Arcola (Illinois)

Arcola is a city in the Central Illinois region of Illinois with about 2,900 residents in 2020. Visitors will get a sense of small-town Midwest as they walk or drive down the streets of Arcola. The countryside surrounding the city houses the largest Amish population in Illinois with many small shops operated by Amish craftsmen in and around the area.

Understand
Arcola is located in Douglas County, Illinois. Mostly surrounded by farmland, the town is roughly a 40-minute drive from Champaign-Urbana.

History
Arcola was founded in 1855 when the Central Illinois Railroad company built a railroad through the area. The Illinois Central Railroad Company was responsible for surveying and selling plots of land in the development of the town.

Arcola was the birthplace of John Barton Gruelle, creator of the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. His family still operates the Raggedy Ann Museum in Arcola. Arcola is somewhat famous for the Lawn Rangers, a "precision lawn mower drill team" that marches in formation with brooms and lawnmowers while wearing cowboy hats. Every year since 1980 the Lawn Rangers have marched in the Arcola Broomcorn Festival Parade.

By car
Most visitors to Arcola can drive into town from the north from Champaign and from the south on either US highway 45 or I-57. Illinois Highway 133 allows access to Arcola from east and west.

By plane
Arcola is not serviced directly by an airport. The closest airport is, north in Champaign, with flights to and from Chicago and Fort Worth daily. The airport also houses multiple rental car companies to travel around the local area.

Get around
Like most Illinois towns, Arcola is easiest to maneuver via car. Many of the roads in town also have sidewalks that allow for walking around the city center and some residential areas. There are no widespread public transit that services the city.

Go next

 * Illinois Amish Country The surrounding countryside is home to the largest Amish population in Illinois.
 * Champaign-Urbana
 * Effingham