Popular Illinois Town Can’t Be Found On Any Map, Do You Know Why?

Despite what you read in the national news, Illinois is full of some great places. These places might be positively top of mind because of the scenery, festivals, concerts, things to do, or just overall charm. When you think of Illinois and question what the most popular towns or cities are in Illinois you might guess one of the following:

• Geneva
• Galena
• Woodstock
• Peoria
• Rockford

Those are not the only great places in Illinois with a lot to offer, that list could go on and on.

In Illinois, there is a popular town you might not recognize by name and are unable to point out on a map but you've heard of it. The town is home to a few very popular families, schools, and rambunctious teens and kids. In fact, this town has an urban legend about a man who allegedly killed people but was never convicted because there was not enough evidence. (Apparently, "the South Bend Shovel Slayer" killed his victims and placed the into a garbage can full of salt.)

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This Illinois town is the setting for some of the biggest movies in the 1980s, like Home Alone, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, National Lampoon's Vacation, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and more.

You would think with all the movies set in this town you would have a good guess as to where Shermer, Illinois is located. Of course, you would be wasting your time looking over a map because the town is completely fictional. This made-up town was used by filmmaker John Hughes in several of his movies. It is loosely based on Hughes's personal experience living in Northbrook, Illinois, according to Superepicfailpedia.