
Home of the World's Best Burgoo

Please be patient as we update the website to provide additional content.
Located in the fertile farm country of west central Illinois, Arenzville is named for Francis Arenz, an immigrant from Blankenberg, Prussia, who first planned the town in 1839. The town name is pronounced with an accent on the first syllable, rhyming with "barns" -- ARENZ--ville. The village was first incorporated in 1853, and today has a population slightly over 400 persons. We celebrated our 175th year in 2014.
Arenzville proudly claims to be the home of the world's best burgoo, a local tradition we share with other communities in the region. Each year in September, the town hosts a two-day festival to benefit community organizations. The Arenzville Burgoo has been an annual event for over 100 years. It is organized and produced by volunteers, and all proceeds go to support community organizations. The residents of Arenzville encourage you to explore the web site and learn more about our town, the Burgoo, and community activities. We hope that you will come visit us someday soon.
The founder of Arenzville dreamed of a village where freedom of religion and education permitted the people to develop as prosperous and caring citizens. A native of Prussia, Francis Arenz first came to the United States in 1827. In 1839, he and his brother John A. Arenz planned the streets for the Village of Arenzville.

Today, Arenzville is home to just over 400 residents, and it is known for its small-town hospitality and good neighborliness. Once you have lived in Arenzville, it's always your hometown. If you're a former resident, we'd love to hear from you

Arenzville's organizations include the American Legion Post and Legion Auxiliary, the Community Club and churches. The Village is one of the few towns in the country whose original charter for the Anti-Horse Thief Association (today, known as the Anti-Thief Association or ATA) remains active.
Mark your calendars for Friday, Sept 11 and Saturday, Sept 12, 2026 and join us for the next Burgoo!
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.