroads of State Routes 104 and 4. Only minutes from the State Capital and just one and a half hours from St. Louis, Auburn is easily accessible to all.
Auburn has an excellent school district, good business climate, moderately priced housing, golf and other recreational facilities give Auburn big city advantages while still maintaining its small town appeal.
City of Leland Grove
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In 1950, Leland Grove formed a council and voted to incorporate. The council is comprised of six members each overseeing and representing their geographical wards. They discuss problems, listen to the concerns of the citizens, and are dedicated to finding solutions to those problems and concerns. They make decisions for bettering residential life and well being throughout the City of Leland Grove.
City of Springfield
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As the largest city in central Illinois, with a population of 117,000, Springfield is best known for being the home of our 16th President Abraham Lincoln and the place where President Barack Obama spent his early career in politics. Springfield is truly rich with history while maintaining a progressive and strong business environment.
Conveniently located on Interstate Highways 55 and 72, Springfield is in close proximity to St. Louis to the south; Chicago to the north and Indianapolis to the east. This central location gives Springfield a reach of over 536,000 people within a 40 mile radius. Our community also has five Class I railroads and the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport for both passenger and freight air service.
Springfield boasts a strong education economy driven by numerous colleges, technical schools and universities including the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS), Lincoln Land Community College, Midwest Technical Institute, St. John’s College of Nursing, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and the Capital Area Career Center.
Springfield's medical and health care sectors are a core industry for central Illinois, making Springfield a regional provider of health care services. Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) and Memorial Health Systems are our two hospital systems but the community is also home to Springfield Clinic; Prairie Heart Institute; Prairie Education and Research Cooperative; Southern Illinois School of Medicine (SIU); and the Simmons Cancer Institute.
In alignment with the education and workforce strategies, Springfield became home to a new business incubator in 2016, Innovate Springfield. Supported by the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance and Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, the incubator is an effort to retain and attract talented entrepreneurs to the greater Springfield area. As an incubator for start-up business enterprises and social efforts, Innovate Springfield aims to create an environment where innovation can be celebrated and nurtured for the betterment of the greater community.
The lore and reputation of Abraham Lincoln has made Springfield a global destination because of the story of his life and the location in Springfield of his home and the Abraham Presidential Library and Museum. However, Springfield draws people year round for festivals and events including the Illinois State Fair; the annual Route 66 Mother Road Festival; the International Carillon Festival; downtown's Old Capitol Farmer's Market; the SoHo Music Festival and activities at Southwind Park, an 80 acre state-of-the-art park that serves as a national model by providing inclusion for all people, with a special emphasis given to individuals with physical and cognitive needs.
City of Virden
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Virden sits atop a large seam of coal. After the 1850s, when the Chicago and Alton railroad was completed, it became possible to mine Virden coal and ship it long distances for a profit. Throughout the second half of the 1800s, Virden prospered and grew as a coal-mining town.
Village of Berlin
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Berlin is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois. It is also colloquially called "Old Berlin" due to the larger village of New Berlin just south of it.
Village of Buffalo
Village of Cantrall
Village of Chatham
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The first settlers arrived in the Chatham area in 1816. The village of Chatham received its name October 22, 1836.
Chatham is located in what was once open prairie between Lick Creek and Panther Creek in Sangamon County, which at that time was about the center of the new state of Illinois, approximately ten miles south of Springfield.
Village of Clear Lake
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The Township of Clear Lake lies in the second tier of townships from the Sangamon county line on the north. It is bounded on the north by Williams, on the west by Springfield, on the south by Rochester and on the east by Mechanicsburg.
Village of Curran
Village of Dawson
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Dawson was located along an old Indian trail that led from Clear Lake, Illinois, to Buffalo Hart, Illinois. It was named after John Dawson, a member of a political group in Illinois in the 1830's led by Abraham Lincoln that advocated moving the state capitol from Vandalia to Springfield. Dawson was incorporated in 1883.
Village of Divernon
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Divernon, Illinois is located fifteen minutes south of Springfield, the State Capitol of Illinois, off of Interstate 55 at exit 80.
The Village of Divernon has a rich history, dating back to the beginning of our State. Thomas Black arrived here in 1819, 11 years before Abraham Lincoln came to Illinois which was 68 years before the founding of our village in 1887. A whole generation of people lived their lives here before we were even given the name Divernon. The Village was founded in 1887 and named Divernon by H.C. Barnes. The name came from a heroine from Sir Walter Scott’s Rob Roy book, her name was Diana Vernon and her friends called her Di Vernon.
Divernon elected its first board of trustees in 1900. Today Divernon has a population of 1200. A TIF District was approved in 2007 to gain new businesses and to help update other areas.
Village of Grandview
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Grandview Village which was incorporated in 1939 to bring water mains into the area, has grown into a great community. In the years past our highest census was 2,212 back in 1960, which at the time made Grandview one of the largest municipalities in Sangamon County, other than Springfield.
Village of Illiopolis
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A small village in the heart of Illinois, Illiopolis is the product of generations of residents who have volunteered and cooperated to build a community of progress. Illiopolis is a town full of community pride, good neighbors, and Midwest values.
Village of Jerome
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Village of Jerome - small town living in the middle of everything!
Village of Loami
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Loami is located in Sangamon County Southwest of Springfield, between Chatham and New Berlin. It’s a quiet and comfortable place to call home.
According to Lee R Grahams statements in an updated Illinois State Journal article, “Loami is one of the oldest towns in the county.” The first name given to the village was that of Lebanon, but since there was already a town by that name, it was soon changed to Loami.
Wm. Colburn built a steam saw and gristmill in 1836 and around this mill grew the village of Loami. The Village was incorporated July 30, 1875. The three pound Village Seal (stamp) is still used by the Village clerk today on legal papers.
Village of Mechanicsburg
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Founded in 1832, Mechanicsburg, Illinois, is a growing community conveniently located between Decatur and Springfield. With quality, small schools, three parks, growing subdivisions, and a local police department, Mechanicsburg is a great place to call home.
Village of New Berlin
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The Village of New Berlin, Illinois is located about 10 miles west of Springfield, Illinois.
Village of Pawnee
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Pawnee is a thriving village of approximately 2,700 nestled 3 miles from I-55. Just minutes south of Illinois' capital city, Pawnee is surrounded by farmlands that grace its peaceful setting. Pawnee boasts an excellent school system, two new subdivisions, moderately priced housing and houses a wonderful 5,000 sq. ft. library, which received the Library of the Year award in 2004 from the Rolling Prairie Library System.
Village of Pleasant Plains
Village of Riverton
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Present day Riverton is a thriving municipality with a promising future. Controlled growth in both its residential and commercial sectors coupled with an progressive school system make Riverton a excellent location to live and raise a family.
Village of Rochester
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Rochester is a multi-faceted community, a village that has retained its small-town charm and friendly atmosphere despite being located only a few miles from a metropolitan area. What began as a farming community more than one hundred fifty years ago is now one of the fastest growing areas in central Illinois.
Located seven miles from the state capitol of Springfield and connected by a four-lane highway, Rochester offers the benefits of a small town with the conveniences of a larger city nearby. Explore our website and view all that the community has to offer.
Village of Sherman
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Sherman, Illinois is located north of Springfield, the capitol of Illinois. During the 1970’s, Sherman began to grow due to its close proximity to Springfield and Interstate 55. Sherman’s first growth was primarily residential. Sherman continues this growth pattern today and currently has a population of approximately 3,500 people. With this growth has come a surge of diverse service business expansion.
Sherman is the home of the Rail Golf Course. It is a championship 18 hole course which until 2007 hosted the annual Labor Day Rail Charity Golf Classic, the second longest running golf tournament in LPGA history. The event drew thousands of visitors to Sherman annually, and generated nearly two million dollars for local charities.
Sherman is considered a family oriented community with many organized youth activities. The school system is consolidated with the Village of Williamsville, which has a proud history of excellence in education and athletic success.
Village of Southern View
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Located within the Illinois heartland, the Village of Southern View is on the south side of Springfield. Our population fluctuates slightly, but hovers around 1600.
Southern View is made up of both a residential district, as well as a commercial district. Many residents can trace generations of family to the village. Local businesses that have been in the community for many years are still thriving.
Our community park covers 29 acres. It comprises of two baseball fields. 1 soccer field, roller hockey arena, a 1.6 acre pond, two play areas, and three covered areas for get togethers.
Village of Spaulding
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The Village of Spaulding is located on Rt. 54 in Eastern Sangamon County, a mile and a half east of Springfield, the Capitol of Illinois. The 2010 Census determined that Spaulding was the fastest growing municipality in Sangamon County, with both new subdivisions and annexations. The village is in the Riverton Area Fire Protection District and is a part of the Riverton water system.
Village of Thayer
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Thayer is located just 4.5 short miles south of Auburn, off old Route 66 and is called home to approximately 700 people. There are a few interesting buildings in its tiny downtown area. For a bite to eat, Pudock's Hideout is located on Main Street and Mick & Mary's is on Ebony Street. You will not only get a good meal, but also a peek at the region's past with historic photographs lining the walls.
Village of Williamsville
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A small village in the center of Illinois, Williamsville is the product of generations of residents who have volunteered and cooperated to build a community of progress. Here you will find both historic and new homes on clean, tree-lined streets, creating a comfortable park-like atmosphere.