Time Zone |
America/Chicago |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC-6 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC-5 |
Time Zone |
America/New_York |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC-5 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC-4 |
Located in the western part of the U.S. state of Illinois, Macomb is the county seat of McDonough County, about 160 kilometers southwest of the city of Peoria and about 240 kilometers northwest of St. Louis. This small city of about 18,000 people is centered around Western Illinois University (WIU), which was founded in 1899 and infuses the area with a strong academic atmosphere, with a student body that makes up about a quarter of the city's population. With a history dating back to the 1830s, Macomb grew gradually with the opening of the railroad in the mid-to-late 1800s, and retains a number of late 19th-century architectural features to this day. Economically, in addition to the university-driven higher education, healthcare and service industries, agriculture and small-scale manufacturing in the surrounding area are important pillars. The community is quiet and friendly, hosting annual events such as the Malcolm Arts Festival, and combining the simplicity of a small Midwestern town with the energy of a college town, making it an ideal place to study and live.
Reading is a scenic New England town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town covers an area of approximately 31.9 square miles (about 83 square kilometers), has a population of about 9,000, and is known for its high quality public education system and low crime rate.
Reading is located about 60 miles northeast of New York City, adjacent to the Norwalk River. The town is home to several nature preserves and lakes, such as Saugatuck Lake and Topsmead Pond, which are suitable for outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing and bird watching.
Founded in 1767, Reading retains a large number of colonial-era buildings, such as the Reading Historical Society Museum. The Reading Fair and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, held each summer, are traditional local community events.
As a commuter town for the New York metropolitan area, Reading residents tend to work in the financial and educational sectors. With a small business district in the center of town, it is a convenient place to live and has been voted one of the most livable towns in Connecticut for many years.