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Watseka, IL


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Watseka, Illinois

Introduction to Watseka, Illinois

Watseka, Illinois is 51 miles NWLafayette, Indiana and 75 miles S of Chicago, Illinois. It is in Iroquois county. The population of the city is 5,670.

Watseka History

Watseka is the county seat of the Iroquois County. Established in March 4, 1867, the city was named Watseka after the wife of an early settler in the region, Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard. The city was incorporated in 1865. In 1963, a resident of Iroquois County, Katherine Clifton, donated a large sum of money to the county along with land on which to build a new courthouse, which is located in the east side of Watseka. It is the only county courthouse in the US to be constructed without spending any tax dollars.

Watseka and nearby Attractions

  • Willow Slough State Game Preserve
  • Tippecanoe Battlefield
  • Exploration Station
  • Balmoral Race Track
  • Staerkel Planetarium

Things To Do In Watseka

Local museums include the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, the Brauer Museum of Art, the Early American Museum and the Exploration Station. Other nearby historical sites include the Bryant Cottage State Historic Site, Farnsworth House and the Lockport Pioneer Settlement. The Buckley Homestead County Park, the Kankakee River State Park and the Mazonia Braidwood State Fish & Wildlife Area are some of the popular nearby parks and recreational destinations. The Balmoral Race Track, the Deep River Waterpark and the Staerkel Planetarium are all accessible from Watseka as well.

Watseka Transportation

Indianapolis International is the nearest major airport.

Watseka Higher Education

Nearby colleges include Kankakee Community College, Olivet Nazarene University and Saint Joseph's College.

High Points

Watseka strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Illinois):

CategoryTrophy
Short Commute Times
(vs. State)		Top 6%Watseka Short Commute Times
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. State)		Top 15%Watseka Walking and Biking to Work

Comparative Profile of Watseka, IL

Comparing Watseka to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Illinois (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Senior Citizens109
Age of the Population98
Female Share of the Population78
Children Under 5 Years Old45
Male Share of the Population43
Well-Paid Single Men33
Racial Diversity36

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married53
Average Household Size33

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People in Middle Class or Better32
Median Family Income33
People Above Poverty32
College Educated Adults25

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Short Commute Times910
Walking and Biking to Work89
Working at Home66
Public Transportation Use45

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Living Alone88
Affordability of Rents86
Affordability of Property Taxes66
Seasonal and Vacation Housing67
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals47
Housing Recently Built34

Detailed pages on related topics: Watseka travel.

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Additional Details

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Watseka hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.

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