Your Guide to Buying a Home in Belvidere, IL

Buying a Home in Belvidere, Illinois

Belvidere is located in Boone County

Belvidere is located in north central Illinois and is 75 miles from downtown Chicago on Routes 20, 76 and the Northern Illinois Toll road, with the Kishwaukee River (one of Illinois' few Class A rivers) dividing the town. We have an industrial community surrounded by prosperous farms. It is the County Seat with an estimated county population of over 40,000. Our altitude is 800 feet above sea level, average temperatures are: 73 degrees F in the summer; 24 degrees F in the winter, and the average rainfall is 33.3 inches.

Belvidere is the County Seat of Boone County, one of the fastest growing counties in the State of Illinois. The city offers an attractive mix of country charm and urban amenities.

Economic strength, quality educational systems, affordable real estate, and an abundance of recreation and leisure opportunities have contributed to Belvidere’s special status as a community characterized by high quality - and low cost - of living.

In Belvidere, residents still believe in old-fashioned concern for their neighbors. They are pleased to share their community with newcomers, and warmly welcome commercial and residential expansions. Take a look around this charming community, and you’ll quickly see why residents are so proud to call Belvidere home.

Educational facilities include nine grade schools (6 public, one Catholic, one Lutheran, one Baptist), three junior high schools (one public, one Lutheran, one Baptist - in addition a new public middle school is under construction, and due to open for the 2002-2003 school year) and one senior high school. School District No. 100 has 45 full size (78 passenger) buses, 16 Special Education buses and 5 Spec. Ed. vans in the city and the county traveling over 4,500 miles per day transporting school children. Year 2001-2002 - Sixth Day Enrollments were as follows: High School had 2,020 enrollments, Junior High had 1,100, Caledonia Elementary had 788, Kishwaukee had 322, Lincoln had 628, Meehan had 684, Perry had 330 and Washington Elementary had 1,008 for a total elementary enrollment of 3,760. In addition, Boone County Center Special Education Center, which services residents with special needs in District No. 100 and District No. 200 from age 3 to 21 had 75 students.

The Ida Public Library maintains over 68,000 volumes, and conducts a summer reading program as well as a reading hour for small children. Services include use of computers, internet access, lending of video and cassette tapes, large print books, hard and soft cover books, records, and art prints. Inter-library loan service is also available. 

We have two locally owned newspapers. The Boone County Ink is published afternoons Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Boone County Journal is a free weekly newspaper. In addition, the Boone County Shopper, a free, all advertising/classified paper is also published weekly on Thursdays.

The U.S. Postal Service includes deliveries once daily, and has a brand new facility on the west side of Belvidere.