There’s no greater feeling than knowing you’re in the right place and Pekin is in the right place – conveniently positioned in the west central portion of Illinois and comfortably situated along the eastern shore of the scenic Illinois River. Pekin is the seat of Tazewell County and is rich with river bluffs, rolling hills, mature woods and several man-made lakes – all providing the community with a rich, rooted look and endless opportunities.
TRANSPORTATION
Conveniently located just 165 miles northeast of St. Louis and 163 miles southwest of Chicago, Pekin has access to all modes of transportation available including major roadways, air, rail and water.
ROAD
Pekin businesses have one-day trucking access to markets throughout the Midwest. Three interstates (I-74, I-474 and I-155) and seven major highways serve the local and intrastate carriers that operate in the region.
AIR
Air travelers and freight shippers have easy access to the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport, just nine miles from downtown Pekin. The airport offers free parking and four commercial airlines that operate daily flights to 10 of the nation’s major hubs and getaway destinations including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Destin, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Mesa, Orlando, Punta Gorda and St. Petersburg.
Less than an hour away, the Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal also offers easy, low-cost travel from four commercial airlines providing non-stop service to seven major hubs and vacation destinations.
The Pekin Municipal Airport has a 5,000-foot lighted runway, private storage and maintenance and fuel facilities.
RAIL & RIVER
Several railroad companies use the tracks that run through the Pekin area, with piggyback and container services just five miles from town. Using the Illinois River, barges hauling heavy grain and products to and from Pekin access the nation’s waterways all year long.
CLIMATE
The annual mean temperature is 51.3 degrees, with July averaging 75.7 degrees and January averaging 23.8 degrees. Average annual precipitation is 35.2 inches, with an average annual snowfall totaling 25 inches.
MILES TO CITIES
Champaign, IL 93
Chicago, IL 163
Indianapolis, IN 212
Springfield, IL 67
St. Louis, MO 165