Dixon is located along the scenic Rock River in Northwestern Illinois. It’s a community full of history, recreational opportunities and other amenities that reflect the high standards representative of Midwestern life.
Often touted as a great place to raise a family, Dixon is home to outstanding schools and parks. More than 100 physicians in a variety of specialties meet Dixon’s medical needs. KSB Hospital is the area’s highly rated hospital, established in 1897. Sauk Valley Community College is Dixon’s institution of higher learning.
A bustling community of 16,000 at the hub of four major highways and Interstate 88, Dixon serves as the county seat of Lee County. In addition, Dixon is a major economic center in the county and an important focus for agriculture, industry, service, retail and residential growth.
In 1828, Joseph Ogee claimed and settled the site of what is now known as Dixon. Two years later, “Father” John Dixon came to the area, purchased Ogee’s land claims and continued the establishment of the settlement by operating a ferry across the beautiful Rock River on the busy Peoria-Galena Trail.
In 1832, a young Abraham Lincoln marched into Dixon as captain of the Sangamon County volunteers. He and his troops were mustered in at Fort Dixon to fight in the Blackhawk Indian Wars. Fort Dixon was located on the north bank of the Rock River, where the spot is now marked with a bronze statue of Lincoln, operated as an Illinois State Memorial.
It is hard to think of Dixon without associating the name of her most famous son, Ronald Wilson Reagan. The former president is well known for calling Dixon his hometown and spent his formative years in Dixon attending its schools and spending summers as a lifeguard at the Lowell Park Beach. Dixon was instrumental in forming the character of the 40th United States president. Today, many Reagan sites, including the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home, are visited by thousands of tourists.
