County of City: Mason County
Location of courthouse: Plum St. & Main St. Havana
Location of city: NE border in county; crossroads of: US-136 and IL-78, IL-97
Founded: 1827
Named After: Havana, Cuba
Elevation: 469 ft (143 m)
Population: 2,905 (2021)
"Known for its rich history, red brick streets and beautiful Riverfront Park, Havana has much to offer. Once a town known for its cigar manufacturing businesses and notorious gambling nightlife, where Al Capone would visit to hunt, fish and gamble, Havana has grown into a charming, classic All-American small town with direct access to a playground of natural resources, boutique shopping and exciting local amenities.
"Havana’s historic downtown, lined with vintage-style lighting and quaint shops, reflects a passion for its historic buildings, 150+ year history and links to Abraham Lincoln. At the foot of Main Street is the Illinois River and Riverfront Park where you can amble the sidewalk pathways, cross the footbridge and enjoy scenic overlooks which provide a panoramic view of river traffic. Riverfront Park also boasts the nicest boat ramp to launch from within a 64 mile stretch of the Illinois River, with easy parking for vehicles and trailers and public restrooms.
"Havana is proud to have three sites on the National Register of Historic Places. The Historic Havana water tower at the top of Main Street hill, the Havana Public Library and Rockwell Mound where Lincoln and Douglas both gave noteworthy speeches, all have a rich historical significance and are listed on the registry.
"Outdoor recreation opportunities are abundant, and include canoeing, bird watching, hiking and biking. Hunting and fishing are also popular activities, as well as pleasure boating and jet skiing. Havana is home to a beautiful marina, where you can easily stop in and tie off for the day or the weekend, to enjoy Havana while you are traveling by river. We also boast the wonderful Havana Regional Airport where you can fly in for a day or a weekend getaway!
"Havana plays host to an assortment of festivals and events throughout the year, including the annual Oktoberfest the first weekend after Labor Day each year and our annual classic car show in August. We also host a fun filled day highlighting local small businesses, shopping, dining and an annual Holiday Boutique Crawl on Small Business Saturday every year. If shopping and eating are your kind of recreation, we have plenty of that! Havana’s historic downtown district is in the midst of a large revitalization effort, which has brought about much change in the past few years, with more improvements on the way!
"Havana is currently focused on its historic downtown business district and an aggressive revitalization campaign, attracting new businesses and entrepreneurs. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy the wide array of natural resources, recreation on the Illinois River, relaxing in our beautiful parks and at the marina, boutique shopping, investigating our links to Abraham Lincoln, discover historic architecture, craft beer, delicious wine and great eateries! Our town has many new shops, boutiques and dining choices, as well as unique lodging options." ~ Havana
The area of Havana was surveyed in 1827 for Ossian Ross, who started the first business, a canoe ferry. The first settlement was named Ross' Ferry. The island of Belle Rose was at the mouth of the Spoon River. Because the island was shaped like the island of Cuba, locals named it Cuba. Locals eventually called their town Havana because they were next to "Cuba Island." Havana was incorporated as a town in 1848.
"By 1900, the town was known as a fishing and hunting center, and was actually the most important inland fishing port in the United States. The economy boomed and the population peaked at about 5,000. There were hotels, bars, and gambling houses to entertain the sport hunters and sport fishermen who enjoyed huge catches of fish and game." ~ Historic Havana