Chester, Illinois — interactive Google street map, satellite and terrain views, Street View, live National Weather Service conditions and 7-day forecasts, real-time local and world news, and an editorial description of Chester, Randolph County.
| City | Chester |
| State | Illinois (IL) |
| County | Randolph |
| Country | United States of America |
| Timezone | Central Time (America/Chicago) |
| Latitude | 37.913663 |
| Longitude | -89.82205 |
| Population | 6,797 |
| Density | 456.9 /km² |
| Incorporated | N/A |
| ZIP Code(s) | 62233 |
| Area Code | 217 |
| County Seat | Chester |
| School District | Chester Community Unit School District 139 |
Chester is a locality in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. It has a population of approximately 6,797. The population density is 456.9 people per km². Chester is located at 37.9137°N, 89.8221°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. ZIP code: 62233.
Chester rests where the rich, dark soil of southern Illinois meets the broad, slow sweep of the Mississippi River. It lies 42.8 miles south-south-east of Belleville, IL (from Belleville, IL: bearing 168°T), and is situated 13.3 miles north of Perryville. The land here is a study in gentle slopes and expansive horizons, a place where fields of corn and soybeans stretch to meet the sky, their vibrant greens and golds catching the shifting light of day. The air, especially in the humid embrace of summer, carries the scent of damp earth and ripening crops, a palpable presence that settles over the small houses and quiet streets. Even the wind seems to move with a deliberate, unhurried grace, rustling through the leaves of mature oaks and elms that line the avenues, their branches reaching out like welcoming arms. The story of Chester is as much about the river as it is about the land. For generations, the Mississippi has been the lifeblood of this community, a highway for commerce and a constant, murmuring presence. It was the promise of fertile bottomland and river access that drew the first settlers, and the echoes of that early ambition can still be felt in the sturdy, practical architecture of its older buildings. Chester's economy, once heavily reliant on agriculture and the timber industry, has evolved, but the river continues to play a vital role, supporting barge traffic that carries goods to and from the port. The town has also found a unique niche, earning a reputation as the "Popeye Capital of Illinois," a nod to the beloved comic strip character created by local cartoonist E.C. Segar, a whimsical touch that adds a distinct flavor to the enduring character of Chester.
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This page provides an interactive Google map of Chester, Illinois with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Chester and Randolph County.
Detailed location data for Chester includes the ZIP code (62233), telephone area code (217), county seat of Randolph County (Chester), and school district assignment (Chester Community Unit School District 139). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.
Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Chester is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.
| Page generated | June 2026 |
| Location data | SimpleMaps US Cities Database; coordinates matched to USGS GNIS definitive data |
| Wikipedia validation | Article content matched to USGS GNIS coordinates via Wikipedia geosearch API. Location verified by proximity — not name matching alone. |