Centerville, Illinois facts for kids

Centerville, Illinois, is a name that refers to several different places in the state of Illinois. It's quite common for different towns, villages, or communities to share the same name, especially simple or popular ones like "Centerville." This page helps you understand the various places known as Centerville in Illinois.

What is a Centerville in Illinois?

When you hear "Centerville, Illinois," it could mean a few different things. It might be a real place, a place that used to exist, or even a place from a story! Understanding the differences helps you know which Centerville someone is talking about.

Fictional Centerville

Sometimes, a place name is made up for a movie or book. One example is the "Centerville, Illinois" that was the setting for a science fiction comedy movie from 1983 called Strange Invaders. In this film, aliens visit this fictional town.

Unincorporated Communities Named Centerville

Many of the places called Centerville in Illinois are what we call "unincorporated communities." An unincorporated community is a group of homes or buildings that are not part of an official city or village. This means they don't have their own local government, like a mayor or city council. Instead, they are usually governed by the county they are in.

There are several unincorporated communities named Centerville in Illinois:

• Centerville, Calhoun County, Illinois: This community is located in Calhoun County.
• Centerville, Knox County, Illinois: You can find this Centerville in Knox County.
• Centerville, Macoupin County, Illinois: This community is situated in Macoupin County.
• Centerville, Morgan County, Illinois: This Centerville is in Morgan County.
• Centerville, Piatt County, Illinois: This community is located in Piatt County.
• Centerville, White County, Illinois: This Centerville is found in White County.

Former Communities Named Centerville

Some places that were once called Centerville no longer exist as active communities, or they have changed significantly. These are known as "former communities."

• Centerville, Grundy County, Illinois: This was once a community in Grundy County, but it is no longer an active settlement.

Centreville: A City with a Similar Name

There is also a city in Illinois with a very similar name, but spelled slightly differently:

• Centreville, Illinois: This is an actual city located in St. Clair County. Unlike the unincorporated communities, Centreville has its own local government and provides services to its residents. The slight difference in spelling (Centreville instead of Centerville) helps to tell it apart from the other places.

Places Once Called Centerville

Sometimes, a town or city changes its name over time. This can happen for many reasons, like to honor a new person, to avoid confusion with another place, or to reflect a change in the community.

• Cuba, Illinois: This city was once known as Centerville before its name was changed to Cuba.
• Woodstock, Illinois: The city of Woodstock also used to be called Centerville before it adopted its current name.