Transportation was the driving force behind Rantoul’s name, and today transportation is the key to its economic success. When government officials decided to run a railroad through what is now Rantoul, the people who lived in this area were so thankful that they changed the name of their town from Little’s Grove to Rantoul, in honor of Robert Rantoul who had helped select the path of the train tracks.

Although trucking has replaced much of the rail traffic that once rolled through the community, Interstate 57–on the west edge of town–keeps Rantoul well positioned to serve business and industry, and I-74 is just a few miles south of town. The Frank Elliott Airfield and Rantoul Aviation Center provide corporate executives and shippers another way to connect people, products, and services with suppliers and markets around the world.

Next Topic

Previous Topic