Mattoon, IL Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Mattoon, IL: What You Need to Know

Mattoon lies near the Little Wabash River in east-central Illinois. This small city (population: 17,615) has produced the world’s biggest bagel at 563 pounds, listed on the Guinness World Records in 1997.

Job Opportunities in Mattoon, IL

Mattoon is located in Coles County, whose economy is driven by a mix of industries such as warehouse and distribution, manufacturing, and food processing. Consolidated Communications (telecom services) and Rural King (farm supplies) are based in Mattoon. Other top employers include Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Lake Land College, Justrite Manufacturing, Pinnacle Foods, and Bimbo Bakeries USA.

Cost of Living in Mattoon, IL

Affordability is a key advantage if you move to Mattoon. The city’s cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 4.4%, 2.6%, and 27.8% lower than the national average respectively. Median gross rent in the city is $663. Illinois levies a flat income tax rate of 4.95% and sales tax ranging from 6.25% to 11%.

How Did Mattoon, IL, Get its Name?

Mattoon was founded in 1855 and named after William Mattoon, who helped build the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad. The area that became Mattoon used to be swamp grass and prairie, but it was an ideal site for a new community because it was where the Illinois Central and the Terre Haute and Alton railroads crossed. Mattoon was chartered in 1861. Between World War I and World War II, manufacturing boosted the local economy. 

What’s Mattoon, IL, Known for?

Mattoon is known for the annual Bagelfest, a three-day festival in July. The Lender’s Bagel factory in Mattoon introduced the event in 1986, and it’s been attracting thousands of people every year. The festival, held in Peterson Park, features live music and entertainment, a parade, vendors, and of course, bagels and other great food.

What’s Unique About Mattoon, IL?

You won’t find Burger King fast food within 20 miles of Mattoon, thanks to a 1968 trademark court ruling. The original Burger King was founded by Gene and Betty Hoots in Mattoon in 1952. They registered the name Burger King as an Illinois trademark in 1959. The Burger King chain first opened in Miami in 1954. It expanded to Illinois in the 1960s. The Hoots family sued the fast-food chain, claiming it was the original and only Burger King in Illinois. The Miami-based corporation responded with a federal lawsuit of its own. The court’s decision allowed Burger King chain to operate in Illinois provided it’s outside of a 20-mile radius of Mattoon. The notoriety of the lawsuit has been attracting customers to Mattoon’s Burger King since then.