About Amboy, Illinois
A message from
our Mayor:
Amboy is located near the center of Lee County, and
is surrounded by some of the richest farmland in
Illinois.
Slow growth has been a key to Amboy's survival.
we recently annexed about 400 acres into the city limits
for the development of an industrial park and additional
retail businesses. Our infrastructure is in very
good shape to accept new business. Our new, one
million gallon water facility will be put into service
in mid-November of 2007.
Since the early 1970's, campers have come to call
Amboy their second home. With many campgrounds
surrounding Amboy, it is not uncommon to have 20,000 to
50,000 people within a 5-mile radius of Amboy on any
given weekend during the summer.
When the railroad left Amboy, the city purchased the
depot building and also recently acquired the freight
house. The city appointed a depot commission and,
17 years ago, they started Depot Days to raise funds to
refurbish the depot. Today, the depot is nearly
complete. The freight house nearly has been
restored, along with a one-room schoolhouse that has
been recently completed.
Please visit our Depot Museum, take photos on our
steam engine and caboose. Visit the drugstore with
the old soda fountain while on your way to the antique
store. Travel the brick street to the city park,
and see the wood carvings, then finish the day with fine
dining in one of the local pubs.
Mayor Frank Mekeel
City of Amboy, IL
The city of Amboy is located in Lee County, IL.
The county seat is Dixon, IL. Amboy was chartered
in 1854, and was intended to be the next Mormon
headquarters after the murder of their leader, Joseph
Smith, in Carthage, IL.
A memorial stone at the Depot Museum shows where
Abraham Lincoln once made a speech while on his way to
one of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates in Freeport,
IL.
At one time time, the Illinois Central Railroad had
their division headquarters here. Amboy is the
home of the first Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co.
Store. It was located in what is now the Long
Branch Saloon.
Amboy has had its share of famous and infamous
characters over the years, which gives it an interesting
history. It is a warm farming community, where
neighbors care about each other.
There are 4 churches - Roman Catholic, Lutheran,
Baptist, and the United First Church.
We have a medical clinic at the north edge of the
city. We have one grocery store, several gas
stations, a lumberyard, weekly newspaper, one bank, one
savings and loan, plus fine eating places.
You won't want to miss visiting the old fashion soda
fountain, located in the Amboy Pharmacy.
Please let us know how we can help you, by calling
(815)857-3814.
Darlene Hinkle, City Clerk