Beardstown
Around Beardstown
Photo: Ron Frazier · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Countryside and towns · Illinois · 25k people
Beardstown
Where the river meets the heartland
Harvest OrangeRiver BlueField Green
Welcome to the heart of the Illinois River Valley, where the corn is tall and the catfish are plentiful. Whether you're here for the hunting, the fishing, or just the friendly small-town vibe, you'll find a place that feels like home.
Clubs for Beardstown
No clubs for Beardstown yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Beardstown. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Beardstown. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Beardstown Riverfront Public park along the Illinois River with a boat launch and picnic areas.
- Havana Riverfront A riverside park and marina, a popular spot for fishing and watching sunsets.
- Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge A 4,500-acre refuge for migratory birds, with trails and a visitor center.
- Cass County Courthouse Historic 19th-century courthouse in Virginia, still in use.
- Mason County Courthouse An elegant courthouse in Havana with a distinctive clock tower.
- Grand Opera House A restored 1890s theater in Beardstown that hosts community performances.
- Outdoors Fish the Illinois River
- Outdoors Hunt in the river bottoms
- With kids Visit the Beardstown Riverfront
- With kids Walk the trails at Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge
- Evenings Small-town taverns
- Evenings Riverfront bonfires
- Locals love Riverfront parks
- Locals love County fairgrounds
Through the year
- Cass County Fair July A week of livestock shows, carnival rides, and local food in Virginia.
- Mason County Fair July The county's big summer gathering with tractor pulls and 4-H exhibits in Havana.
- Beardstown Riverfest August A summer riverside celebration with live music, food vendors, and a boat parade.
- Havana Sweet Corn Festival August A small-town festival celebrating the local sweet corn crop with eating contests and street fair.
Humid continental climate with hot, muggy summers and cold, snowy winters. The Illinois River can flood in spring, but the best times to be outside are late spring and early fall. Best: Spring and fall are the most pleasant, with mild temps and lower humidity.
Talk like a local
- “the bottoms”
- The floodplain along the Illinois River, used for farming and hunting.
- “the river”
- The Illinois River itself, as in 'heading down to the river'.
Getaways
- Springfield Visit Lincoln's home, the state capitol, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
- Quincy A historic river town with antebellum architecture and a scenic riverfront.
- Hannibal, MO Walk the Mark Twain boyhood home and ride a riverboat.
- Macomb Catch a Western Illinois University event or browse the shops downtown.
Local flavour
Rooting for St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bears, University of Illinois Fighting Illini
Eat and drink
- Pork tenderloin sandwich A breaded, fried cutlet served on a bun – a Midwest staple
- Catfish from the Illinois River Often fried and served at local fish fries
- Sweet corn Fresh from local fields in late summer
Where people go
- Riverfronts Public parks and boat ramps along the Illinois River
- Grain elevators Towering landmarks in every town, symbols of the harvest
- County fairgrounds Home to 4‑H shows, tractor pulls, and summer carnivals
- Small‑town diners Breakfast spots where everyone knows your name
- Hunting and fishing camps Deer stands and duck blinds along the river bottoms
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaCarthageIllinoisWhere the river bends and the corn grows tallJacksonvilleIllinoisWhere the prairie meets a proud college town.MacombIllinoisPrairie warmth, Leatherneck pride.PittsfieldIllinoisWhere the river meets the prairie, and everyone knows your name.CantonIllinoisWhere the prairies meet the riverSpringfieldIllinoisWhere history and horseshoes meetQuincyIllinoisWhere the Mississippi bends and history lingers.HannibalMissouriWhere the river rolls and Twain's tales live on.
Cass and Mason counties, IL. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.