Editing Aledo, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Aledo, Illinois
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline      = Mercer County Courthouse Image.jpeg
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = [[Mercer County Courthouse (Illinois)|Mercer County Courthouse]]
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| etymology          = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = City of Pride and Progress <ref>{{cite web
  | url = http://www.mercercommunities.com/modules/aledo/
  | title = Mercer County Communities
  | access-date = 2014-05-17
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140517232135/http://www.mercercommunities.com/modules/aledo/
  | archive-date = 2014-05-17
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>
| anthem             = 
| image_map          = File:Mercer County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Aledo Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Location in Mercer County, Illinois
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_alt1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = USA
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_label      = Aledo
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
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| pushpin_relief     = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| coordinates        = {{coord|41|12|1|N|90|45|0|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| grid_name          = 
| grid_position      = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = Illinois
| subdivision_type2  = County
| subdivision_name2  = [[Mercer County, Illinois|Mercer]]
| subdivision_type3  = Township
| subdivision_name3  = [[Mercer Township, Mercer County, Illinois|Mercer]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 1855 <ref>{{cite web
  | url =  http://www.aledomainstreet.com/
  | title = Aledo Main Street
  | access-date = 2014-05-17
}}</ref>
| established_title1 = 
| established_date1  = 
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = 
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| established_title4 = 
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| extinct_title      = 
| extinct_date       = 
| founder            = 
| named_for          = 
| seat_type          = 
| seat               = 
| seat1_type         = 
| seat1              = 
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| governing_body     = 
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Chris Hagloch <ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://aledoil.org/contact-toolbar
 |title        = Contact - City of Aledo, Illinois
 |access-date   = 2014-05-17
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140517213911/http://aledoil.org/contact-toolbar
 |archive-date = 2014-05-17
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = City Administrator
| leader_name1       = Michael Chausse
| total_type         = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022">{{cite web |title=2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Illinois |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2022_Gazetteer/2022_gaz_place_17.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=March 14, 2023}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 6.16
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.38
| area_land_km2      = 6.13
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.37
| area_water_km2     = 0.03
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
| area_water_percent = 
| area_metro_footnotes = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
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| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 736
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| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US1700646&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Aledo city, Illinois: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=March 14, 2023}}</ref>
| population_total   = 3633
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_rank    = 
| population_density_km2 = 592.30
| population_density_sq_mi = 1534.21
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| demographics_type2 = 
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| demographics2_info1 = 
| timezone1          = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1        = -6
| timezone1_DST      = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = -5
| timezone2          = 
| utc_offset2        = 
| timezone2_DST      = 
| utc_offset2_DST    = 
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 61231
| postal2_code_type  = 
| postal2_code       = 
| area_code_type     = 
| area_code          = 309 861
| geocode            = 
| iso_code           = 
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 17-00646
| blank1_name        = 
| blank1_info        = 
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| website            = {{URL|www.aledoil.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Aledo''' {{IPAc-en|@|ˈ|l|iː|d|oʊ|}} is a [[city]] and the [[county seat]] of [[Mercer County, Illinois]], United States. The population was 3,633 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020"/><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref>

==History==
Aledo was established in the 1850s when the railroad was extended to that point. It was briefly named "DeSoto", after [[Hernando de Soto]], until the discovery of [[De Soto, Illinois|an identically named village]] in [[Jackson County, Illinois|Jackson County]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Callary|first=Edward|title=Place Names of Illinois|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvHgwa-XImcC&pg=PA4|date=29 September 2008|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=978-0-252-09070-7|page=4}}</ref> Development began in the 1850s, and the oldest surviving buildings date from the following decade.<ref name="NPS">{{cite web|title=Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 6/06/16/ Through 6/10/16|url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/listings/20160617.htm|publisher=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=July 1, 2016}}</ref> A post office has been in operation at Aledo since September 24, 1856.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IL&county=Mercer |title=Mercer County |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |access-date=7 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102204510/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IL&county=Mercer |archive-date=2 January 2016 }}</ref> In 1857, the county seat was moved to Aledo from [[Millersburg, Illinois|Millersburg]] after a countywide referendum. Aledo was incorporated on August 15, 1863<!-- Source? -->. In the 1950s, the first [[Tastee-Freez]] in the United States was built in the downtown.<ref name="Downtown Aledo Historic District">{{cite web|last1=Ruggiero|first1=Erica|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Aledo Downtown Historic District|url=https://www.illinois.gov/ihpa/Preserve/SiteAssets/Pages/illinois-historic-sites-advisory-council/Aledo%20Downtown%20Historic%20District.pdf|publisher=Illinois Historic Preservation Agency|access-date=July 2, 2016|date=November 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321224801/http://www.illinois.gov/ihpa/Preserve/SiteAssets/Pages/illinois-historic-sites-advisory-council/Aledo%20Downtown%20Historic%20District.pdf|archive-date=March 21, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Downtown Aledo Historic District]] was established in 2016, with 75 contributing historic buildings in the downtown area.

==Geography==
[[File:Aledo, Illinois aerial 01A.jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of Aledo, 2012]]
Aledo is located in central Mercer County at {{coord|41|12|1|N|90|45|0|W| type:city_region:US-IL}} (41.200172, -90.749956).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> [[Illinois Route 17]] passes through the city center on Third Street, leading east {{convert|8|mi|0}} to [[Viola, Illinois|Viola]] and west {{convert|14|mi}} to [[New Boston, Illinois|New Boston]] on the [[Mississippi River]]. [[Illinois Route 94]] follows IL 17 along Southeast Third Street turns south at the city center onto South College Avenue. IL 94 leads south-southwest {{convert|29|mi}} to [[Biggsville, Illinois|Biggsville]] and northeast {{convert|22|mi}} to [[U.S. Route 67 in Illinois|U.S. Route 67]] on the southern outskirts of the [[Quad Cities]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Aledo has a total area of {{convert|2.36|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.012|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 0.51%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/> The city sits on high ground that drains north to the [[Edwards River (Illinois)|Edwards River]], a westward-flowing direct tributary of the Mississippi, and south to Pike Run, a tributary of Pope Creek, which flows to the Mississippi at [[Keithsburg, Illinois|Keithsburg]].

===Climate===
{{Weather box 
|location = Aledo, Illinois, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1900–present
|single line = Yes
|width = auto

|Jan record high F = 69
|Feb record high F = 72
|Mar record high F = 94
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 103
|Jun record high F = 104
|Jul record high F = 113
|Aug record high F = 106
|Sep record high F = 102
|Oct record high F = 93
|Nov record high F = 81
|Dec record high F = 73
|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 52.2
|Feb avg record high F = 56.3
|Mar avg record high F = 71.4
|Apr avg record high F = 80.5
|May avg record high F = 87.0
|Jun avg record high F = 91.3
|Jul avg record high F = 92.9
|Aug avg record high F = 91.6
|Sep avg record high F = 89.5
|Oct avg record high F = 82.9
|Nov avg record high F = 68.7
|Dec avg record high F = 55.8
|year avg record high F = 94.6

|Jan high F = 31.0
|Feb high F = 35.6
|Mar high F = 49.1
|Apr high F = 62.1
|May high F = 72.7
|Jun high F = 81.7
|Jul high F = 84.7
|Aug high F = 83.1
|Sep high F = 76.9
|Oct high F = 64.1
|Nov high F = 49.3
|Dec high F = 36.4
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 22.2
|Feb mean F = 26.3
|Mar mean F = 38.2
|Apr mean F = 50.0
|May mean F = 61.2
|Jun mean F = 70.7
|Jul mean F = 74.1
|Aug mean F = 72.3
|Sep mean F = 65.1
|Oct mean F = 52.7
|Nov mean F = 39.4
|Dec mean F = 28.0
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 13.3
|Feb low F = 17.0
|Mar low F = 27.4
|Apr low F = 37.9
|May low F = 49.7
|Jun low F = 59.8
|Jul low F = 63.4
|Aug low F = 61.5
|Sep low F = 53.2
|Oct low F = 41.3
|Nov low F = 29.5
|Dec low F = 19.6
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -8.3
|Feb avg record low F = -2.6
|Mar avg record low F = 8.9
|Apr avg record low F = 24.8
|May avg record low F = 36.6
|Jun avg record low F = 48.7
|Jul avg record low F = 54.8
|Aug avg record low F = 53.1
|Sep avg record low F = 39.9
|Oct avg record low F = 26.9
|Nov avg record low F = 13.6
|Dec avg record low F = 0.0
|year avg record low F = -11.9

|Jan record low F = −33
|Feb record low F = −30
|Mar record low F = -15
|Apr record low F = 10
|May record low F = 26
|Jun record low F = 36
|Jul record low F = 44
|Aug record low F = 38
|Sep record low F = 24
|Oct record low F = 9
|Nov record low F = -6
|Dec record low F = −22
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.67
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.85
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.52
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.00
|May precipitation inch = 5.06
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.37
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.86
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.89
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.73
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.82
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.32
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.01
|year precipitation inch = 39.10

|Jan snow inch = 6.2
|Feb snow inch = 6.2
|Mar snow inch = 3.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.6
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.3
|Nov snow inch = 1.4
|Dec snow inch = 4.1
|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.0
|Feb precipitation days = 6.4
|Mar precipitation days = 7.9
|Apr precipitation days = 9.9
|May precipitation days = 11.5
|Jun precipitation days = 9.8
|Jul precipitation days = 7.8
|Aug precipitation days = 7.6
|Sep precipitation days = 6.7
|Oct precipitation days = 7.7
|Nov precipitation days = 6.4
|Dec precipitation days = 6.3
|year precipitation days = 94.0

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.8
|Feb snow days = 2.4
|Mar snow days = 1.1
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 0.7
|Dec snow days = 2.2
|year snow days =

| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=dvn
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 11, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00110072&format=pdf
| title = Station: Aledo, IL
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 11, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 563
|1870= 1076
|1880= 1492
|1890= 1601
|1900= 2081
|1910= 2144
|1920= 2231
|1930= 2203
|1940= 2593
|1950= 2919
|1960= 3080
|1970= 3325
|1980= 3881
|1990= 3681
|2000= 3613
|2010= 3640
|2020= 3633
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
At the 2010 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2015-07-03|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 3,640&nbsp;people, 1,568&nbsp;households and 947&nbsp;families residing in the city. The racial make-up of the city was 98.5% (3,586) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]], 0.6% (22) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.0% (1) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% (12) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% (4) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]] and 0.4% (15) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.2% (45) of the population.

There were 1,568 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 49.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 39.6% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.84.

The male population made up 47.5% (1,728), the female population made up 52.5% (1,912). 6.3% (229) of the population were under 5 years, 17.1% (622) from 5 to 19 years, 10.3% (374) from 20 to 29 years, 10.2% (368) from 30 to 39, 12.5% (453) from 40 to 49, 12.9% (472) from 50 to 59;, 12.1% (441) from 60 to 69, 8.2% (296) from 70 to 79 and 10.6% (385) were 80 years and over. The median age&nbsp;was 45.8&nbsp;years.

The 2009-2013 American Community Survey<ref>{{cite web|title=Aledo city, Illinois {{ndash}} Median Household Income|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/cf/1.0/en/place/Aledo%20city,%20Illinois/INCOME/MEDIAN_HH_INCOME|website=American FactFinder|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=3 July 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214004814/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/cf/1.0/en/place/Aledo%20city,%20Illinois/INCOME/MEDIAN_HH_INCOME|archive-date=14 February 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> estimated the [[median household income]] in 2013 to be $39,424 and the median family income to be $56,546. Full-time, year-round male workers were estimated to have a median income of $44,435 and females $30,357. The [[per capita income]] was $21,373. About 15.0% of families and 18.4% of the population were estimated to be below the [[poverty line]], including 22.1% of those under age&nbsp;18 and 11.7% of those age&nbsp;65 or over.

The American Community Survey estimated that in 2013 there were 1,740 civilians 16 years and over employed. Of those, 33.7% were estimated to be employed in educational services, health care or social assistance, 14.3% in manufacturing, 10.0% in construction, 8.4% in retail trade, 6.8% in professional, scientific, management, administrative or waste management services, 6.1% in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, 4.8% in arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation or food services and the remaining 15.9% in other trades, including agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, mining, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, utilities, information, public administration and other services.

== Notable people ==
<!-- Note:
· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability.
· The article must mention how they are associated with Aledo, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
· Alphabetical by last name please.
· All others will be deleted.
-->
{{div col}}
* [[Gertrude Abercrombie]], surrealist painter{{cn|date=April 2024}}
* [[Suzy Bogguss]], country and western singer{{cn|date=April 2024}}
* [[Oscar E. Carlstrom]], Illinois attorney general{{cn|date=April 2024}}
* [[Herschel L. Carnahan]], 30th lieutenant governor of California{{cn|date=April 2024}}
* [[Dora Doxey]], tried for murder in 1910 and found not guilty<ref>[http://person.ancestry.com/tree/87222034/person/38551451538/facts Ancestry.com]{{dead link|date=July 2023}}<br>- {{cite news |url=https://stltoday.newspapers.com/image/138996081/?terms=Dora%2BDoxey |title=Mrs. Doxey Writes Story of Her Life and How She Was Enslaved by Drugs |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=1910-05-20 |page=1 |access-date=2023-07-09}}<br>- {{cite news |url=https://stltoday.newspapers.com/image/138928466/?terms=Dora%2BDoxey |title=Doxey's Letter Reaches Attorney Here As He Dies |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=1912-06-20 |page=1 |access-date=2023-07-09}}<br>- {{cite news |url=https://stltoday.newspapers.com/image/138998367/ |title=Mrs. Doxey Dries Tears and Scans Talesmen's Faces |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=1910-05-23 |page=1 |access-date=2023-07-09}}<br>- {{cite news |url=https://stltoday.newspapers.com/image/205350003/?terms=Doxey |title=Mrs. Doxey Is Again Free on $1,500 Bail |work=St. Louis Star |date=1910-06-04 |page=1 |access-date=2023-07-09}}</ref>
* [[Peaches Graham]], Major League Baseball catcher{{cn|date=April 2024}}
* [[Doris Emrick Lee]], artist{{cn|date=April 2024}}
* [[Frank Lewis Marsh]], educator and creationist{{cn|date=April 2024}}
* [[Dewey McDougal]], Major League Baseball pitcher{{cn|date=April 2024}}
* [[Margo Price]], country singer-songwriter{{cn|date=April 2024}}
* [[Guy C. Scott]], chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and mayor of Aledo{{cn|date=April 2024}}
* [[Judson Welliver]], presidential speech writer{{cn|date=April 2024}}
{{div col end}}

==Education==
Aledo was the home to [[William & Vashti College]] (1908–1917) — the campus/buildings were purchased and used by the Roosevelt Military Academy from 1924 to 1973. The Administration Building was torn down, and the spot was used to construct an assisted living facility. The remaining two buildings (Niles Hall and North Hall) are unused. William & Vashti College was a member of the [[Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] from 1910 to 1917.

The High School Mascot used to be the Aledo Green Dragons. School colors were [[Forest Green (color)|Forest Green]] and [[White]]. The Class of 2006 had 71 students, which is about an average class size.

[[Mercer County High School (Illinois)|Mercer County High School]] offers a variety of course curriculum in the sciences, math, literature, social sciences, and the arts. The school has a [[concert band]], [[jazz band]], [[marching band]], [[Concert Choir|concert choir]], and [[swing choir]].

The school also offers a variety of athletics including [[volleyball]], [[American football|football]], both men and women's [[golf]], men and women's [[basketball]], [[scholastic wrestling|wrestling]], [[track and field]], [[softball]], [[baseball]], and [[Cross country running|cross country]]. Some extracurricular activities that students can become involved in are [[scholastic bowl]], football, basketball, [[Pom-pom|pom poms]], [[cheerleading]], [[Pep flags|flags]], [[Majorette (dancer)|majorettes]], and [[Musical theatre|musicals]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aledoschools.org/index.php |title=Aledo Schools: Unit District 201 |access-date=2008-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023033054/http://www.aledoschools.org/index.php |archive-date=2008-10-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

From 1915 to 2009, [[Aledo High School (Illinois)|Aledo High School]] competed in boys football. They qualified for the state tournament on 17 occasions since the tournament began in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IHSA Season Summaries |url=http://www.ihsa.org/school/records/sum0105.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626145212/http://www.ihsa.org/school/records/sum0105.htm |archive-date=June 26, 2010 |website=Illinois High School Association |access-date=May 1, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IHSA Boys Football Chronology |url=http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/records/chron.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109023920/http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/records/chron.htm |archive-date=November 9, 2010 |website=Illinois High School Association |access-date=May 1, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> From 1998 to 2006, Aledo High School has reached the finals of five [[Illinois High School Association|IHSA]] boys' football championship tournaments. Of those five, the school won three times.<ref>{{cite web |year=2006 |title=IHSA Boys Football Champions and Runners-Up |url=http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/records/team1-2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117003058/http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/records/team1-2.htm |archive-date=November 17, 2010 |access-date=2008-10-09 |work=Illinois High School Association |publisher= |url-status=live }}</ref>

Aledo School District #201 and Westmer School District #203 have consolidated since the 2009–2010 school year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/news/x1588605521/Consolidation-passes-in-Westmer-and-Aledo-by-a-landslide |title=Consolidation passes in Westmer and Aledo by a landslide |access-date=2014-05-17 |work=Cathy Decker |publisher=Aledo Times Record |date=2008-11-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213160052/http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/news/x1588605521/Consolidation-passes-in-Westmer-and-Aledo-by-a-landslide |archive-date=2012-02-13 }}</ref>
The consolidation was voted upon by both school boards and was on the ballot for the 2008 election. The measure passed by a 76% margin.

The new consolidated district is Mercer County District #404 and the new mascot adopted by popular vote in early 2009 is the Mercer County [[Golden eagles in human culture|Golden Eagles]]. School colors changed to [[navy blue]] and [[Vegas Gold|vegas gold]]. The Class of 2010 had over 120 students, well above the usual average.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}

==Culture and media==
Aledo hosts two annual festivals, the Rhubarb Fest and Antique Days. The Rhubarb Festival, which is held every June in the city downtown, offers a variety of [[rhubarb]]-related activities, ranging from [[rhubarb pie]] sales to free rhubarb seed distributions. The festival additionally offers other crafts and forms of entertainment and music; it has been undertaken every year since 1991.<ref>{{cite web |year= |title=Aledo Rhubarb Fest |url=https://aledomainstreet.com/aledo-rhubarb-fest-2/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |work=Aledo Main Street |publisher=City of Aledo}}</ref> The city of Aledo's Antique Days festivals likewise occur annually in the month of September, and includes a citywide food festival, music from local residents and the high school music departments, and sports competitions among communities in the area.<ref>{{cite news|first=Robert |last=Blackford |title=Aledo prepares for seventh annual Antique Days |url=http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/entertainment/x289108167/Aledo-prepares-for-seventh-annual-Antique-Days |work=[[The Times-Record (Illinois)|The Times-Record]] |date=September 10, 2008 |access-date=2008-09-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707104549/http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/entertainment/x289108167/Aledo-prepares-for-seventh-annual-Antique-Days |archive-date=July 7, 2011 }}</ref>

Aledo has its own radio station, [[WRMJ-FM]]. WRMJ features country music along with live sports, local news and local programming. It broadcasts on a frequency of 102.3&nbsp;MHz from a tower west of Aledo. The radio station serves most of [[Mercer County, Illinois|Mercer County]], and was founded in 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrmj.com/about.htm |title=Station Profile |access-date=2008-09-22 |work=WRMJ-FM Radio Station |publisher=WRMJ 102.3 FM Radio |year=2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106071428/http://www.wrmj.com/about.htm |archive-date=2007-11-06 }}</ref> Mercer County's weekly newspaper, The ''Times Record'', is based in Aledo and is owned by [[Gannett]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gannett Communities |url=https://gannettfoundation.org/contact-list/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=Gannett Foundation}}</ref> ''[[National Communications Magazine]]'', a publication for radio hobbyists, moved its operations from Ohio to Aledo in 2014 after being acquired by a local resident.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|aledoil.org}}

{{Mercer County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Mercer County, Illinois]]
[[Category:County seats in Illinois]]