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Dixon, IL

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Dixon, IL

Dixon is a city and the county seat of Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,274 as of the 2020 census. The city is named after founder John Dixon, who operated a rope ferry service across the Rock River, which runs through the city. The Illinois General Assembly designated Dixon as "Petunia Capital of Illinois" in 1999 and "The Catfish Capital of Illinois" in 2009.

Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The city is also the site of the Lincoln Monument State Memorial, marking the spot where Abraham Lincoln joined the Illinois militia at Fort Dixon in 1832 during the Black Hawk War. The memorial is located on the west side of Dixon's main north-south street, Galena Avenue, (U.S. Route 52, also Illinois Route 26), north of the Rock River. The city is also the site of the Dixon Bridge Disaster of 1873, the worst road bridge disaster in American history. A marker for the disaster stands near the Lincoln Statue, on the north bank of the river.

According to the 2010 census, Dixon has a total area of 7.862 square miles (20.36 km²), of which 7.43 square miles (19.24 km²) (or 94.51%) is land and 0.432 square miles (1.12 km²) (or 5.49%) is water.

Around 1828, Joseph Ogee, a man of mixed French and Native American descent, established a ferry and a cabin along the banks of the Rock River. In 1829, an employee of Ogee was named postmaster at the newly constructed post office. John Dixon, the eponymous founder, bought Ogee's Ferry in the spring of 1830 and brought his family to his newly purchased establishment on April 11 of that year. Shortly after, the name of the post office was changed to Dixon's Ferry. On May 4, 1873, the Truesdell Bridge collapsed resulting in the deaths of 46 people. About 150-200 people were on the bridge to watch a baptism ceremony in the river below.

Running by Interstate 88 is a road named Bloody Gulch Road. The road is named after a murder and body disposal. On September 12, 1885, two young men walked along a county road south of Dixon, one a farm hand named Joseph M. Mosse and the other, Frank C. Thiel, a traveling salesman from Elgin, IL. The unemployed farmhand told the salesman of a place where he could sell his Bibles and proceeded to take him to a farm where he had worked. As the two men passed a gulch the farmhand struck and killed the salesman with a knife and a walnut baluster he was seen carrying under his arm. He then buried the body in the culvert. The body was later discovered when cattle refused to use the underpass en route to a milking barn. An overnight rain had washed away some of the dirt exposing a limb. When the sheriff arrived to question the farmhand, since he was seen leaving Dixon with the deceased, he pretended to get a drink while throwing a watch chain taken from the salesman in the bushes. The evidence was found and the farmhand was eventually put in jail for life, while the road over the underpass began to be called Bloody Gulch Road.

Health and wellness are integral to Dixon's lifestyle, with KSB Hospital serving as a prominent healthcare provider. The hospital offers comprehensive medical services, ensuring the well-being of residents. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Dixon Park District offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Fit For Life Bootcamp, YMCA, and Anytime Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Dixon, such as the Joe Stengel Trail and Lowell Park. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in Dixon, IL are the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home, Northwest Territory Historic Center, and Veteran's Memorial Park.

Population: 15,274 (2020). ZIP Codes: 61021. Area code: 815. Elevation: 712 ft (217 m). Area: 8.79 sq mi (22.76 km²).

FAQs

What is Dixon, IL, known for?

Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The city is also the site of the Lincoln Monument State Memorial, marking the spot where Abraham Lincoln joined the Illinois militia at Fort Dixon in 1832 during the Black Hawk War. The memorial is located on the west side of Dixon's main north-south street, Galena Avenue, (U.S. Route 52, also Illinois Route 26), north of the Rock River.

Is Dixon, IL a good place to live?

Living in Dixon offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Dixon, there are a lot of bars. Residents of Dixon tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Dixon are above average.

Is Dixon, IL expensive?

Dixon is 14% less expensive than the national average and 15% less expensive to live in than the average city in Illinois. This assumes a $72,000 annual salary and a 2-bedroom Apt. Food costs in Dixon are more affordable than average in the United States. Transportation costs in Dixon are more affordable than average in the United States.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Dixon

KSB Hospital 

Dixon Park District 

Fit For Life Bootcamp

YMCA 

Anytime Fitness

The Joe Stengel Trail 

Lowell Park

Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home

Northwest Territory Historic Center

Veteran's Memorial Park

Niche

Erieri

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