Meadows, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Meadows, Illinois
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 Meadows, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Meadows, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | McLean |
| Elevation | 758 ft (231 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Postal code |
61726
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| Area code(s) | 309 |
Meadows, Illinois is a small unincorporated community located in McLean County. This means it's a small town that isn't officially governed by its own local government. Meadows is found on US Route 24, right between the towns of Chenoa and Gridley. You can also get there easily from Interstate 55.
Long ago, Meadows had many businesses like a bank, a general store, and even a washing machine factory! Today, you'll mostly find a nursing home, a church, and a tall grain elevator. A train track also runs right through the middle of town.
History of Meadows
The town of Meadows was officially planned on May 18, 1903, by Samuel W. Baker. However, a small group of buildings and a train station called Meadows had been there since at least 1874. In 1877, Charles Parker recorded the land he owned in the area.
Meadows had its own post office, and Charles Klein was the first postmaster. There was also a store and a grain storage building. Trains on the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway would stop here. Meadows was also home to a company called Meadows Washer Line, which made washing machines.
Economy and Businesses
Meadows is home to the Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community. This community was started in 1919. It provides care for older people, including those with Alzheimer's disease.
Meadows also has one of the large grain elevators belonging to the Prairie Central Co-Op. A grain elevator is a tall building used to store huge amounts of grain, like corn or soybeans. Because it's connected to the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway, it's an important place for shipping grain from the area.
Meadows Mennonite Church
The Meadows Mennonite Church began as an Alsace Amish group in 1874. The church officially became organized in 1890. It then became a founding member of the Central Conference in 1908.
Choosing where to build the church was important. In the late 1800s, most people traveled by horse and carriage. But Meadows had a passenger train stop, which was a big advantage for a small town. The first church building was finished and opened in 1909. This building was expanded and updated over the years.
A new church building was constructed in 1967. This new building served the community until the church closed in 2007. When Interstate 55 was built about 3 miles east near Chenoa, Meadows became less central. Because of this, the local bank, general store, auto garage, and school in Meadows all eventually closed.
The church's membership had been getting smaller since it reached its highest point of 300 members in the 1940s. With fewer members, it became too expensive to keep the church running. The Meadows Mennonite Church held its last service on Sunday, August 19, 2007. This marked the end of 117 years for the church in this small community.
