Illinois Route 165 is a 29.64 miles (47.7 km) east–west state route in east-central Illinois

Illinois

Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

. It runs from Illinois Route 9

Illinois Route 9

Illinois Route 9 is a cross-state, east–west rural state highway in central Illinois. It runs from the Fort Madison Toll Bridge over the Mississippi River to Iowa in Niota east to State Road 26 at the Indiana border. This is a distance of ....

 east of Bloomington

Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...

 to Illinois Route 47

Illinois Route 47

Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...

 in Sibley

Sibley, Illinois

Sibley is a village in Ford County, Illinois, United States. The population was 272 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sibley is located at ....

. The route was established in 1924 along its current alignment. Route 165 is maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation

Illinois Department of Transportation

The Illinois Department of Transportation is a state agency in charge of state-maintained public roadways of the U.S. state of Illinois. In addition, IDOT provides funding for rail, public transit and airport projects and administers fuel tax and federal funding to local juridictions in the...

.

Route description

Route 165 begins at an intersection with Illinois Route 9

Illinois Route 9

Illinois Route 9 is a cross-state, east–west rural state highway in central Illinois. It runs from the Fort Madison Toll Bridge over the Mississippi River to Iowa in Niota east to State Road 26 at the Indiana border. This is a distance of ....

 in unincorporated McLean County

McLean County, Illinois

McLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is...

 east of Bloomington. It heads north through farmland into Towanda Township

Towanda Township, McLean County, Illinois

Towanda Township is located in McLean County, Illinois. The population was 1,024 at the 2000 census. It contains the town of Towanda, Illinois.- External links :***...

, passing through the community of Merna

Merna, Illinois

Merna is an unincorporated community in McLean County, Illinois, United States. Merna is east-northeast of downtown Bloomington. Merna has a post office with ZIP code 61758....

. The route turns east after leaving Merna and enters Blue Mound Township

Blue Mound Township, McLean County, Illinois

Blue Mound Township is located in McLean County, Illinois. The population was 473 at the 2000 census.- External links :***...

. Route 165 continues east to Cooksville

Cooksville, Illinois

Cooksville is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 182 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Cooksville is located at ....

, where it turns north before heading east into Martin Township

Martin Township, McLean County, Illinois

Martin Township is located in McLean County, Illinois. The population was 1,229 at the 2000 census.- External links :***...

. The route heads northeast before turning east along the northern border of Colfax

Colfax, Illinois

Colfax is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,061 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area....

. It continues east along the border between Martin and Lawndale

Lawndale Township, McLean County, Illinois

Lawndale Township is located in McLean County, Illinois east of Lexington, northwest of Colfax, and southeast of Chenoa. The population was 227 at the 2000 census. Lawndale cemetery is located on 2550 North Road. At least part of the township is within the area of the proposed "Lexington Chenoa...

 townships, which becomes the border between Anchor

Anchor Township, McLean County, Illinois

Anchor Township is located in McLean County, Illinois. The population was 376 at the 2000 census. Anchor Township formed from Cropsey Township in 1877.- External links :***...

 and Cropsey

Cropsey Township, McLean County, Illinois

Cropsey Township is located in McLean County, Illinois. The population was 256 at the 2000 census. It was named after Col. A.J. Cropsey, the owner of a large farm in the area. In 1860 there were 25 families living in the township, by the 2000 census the total population was reported at 256.-...

 townships. At Anchor

Anchor, Illinois

Anchor is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 146 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Anchor is located at ....

, Route 165 heads north into Cropsey Township. It then turns east, crossing a railroad before entering Ford County. The route passes through Sullivant Township

Sullivant Township, Ford County, Illinois

Sullivant Township is one of twelve townships in Ford County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 594.-History:The township was formed from Dix Township on September 9, 1867. It is named for Michael L...

 before terminating at Illinois Route 47

Illinois Route 47

Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...

 in Sibley. Illinois 165 is a rural undivided two-lane road for its entire length.

History

Route 165 was designated along its current route under the 1924 State Bond Issue bill for the purpose of connecting Sibley, Anchor, Colfax, Cooksville, and Merna. It was first marked on the 1929 highway map; at this point, the route between Cooksville and Colfax had not been paved. The entire route was paved by 1930.

Major intersections

County	Location	Mile	Junction	Notes
McLean McLean County, Illinois McLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is...		0.0
Ford	Sibley Sibley, Illinois Sibley is a village in Ford County, Illinois, United States. The population was 272 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sibley is located at ....	29.6

External links

• Illinois Highways Page: Routes 161 through 180