Kankakee, Illinois

About Kankakee

Kankakee, IL is a close-knit town located in eastern Illinois with an estimated population of 23,535.

Officially, Kankakee is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 15.14 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,554 residents per square mile.

📰 Kankakee News Today

• Arthur Lax Obituary (1951 - 2026) - Kankakee, IL - Daily Journal Legacy obituary · Aug 18
• CSL shares up 17% as immunoglobulin boost points to signs of recovery Fierce Pharma · Aug 18
• Photos: Harris' mother, mental health experts testify in Kankakee County court case Shaw Local · Aug 18
• Bernadetta Leathers Obituary (1929 - 2026) - Kankakee, IL - Daily Journal Legacy obituary · Aug 18
• Dennis Ray Tobenski - View Obituary & Service Information Jensen Funeral Home · Aug 1

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Kankakee Unique

• The only place in America named Kankakee — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• Positioned in eastern 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

• The sweet spot: real amenities without big-city congestion.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 23,535.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 5 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Kankakee

• Captain Fresh Fish & Chicken — seafood
• Crazy Joe's Diner

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Kankakee County Museum · Museum
• Splash Valley Aquatic Park · Water park

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Kankakee

• Gar Creek Trail and Prairie Restoration · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Alpiner Park reviews ★
• Beckman Park reviews ★
• Bird Park reviews ★
• Cobb Park reviews ★
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park reviews ★
• Gar Creek at River Road reviews ★
• Helgeson Park reviews ★
• Jeffers Park reviews ★
• Kensington Park reviews ★
• LaVasseur Park reviews ★
• Legion Park reviews ★

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

🏫 Schools in Kankakee

• Avis Huff Student Support Service
• Edison Primary School
• I Kan Regional Alternatve Att Ctr
• John Kennedy Middle Grade School
• Kankakee High School
• Kankakee Junior High School
• King Middle Grade School
• Limestone Middle Sch
• Lincoln Cltrl Ctr-Montessori Elem
• Mark Twain Primary School
• Proegler School
• Salt School
• Steuben Elementary School
• Taft Primary School

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

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

• Presence St Marys Hospital ★★★★ (4/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER
• Riverside Medical Center ★★★★ (4/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Kankakee

🏘️ Nearby Communities