Chester, Illinois

About Chester

Chester, IL is a close-knit town located in southwestern Illinois with an estimated population of 6,759.

Chester holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 5.77 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,171 residents per square mile.

📰 Chester News Today

• Crews implode the Chester Bridge over the Mississippi River FOX 2 · Sep 28
• Chester, Ill. bids farewell to historic bridge KFVS12 · Sep 28
• Illinois 150 in Chester closing Monday for bridge demolition - illinois-department-of-transportation.prezly.com illinois-department-of-transportation.prezly.com · Sep 24
• Family asks Illinois Prisoner Review Board to recommend posthumous pardon for Chester Weger, so-called 'Starved Rock Killer' ABC7 Chicago · Oct 6
• In a flash, history tumbles down Capitol News Illinois · Sep 28

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

📰 Local News

Read the latest Illinois headlines on our news site, Bless News Daily.

What Makes Chester Unique

• One of 19 places in the US named Chester — but the Illinois one has a character all its own.
• Positioned in southwestern Illinois, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of Illinois — one of 1,461 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• Big enough for services and schools, small enough to feel like home.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 6,759.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 8 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Chester

• Reids Harvest House

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · click a restaurant to read or write reviews.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Chester

• Cohen Fields reviews ★
• Cole Memorial Park reviews ★
• Elzie Seger Memorial Park reviews ★
• Gazebo Park reviews ★
• Officer James I. Brockmeyer Memorial Park reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Chester

• Chester Elem School
• Chester High School
• Okaw Regional Voc System

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

• Memorial Hospital · 24/7 ER · Critical Access Hospitals

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

🌤️ Current Weather

Full forecast →

Source: National Weather Service

🗺️ Map of Chester

🏘️ Nearby Communities