Illinois’ “Must-See Small Town Of 2024” Is No Surprise, Right?

First off, we should talk about what qualifies as a small town and see where the cut-off is in population to where a small town becomes a mid-sized town, or, with even more people added, a city.

Here's what several different sources (who can't and won't agree) say qualifies a town as being a small town (warning: no one really seems to know):

• Population of 5,000 or less
• Population of 2,500 to 15,000
• Population of 15,000 to 40,000
• The EPA, for purposes of federal disaster assistance, defines a small town as having 2,500 residents or less
• Any place with fewer than 5,000 people, but no less than 2,500

The U.S. Census Bureau defines "urban" areas as having at least 5,000 people. A midsize city has a population of 100,000 to 250,000, and a large city counts more than 250,000 inhabitants.

I couldn't find any criteria to make a small town "must-see," so you'll have to come up with your own rules for that.

Before We Get To (What's Probably Pretty Obvious) Illinois' Must-See Small Town, Here Are The Must-See Small Towns In Our Neighboring States

The website Thrillist.com did a deep-dive into America's small towns for their recently published collection of "The Must-See Small Town In Every State," and here's what they looked at:

We looked from coast to coast at villages, townships, and even islands, where the living is easy and the pace reliably slow. These spots are rich in comfort food and craft brews, music and artists, natural attractions and quirky roadside stops, and, best of all, free from big city distractions and crowds.

Here are Thrillist's must-see small towns in our neighboring states:

• Wisconsin: Sister Bay (in Door County)
• Iowa: Decorah
• Indiana: Nashville
• Missouri: Boonville
• Kentucky: Bardstown
• Minnesota: Stillwater

Not That The Suspense Was Killing You Or Anything, But Let's Get To What The Headline Promised

As I said earlier, Thrillist.com's choice of Illinois' Must-See small town can't be much of a surprise to anyone familiar with Illinois.

In case you didn't already guess, here are some photos of the town in question:

Galena Racks Up Another Accolade

And I think it's probably an honor that most of us in Illinois would agree with, possibly with the exception of Alton, Illinois. Last year Alton was named Illinois' most charming small town by another study.

Here's what Thrillist.com had to say about Galena:

Drive 10 minutes east of the mighty Mississippi and you'll tap right into the quirky small-town vibes of Galena. Once the home of Ulysses S. Grant, Galena boasts cobblestone streets and historic mansions, plus an old-school blacksmith shop and the P.T. Murphy Magic Theater. A free trolley ride will drop you downtown, where you can stroll Main Street’s restaurants, antique shops, galleries, and boutiques bursting with kitsch. If you’re feeling active, book a rafting trip, hit up the nearby ski resort, or try the 40-acre Horseshoe Mound, known for its winding bike trails and scenic views all the way to Iowa and Wisconsin.