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WATSEKA: IROQUOIS COUNTY
Watseka: 150th Birthday Event In June, Big City Convenience In Rural Setting
Watseka photos courtesy of the Times-Republic.
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elebrating its 150th birthday this year, the city of Watseka is a welcoming, progressive community located in the heart of rural Iroquois County. Watseka is 90 miles south of Chicago, 35 minutes south of the Bradley-Bourbonnais-Kankakee community, and a little more than 60 minutes from the cities of Champaign-Urbana, IL, Bloomington-Normal, IL, and Lafayette IN. Watseka provides big city convenience in a rural setting, featuring sit-down restaurants, thriving shops, several fast food options, and a historic downtown district, as well as convenience and big box stores for all visitors’ shopping needs. High-quality, personal health care for all ages is a priority in Watseka. Iroquois Memorial Hospital provides 24/7 emergency services, inpatient and outpatient general medical and surgical care. The on-campus Iroquois Resident Home provides a caring atmosphere and convenient location. Riverside Healthcare’s Specialty Clinic and the Carle Regional Health Center offer additional local health care options. Petersen Health Care’s Rehabilitation and Health Care Center provides 24-hour nursing and hospice care as well as occupational and physical therapy. Kingdon Gardens & Heritage Woods also offer independent and assisted living services in Watseka. The primary industry in Watseka is agriculture, but it is also home to two metal manufacturing facilities, three car dealerships and two agricultural equipment dealers. Watseka’s financial institutions are highly rated and timetested, ready to provide funding for a business or personal project. The Watseka Area Chamber of Commerce provides opportunities for area businesses, whether small or large, to connect and promote their services. Watseka is home to a variety of active civic organizations, including the American Legion, the VFW, Kiwanis Club, Elks Club, Knights of Columbus, the Iroquois County Genealogical Society, Lions Club and the Iroquois American Legion float leads the 2016 4th of July parade. County Historical Society. A visit to the Old Courthouse Museum is a step back in time, where people can visit the original county jail, see recreations of a one-room schoolhouse, and view the courtroom that provided law and order to Iroquois County for 100 years. The historic Watseka Theatre seats 375 guests and hosts many national and international music performances, as well as local bands and other events throughout the year. Several fun, family oriented festivals and other events are held in Watseka annually, including a 4th of July Parade and fireworks, Celebrate Watseka, Harvest Daze, and the Christmas Parade. The community has excellent educational opportunities for all ages, including professional childcare services, Head Start, preschool through high school, easy access to Kankakee Community College and Olivet Nazarene University, and a short drive to Purdue University, Illinois Wesleyan University, the University of Illinois, Illinois State University, and Governors State University. Watseka also hosts a Kankakee Community College Extension Center with adult continuing education opportunities as well. Watseka has many parks and a vibrant park district, inFishing at beautiful Lakeview Park. cluding a pool, baseball and softball diamonds, soccer fields and more. There are four golf courses within an hour’s drive, and there are many places to fish and hunt in and around Watseka. The community celebrates many faith traditions, and Watseka is the proud home of beautiful historic churches, as well as modern houses of worship. Emergency service personnel are trained and equipped to handle any law enforcement, fire, or other disasters, and engage in the schools and community on an ongoing basis. 2017 Discover Central Illinois | PAGE 77