Danville is a quiet, unremarkable, and economically challenged Midwestern community about 35 miles east of Champaign-Urbana along I-74. The economy, once tied to coal and clay mining and agriculture, has diversified into many areas of manufacturing but is still bleak with high unemployment and low growth projections. There isn’t much to do; however, the college towns of Champaign-Urbana west and West Lafayette, IN (Purdue University) 50 miles east provide some amenities. Chicago is a fairly long and not a direct haul of 170 miles.

The Cost of living Index is predictably low and median home prices are among the lowest in the country, driven in part by the loss of population. The Vermilion River, Lake Vermilion and Kickapoo State Park provide some minor recreation opportunities and more scenic interest than found in other areas of eastern Illinois.

Danville is located along the Vermilion River near its confluence with the Wabash. Surrounding terrain is mostly flat and agricultural but becomes slightly rolling and wooded near the river valleys. The climate is typically continental with warm, humid and variable summers with thundershowers, and winters with a mix of rain and snow. Snow cover is common but its duration varies year to year. First freeze is late October, last is late April.