Wilmington, Will County, Illinois
| Wilmington, Illinois | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s): The Island City | |
 Location in Will County and the state of Illinois. |
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| Counties | Will |
| Founded | 1836 |
| Incorporated | 1854 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Martin Orr |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.5 sq mi (11.7 km2) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 5,724 |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
Wilmington is a city in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,724 at the 2010 census.
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 race off of the Kankakee river which runs through Wilmington.
The town is also home to the historic Eagle Hotel located on the northwest corner of state Rt 53 (Rt 66) and water street (Rt 102).
Wilmington was founded by Thomas Cox. It later became famous as a stop on U.S. Route 66, which followed the route of modern-day Illinois Route 53. The only rest-inn within the town is called "Van Duyne's" and is situated right on old Route 66. A notable attraction for travelers along this route is the "Gemini Giant" Muffler Man type statue located next to the former Launching Pad fast food restaurant. Countless photos of travelers, both domestic and foreign, standing at the base of the Gemini Giant are taken each year.
A bus-station scene from Planes, Trains & Automobiles was filmed in Wilmington. The bus station was demolished in 2011.
Wilmington is located at 41°18′27″N 88°08′46″W / 41.307515°N 88.146143°WCoordinates: 41°18′27″N 88°08′46″W / 41.307515°N 88.146143°W. It is located on the banks of the Kankakee River, approximately 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Chicago and 15 miles (24 km) south of Joliet.
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