Ludlow

History

Once named Pera Station, Ludlow, a prairie town in northern Champaign County, Illinois, has a rich history dating back to its days as a stop on the Illinois Central Railroad. This settlement played a crucial role in connecting the region's rural communities and facilitating trade between Urbana and Loda. The village was renamed Ludlow in 1868 after James D. Ludlow, a shareholder in the Illinois Central Railroad. The construction of the railroad brought about a significant influx of settlers to Ludlow, many were attracted by the area's fertile soil and vast prairies. In 1949, a fire department was formed to service the residents of Ludlow, known as “Ludlow Fire Protection District". In the late 1970s, Ludlow received significant funding after an arson attack. This funding assisted in critical infrastructure upgrades, which had a lasting impact on the town's development and growth. The funds were used to renovate roads, upgrade drainage systems, and install curbs, among other projects including, building a new community center. Ludlow continues to grow and evolve, with police services and a local post office.

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Ludlow has a total area of , all land. The small community of Ludlow is approximately 117 miles from Chicago, Illinois. An average of 6 miles from its closest cities or villages, those being Paxton, Illinois, and Rantoul, Illinois. Ludlow is also 21 miles from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. * US Route 45 * Interstate 57

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  1,319
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,276
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,180
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,153
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  1,143
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,107
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,080
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,029

Largest nearby schools

• Rantoul Twp High School
  High · Rantoul · 848 students · 13.3:1 ratio
• J W Eater Jr High School
  Middle · Rantoul · 516 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• Pleasant Acres Elem School
  Elementary · Rantoul · 369 students · 15.4:1 ratio
• Eastlawn Elem School
  Elementary · Rantoul · 315 students · 13.7:1 ratio
• Northview Elem School
  Elementary · Rantoul · 251 students · 12.6:1 ratio
• Broadmeadow Elem School
  Elementary · Rantoul · 225 students · 10.2:1 ratio
• Gifford Grade School
  Elementary · Gifford · 166 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• Ludlow Elementary School
  Elementary · Ludlow · 61 students · 7.6:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.6 — 2025-03-15
  6 km W of Dwight, Illinois
• M 3.82 — 2021-06-17
  Illinois-Indiana border region