Unless you live in Los Angeles or New York City, you probably don’t see celebrities every day. While Chicago is known to attract some high-profile people, a fun fact about Illinois is that many of these people actually call small towns throughout our state home. We may not see these celebrities from small towns in Illinois on the red carpet, but rather at the local grocery store when they’re visiting family. (Which, honestly, is a lot cooler, I think.) Read on to learn more about these famous people from Illinois that were born in our most charming small towns. 

1. Cindy Crawford, DeKalb

Famous People From Illinois
Ibsan73, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
International supermodel Cindy Crawford hails from the rural college town of DeKalb. Bonus fact: My mom went to high school with her!
artistmac/Flickr
DeKalb is a historic small town that's home to Northern Illinois University. It's known for its vast fields of corn, as well as being the birthplace of barbed wire.

2. Ronald Reagan, Tampico

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Before he was the 40th president of the United States or a big name in Hollywood, Ronald Reagan was just a kid from the small town of Tampico.
I, IvoShandor, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
With less than a thousand residents, Tampico is the smallest village on our list, yet it packs a punch with its rich history. The commercial building where Reagan was born still stands and its Main Street is a historic district that's been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

3. Kathryn Hahn, Westchester

Famous People From Illinois
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images Entertainment, 66th BFI London Film Festival, via Getty Images
Comedian extraordinaire Kathryn Hahn is another small-town Illinoisian who comes from the village of Westchester.

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Captainandy1310, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
With a population of about 17,000, Westchester is one of the smaller towns in suburban Cook County and is about 30 minutes outside Chicago. Yet, its sprawling parks and streets filled with cute residential homes definitely give it a close-knit community feel.

4. Melissa McCarthy, Plainfield

Famous People From Illinois
Jesse Grant/Getty Images Entertainment, World Premiere of Disney's live-action feature "The Little Mermaid" via Getty Images
Another comedy icon, Melissa McCarthy, calls a small town in Illinois her hometown. Known her roles in "Bridesmaids," "The Heat," and as Ursula in Disney's live-action feature "The Little Mermaid," McCarthy is from Plainfield.
Village of Plainfield IL - Government/Facebook
Plainfield is a suburb located in Will and Kendall counties filled with historic buildings, a war memorial, and offers great parks for birdwatching and recreation.

5. Dick Van Dyke, Danville

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Legendary actor Dick Van Dyke grew up in the east central Illinois town of Danville.
Cole Jackson, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The city is the county seat in Vermillion County and has a vibrant history that includes Native American tribes such as the Miami, Kickapoo, and Potawatomi. It's also full of more than 15,000 acres of parkland, a 1,000-acre lake, and beautifully preserved historic homes and buildings.

Were you aware of these famous people from Illinois? Do you or your family share a hometown with any celebrities? Tell us in the comments! And if you are in the mood for a celebrity sighting in Illinois, you may want to check out this popular celeb hotspot!

Countless Celebrities Have Loved This Iconic Illinois Diner Since It Opened

Or take this Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour to discover the secret places where some famous gangsters hung out. It will be a truly memorable experience.  

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