Utica, Illinois, United States

🇺🇸 North Utica, often known as Utica, is a village in Utica Township, LaSalle County, Illinois. It is part of the Ottawa Micropolitan Statistical Area.

While North Utica is the proper name for the city, advertising on nearby Interstates 80 and 39 refers to the village by its original name, Utica. In addition, people who live in the area, official Interstate signage, and signs indicating the city limits all refer to the town as Utica.

History The town of Utica had previously been established on the banks of the Illinois River near the Indian village of Kaskaskia during the 1830s, but flooding and the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal a few miles north encouraged redevelopment of the village there as North Utica.

2004 tornado An F3 tornado struck Utica on April 20, 2004, heavily damaging the downtown business district, causing $8 million in damage and killing 8, with another indirect fatality officially recognised by the village.

Fire at Grand Bear Resort A 2022 Memorial Day fire damaged twenty eight privately owned cabins near the entrance to Starved Rock State Park. The Grand Bear lodge, waterpark and a majority of the cabins and villas on site were not affected.

Geography According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, North Utica has a total area of 3.47 square miles (8.99 km²), of which 3.46 square miles (8.96 km²) (or 99.68%) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) (or 0.32%) is water.

Attractions Local attractions include Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort, Starved Rock Entertainment Indoor Playland and Escape Rooms and Starved Rock State Park.

Utica is the location of the annual Burgoo Festival on Columbus Day weekend in October. The Burgoo Festival is a fundraising event hosted by the LaSalle County Historical Society.

Transport While there is no fixed-route transit service in North Utica, intercity bus service is provided by Burlington Trailways in nearby Peru.