Illinois Route 61
IL 61 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by IDOT
Length	44.77 mi[1] (72.05 km)
Existed	1924[2]–present
Major junctions
South end	IL 96 in Ursa
North end	US 136 / IL 110 (CKC) / IL 336 in Tennessee
Location
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Counties	Adams, Hancock, McDonough
Highway system
Illinois State Highway System Interstate US State Tollways Scenic
← IL 60 → US 62

Illinois Route 61 (IL 61) is a rural state road in western Illinois that runs north and east from Illinois Route 96 in Ursa to the intersection of U.S. Route 136 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Tennessee. Illinois route 61 is 44.77 miles (72.05 km) long.^[1]

Route description

Illinois 61 starts in Ursa at the intersection of County Route 6, Illinois Route 96 (IL 96), and itself. After a short concurrency with IL 96, it travels northeast through farmland, passing Mendon. Shortly afterwards, it runs concurrently with the partially grade-separated Illinois Route 336 (IL 336) northwards. It splits off and east just south of Loraine, and travels north concurrent with Illinois Route 94 (IL 94), splitting off to the east afterwards in Bowen. It intersects Illinois Route 101 (IL 101) and heads north once again. Its northern terminus is at U.S. 136.

History

SBI Route 61 was originally established in 1924 was the route between Richmond and Crystal Lake in northeastern Illinois. This route is now part of Illinois Route 31.

This route was established after 1937, when SBI Route 61 was removed from the Richmond to Crystal Lake route in northeastern Illinois. Since the route was established, it has served as the major route between Quincy, IL and Macomb, IL, bypassing Carthage, Illinois. The route crosses the LaMoine River south of Colmar and parallels the Quincy branch of the old Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad along sections of its route.

The route is currently designated as a Class II Truck Route.^[3]

Major intersections

County	Location	mi[4]	km	Destinations	Notes
Adams	Ursa	0.0	0.0	IL 96	Southern terminus of IL 61
	Mendon	5.3	8.5	IL 110 (CKC) / IL 336	South end of IL 110/IL 336 overlap
	Loraine	9.8	15.8	IL 110 (CKC) / IL 336	North end of IL 110/IL 336 overlap
	​	18.3	29.5	IL 94	South end of IL 94 overlap
Hancock	Bowen	24.9	40.1	IL 94	North end of IL 94 overlap
	Augusta	31.0	49.9	IL 101
McDonough	​	44.7	71.9	US 136 / IL 110 (CKC) / IL 336	Northern terminus of IL 61
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus