Illinois Town Will Pay You To Move There

ILLINOIS — Looking to get out of the city? Grafton, Illinois, a river town located on a bend of the Mississippi north of St. Louis, Missouri, will pay you to move there, Fox 2 reports.

Anyone that buys a city-owned lot for $5,000 will be eligible for a full reimbursement if they build a house on the land within three years, according to the city. Or, if the owner is unable to build a house, the city will buy the land back for $4,000, so the purchaser's risk is limited to just a grand.

According to the city's website, Grafton — settled in 1832 by James Mason — is the oldest city in Jersey County. As of 2020, just 650 people lived there. Local attractions include a water park, riverboat cruises, jet ski rentals, a five-star marina, winter ice skating rink, a lighthouse and the largest American flag on the Mississippi River.

The television station reports seven property owners have taken the city up on its offer, with five homes currently under construction and another two planned. The city has 26 one-third-acre lots up for grabs.

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