Magnolia, IL

Magnolia is a tiny farming community in rural Illinois, about 100 miles southwest of Chicago along the Illinois River valley. Take I-80 to Exit 81, then Route 26 north for 8 miles to reach this prairie town of 232 residents. The area connects to Peoria (45 miles southeast) and larger cities via I-39 and I-80, though local services are limited in this agricultural region. The town sits near Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park, where visitors can see the historic 1907 canal's original concrete locks.