Coming east on Route 24, about 13 miles from Interstate 55 we arrive in Fairbury –
This is the “county seat” of the Prairie Central School System and the largest little city on the route. Established in November of 1857 the town had its beginning roots with the railroad and is steeped in an early history involving feuds and fires – for a while the town seemed to be constantly on fire. All that came to rest however, and although the TP&W Railroad still runs its east and west routes with the tracks pretty much in the center of town, the community has spread its successful interests through a variety of businesses surrounded by a strong farming influence.
Fairbury has a population of 3,800 and its infrastructure supports all the standard businesses and services that make any town self-sufficient.
Financial institutions, Churches, Housewares, Real Estate, Groceries, Insurance, Plumbing and Electrical, Car Dealerships, Automotive Service and Parts, Lumber, Manufacturing, Medical and Health Care, Legal Services, Quick Stops, Repair Services, Yard Services, Transportation, Animal Care, Cleaning Services, and much more. On the recreational side there are extensive dining facilities, parks and playgrounds, public swimming pool, a nine hole golf course and country club, the fairgrounds with a stock car race track, the public library, a town history museum, and annual events and seasons that bring them all to life. In addition there is a whole host of specialty shops and services that feature unique shopping with amenities in arts and crafts along with the services that they connect to.
In summary, it’s a town with everything you need and quite a bit more that has a huge attraction for non-residents while giving its residents easy access to all the things that keeps life comfortable.
Some of the high lights of Fairbury are:
Fugate Woods – public access to the natural habitats of local wild life, plants and animals
Dave’s Supermarket – a premiere grocery and home supplies store with a deli, bakery, and meat shop
Dominy Public Library – an astute place of learning – modern, extensive, and comfortable
Indian Creek Country Club – nine holes of golf, practice range and greens, and a nice club house
American Legion Speedway – stock car racing at its best – fan friendly
Fairbury’s Business Section of Main Street – historic buildings with dining, shopping and multiple services
Slagel Farms – special dining opportunities with farm life exhibits and tours
This thriving little city is a great place to live, a fun place to visit, and the total package in living and doing it right. For those of you who might want a little more information you can visit the towns multiple web sites or, for specific questions, you can call City Hall at 815-692-2743. See you on the corner of “here it is and there it was.”