Illinois Route 61
Encyclopedia
Illinois Route 61 is a rural state road in western Illinois that runs north and east from Illinois Route 96
in Ursa
to the intersection of U.S. Route 136
2 miles (3.2 km) west of Tennessee
. Illinois route 61 is 44.77 miles (72.05 km) long.
at the intersection of County Route 6, Illinois Route 96
(IL 96), and itself. After a short concurrency
with IL 96, it travels northeast through farmland, passing Mendon
. Shortly afterwards, it runs concurrently with the partially grade-separated
Illinois Route 336
(IL 336) northwards. It splits off and east just south of Loraine
, and travels north concurrent with Illinois Route 94
(IL 94), splitting off to the east afterwards in Bowen
. It intersects Illinois Route 101
(IL 101) and heads north once again. Its last concurrency is one with Illinois Route 100
(IL 100) before its northern terminus at U.S. 136
.
.
This route was established after 1937, when SBI Route 61 was removed from the Richmond to Crystal Lake route in northeastern Illinois. Since the route was established, it has served as the major route between Quincy, IL and Macomb, IL, bypassing Carthage, Illinois. The route crosses the LaMoine River south of Colmar and parallels the Quincy branch of the old Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad along sections of its route.
The route is currently designated as a Class II Truck Route.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Junction
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=4|Adams
|Ursa
|0.0
|
|Southern terminus of IL 61
|-
|Mendon
|5.3
|
|South end of Il 110/IL 336 concurrency
|-
|Loraine
|9.8
|
|North end of IL 110/IL 336 concurrency
|-
|
|18.3
|
|South end of IL 94 concurrency
|-
|rowspan=2|Hancock
|Bowen
|24.9
|
|North end of IL 94 concurrency
|-
|Augusta
|31.0
|
|
|-
|McDonough County
|
|44.7
|
|Northern terminus of IL 61
Illinois Route 96
Illinois Route 96 is a north–south state road in far western Illinois. It runs from Illinois Route 100 in Kampsville, not far from a ferry crossing across the Illinois River, to Illinois Route 94 north of Terre Haute. This is a distance of ....
in Ursa
Ursa, Illinois
Ursa is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 595 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ursa is located at ....
to the intersection of U.S. Route 136
U.S. Route 136
U.S. Highway 136 is a spur of U.S. Highway 36. It runs from Edison, Nebraska, at U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 34 to the Interstate 74/Interstate 465 interchange in Speedway, Indiana. This is a distance of 804 miles .-Nebraska:...
2 miles (3.2 km) west of Tennessee
Tennessee, Illinois
Tennessee is a village in McDonough County, Illinois, United States. The population was 144 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tennessee is located at ....
. Illinois route 61 is 44.77 miles (72.05 km) long.
Route description
Illinois 61 starts in UrsaUrsa, Illinois
Ursa is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 595 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ursa is located at ....
at the intersection of County Route 6, Illinois Route 96
Illinois Route 96
Illinois Route 96 is a north–south state road in far western Illinois. It runs from Illinois Route 100 in Kampsville, not far from a ferry crossing across the Illinois River, to Illinois Route 94 north of Terre Haute. This is a distance of ....
(IL 96), and itself. After a short concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with IL 96, it travels northeast through farmland, passing Mendon
Mendon, Illinois
Mendon is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 883 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Mendon is located at ....
. Shortly afterwards, it runs concurrently with the partially grade-separated
Grade separation
Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a...
Illinois Route 336
Illinois Route 336
Illinois Route 336 is a four-lane freeway/expressway combination that serves western Illinois. It is also used to refer to the name of a future project to connect the cities of Quincy and Peoria via underserved Macomb....
(IL 336) northwards. It splits off and east just south of Loraine
Loraine, Illinois
Loraine is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 363 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Loraine is located at ....
, and travels north concurrent with Illinois Route 94
Illinois Route 94
Illinois Route 94 is a north–south state highway in western Illinois. It runs from U.S. Route 24 just east of Camp Point to U.S. Route 67 just south of Oak Grove, just south of the Quad Cities area...
(IL 94), splitting off to the east afterwards in Bowen
Bowen, Illinois
Bowen is a village in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. The population was 535 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bowen is located at ....
. It intersects Illinois Route 101
Illinois Route 101
Illinois Route 101 is a east–west state road that runs from to the intersection of Illinois Route 61 in Augusta east to U.S. Highway 67 one mile east of Littleton. The highway was officially established in 1924 along its current alignment...
(IL 101) and heads north once again. Its last concurrency is one with Illinois Route 100
Illinois Route 100
Illinois Route 100 is a 157 mile highway in the southwest Illinois. It generally parallels the Illinois River. Starting in downtown Alton, it trends northward to Buckheart Township near Canton. It makes up much of the Illinois River Road, a U.S. National Scenic Byway...
(IL 100) before its northern terminus at U.S. 136
U.S. Route 136
U.S. Highway 136 is a spur of U.S. Highway 36. It runs from Edison, Nebraska, at U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 34 to the Interstate 74/Interstate 465 interchange in Speedway, Indiana. This is a distance of 804 miles .-Nebraska:...
.
History
SBI Route 61 was originally established in 1924 was the route between Richmond and Crystal Lake in northeastern Illinois. This route is now part of Illinois Route 31Illinois Route 31
Illinois Route 31 is a north–south state road in northeastern Illinois, United States. It runs from U.S. Highway 34 in Oswego north to U.S. Highway 12, near the Wisconsin border, just south of Richmond. Illinois 31 is long.- Route description :...
.
This route was established after 1937, when SBI Route 61 was removed from the Richmond to Crystal Lake route in northeastern Illinois. Since the route was established, it has served as the major route between Quincy, IL and Macomb, IL, bypassing Carthage, Illinois. The route crosses the LaMoine River south of Colmar and parallels the Quincy branch of the old Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad along sections of its route.
The route is currently designated as a Class II Truck Route.
Major intersections
{| class=wikitable!County
!Location
!Mile
!Junction
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=4|Adams
Adams County, Illinois
Adams County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 67,103, which is a decrease of 1.7% from 68,277 in 2000...
|Ursa
Ursa, Illinois
Ursa is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 595 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ursa is located at ....
|0.0
|
|Southern terminus of IL 61
|-
|Mendon
Mendon, Illinois
Mendon is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 883 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Mendon is located at ....
|5.3
|
|South end of Il 110/IL 336 concurrency
|-
|Loraine
Loraine, Illinois
Loraine is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 363 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Loraine is located at ....
|9.8
|
|North end of IL 110/IL 336 concurrency
|-
|
|18.3
|
|South end of IL 94 concurrency
|-
|rowspan=2|Hancock
Hancock County, Illinois
Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 19,104, which is a decrease of 5.1% from 20,121 in 2000. Its county seat is Carthage. Hamilton is the largest city in Hancock County, with Carthage being the second largest...
|Bowen
Bowen, Illinois
Bowen is a village in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. The population was 535 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bowen is located at ....
|24.9
|
|North end of IL 94 concurrency
|-
|Augusta
Augusta, Illinois
Augusta is a village in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. The population was 657 at the 2000 census. It is located near Weinberg-King State Park.- Geography :Augusta is located at ....
|31.0
|
|
|-
|McDonough County
|
|44.7
|
|Northern terminus of IL 61