Washington

There may be many cities around this country with the same name, but Washington, Illinois, has established its own unique niche about 10 minutes east of Peoria.

Dating back to 1825, this town of more than 13,000 residents is filled with plenty of old and an abundance of new, whether it's amazing relics of ornate Victorian homes downtown or subdivisions that have sprouted among the cornfields in recent years. Here are offered spacious homes and yards for those families who relish distance from the noise of big cities, yet appreciate the convenience of roadways that can take them anywhere they want to go.

Unique shopping and dining experiences await residents and visitors. In addition to the numerous strips of stores, Washington's most memorable trademark is its old-fashioned town square where drivers pass around a circle of land housing a park and water fountain in the middle. Here it's relaxing and fascinating to just observe passersby, those who travel by car and those who enjoy a leisurely pace to walk the pedestrian-friendly paths. Many have savored a day of indulging in a heavy dose of casual shopping in antique stores and the inviting mercantile, where favorite candies of youth can be found to ignite a memory or two.

While Washington stands as an exceptional reminder of yesteryear, it is also progressive with outstanding educational institutions and is celebrating the completion of a modern and unique community center that will meet the needs of people of all ages, whether they're in search of a good book or sources for homework in the new library, or attend performances in the auditorium, or indulge in an energizing or therapeutic swim in the pool.

This center is certain to be a model for other towns and will be just one more reason why Washington, Illinois, is a great place to call home.