Havana, IL
Music connected to Havana
About Havana
- • Jazz musician and bandleader, Harry James, was born in Havana, Illinois.
- • The Thompson submachine gun was test-fired at the Havana gun club.
- • Riverboat traffic on the Illinois River established Havana as a trade hub.
- • Rumors persist of a hidden tunnel system under downtown Havana's older buildings.
- • The Great Flood of 1926 devastated Havana, reshaping its riverfront.
- • Named for Havana, Cuba, it was established in 1827.
- • With roughly 2,700 residents, Havana is smaller than it was in 1900.
- • Havana sits 456 feet above sea level, a vantage point over the Illinois River.
- • Agriculture, particularly corn and soybean farming, drives Havana's economy.
- • Havana feels like a peaceful, river town, full of friendly faces.
- • The St. Louis Cardinals, a few hours away, won the World Series in 2011.
- • Havana High School's football team has a history of strong seasons and rivalries.