Origins
Minonk is a farming community with a growing industrial
base. It has a population of 2200 people with a diverse ethnic mixture. The
largest ethnic group is German many of whom are farmers. The other large ethnic
groups are English, Irish and Polish. Many people settled in Minonk in the
1800's to take up farming in some of the richest farmland in the world. Minonk
was also a coal mining community that drew many immigrants from Europe.
However, the coal mines closed in 1951 and the number of farmers has gradually
declined due to the mechanization of agriculture.
Churches
Minonk has many churches that serve all types of denominations. Click on one of
the lines below to learn more about a church.
Immanuel Lutheran Church
- 318 West Fourth Street
Minonk Baptist Church
- 503 Locust Street
Pentecostal
- 214 West Eight Street
Presbyterian Church
- 505 Maple Avenue
St. Patrick Church (Catholic)
- 420 E. Sixth
St. Paul's United Church of Christ
- 236 West Fifth
United Methodist Church
- 306 East Sixth
Parks & recreation
Minonk has three parks that provide recreational and
social facilities for the community. The parks contain a pavilion and shelters
for social gatherings as well as athletic fields, a skateboard park, and an
inline hockey rink that serve a wide variety of sporting events.
Click on a line below to learn more about the park.
Medical
Minonk has excellent medical
facilities. A new medical office was built by the OSF medical group in 1992. A
paid and volunteer ambulance squad is on call 24 hours a day. Seven hospitals
are located within a 25 minute drive.
Dr. Thomas Caldwell
120 East Seventh Street
OSF Medical Group
309-432-2515
Dr. John Podzamsky
200 East Sixth Street
Family Practice
309-432-2441
Dr. Paul Niak
128 West Fifth Street
Dentist
309-432-2833 |
Minonk Ambulance Service
670 North Chestnut Street
Heritage Manor nursing home
201 Locust Street
309-432-2557
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Minonk Today
In the last 30 years Minonk has gradually become more of
a small industrial base with machine shops providing much
of the local employment. Because of its close proximity to Bloomington and
Peoria and because it is located on Interstate 39, Minonk has become a bedroom
community for people who work out of town. It also has become a good place for
retirees to live. The area is blessed with a low cost of living, low congestion
and pollution, low crime rate and an excellent school system.
To get more statistics on Minonk,
click here
to view the community profile prepared by the Illinois Department of Commerce
and Community Affairs (DCCA).
Downtown Minonk has many quaint buildings and ample parking for shoppers. To
learn more about downtown Minonk, click here.
Schools
The Fieldcrest school district serves the communities of Minonk, Toluca,
Wenona, Dana and Rutland. The Fieldcrest high school is located in Minonk at
the end of East Fifth street and Maple Avenue. Middle schools and grade schools
are located in the individual communities. To learn more about the Fieldcrest
school district, click here.
Filger Library
The Filger Library is located at
the corner of 5th and Locust streets. Its hours are:
Monday - Thursday 9 - 5
Friday - Saturday 9 - 12
Telephone: 309/432-2929
Web site: http://www.minonk.lib.il.us/
Email: library@fieldcrest.k12.il.us
Minonk has a wonderful
residential area of stately older homes mixed with newer homes. With its
tree-lined brick streets, Minonk's residential area exudes character and
quaintness not found in today's newer communities. Click
here to view some of Minonk's homes.
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