Where is "the middle of nowhere"in Illinois? (Chicago: house, casinos)

[CarolL]

Originally Posted by sandwalk

Isn't the area between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers referred to as "Forgottonia" (largest city would be Quincy)? I remember hearing that the area got it's name because there is just a handful of river crossings/bridges over either river.....seems like it would be an isolated area to me.

Actually, it got its name because it kept missing out on federal money for highway projects, etc. The term was coined by now Sen. Dick Durbin in some of his campaign speeches when he was a Congressman. Here's a link:

Forgottonia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I grew up in Forgottonia. And yes, it is the middle of nowhere.

[Alicia Bradley]

The extreme north and south ends of the state are the prettiest.. and maybe along some of the bigger rivers. If you're in central IL, not near a significantly large river, AND in a very small town (obviously, being in a larger town is going to be a totally different experience, since you'll mostly have a built-up 'town' environment as your context).. well, I pity you, at least as far as scenery is concerned. (Yes, I do realize there might be pockets of 'pretty' even in the areas I'm talking about.) Honestly, though - I think the view from some of the big highways laterally crossing the center of the state are what a lot of people (falsely, of course) think the entire 'Midwest' looks like.

[bunsterj]

Originally Posted by urza216

South of I-80, huh? So this is including people who live out in the far west burbs but not people who live just a few towns south of Chicago?

Joliet is south of I-80 and has over 130,000 people.

I think you read wrong. The Chicago Metropolitan Area includes aproximately three quarters of the state. This is including ALL of Cook County (not just the parts north of 1-80) and Will County too.

Almost all of Joliet is north of I-80.

[Dad01]

Originally Posted by LUCKYLARRY

I am thinking of relocating to rural Illinois.Im from the Chicago area,and while driving to Atlanta from Chicago I became quite intrigued by people that lived in small towns that i stopped in.I dont know,its just something about this type pf living that interests me.So please tell me,if wanted to place in Illinois that was away from big cities,away from small college towns,and the locals had maybe a hint of a Southern accent,where should I move to?Thanks

Centralia Illinois
Mattoon
Iliopolis
Virden

[pvande55]

I heard a rule of thumb that south of Effingham, with the giant cross next to Interstate 57. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10913

[KerrTown]

Along I-55 or I-39 between Springfield/Bloomington and I-80.

[equine75]

I live smack dab in the center of Forgottonia, but I do not recommend it to city people. I haven't met one Chicago native who likes it here- not that they don't exist. It's just not common.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgottonia

[forever_becoming]

I looked on the map and saw a little village called Bluffs lol. That's your paradise !

[madpaddy]

Lots of great places to live downstate, but if you want literally want live in the "middle" of nowhere, IL, Chestnut IL, is your winner. It's ~19 miles NW of Decatur and is the town closest to the supposed geographical center of Illinois

[CSD610]

The thread was started in 2010, I bet the OP made a decision a long time ago.