Red Bud
cityRed Bud is a city in Randolph County, Illinois, located approximately 40 miles southeast of St. Louis. As of 2020, the population was 3,804. Known as the "Blossom City," Red Bud offers a blend of small-town values and traditions with access to larger metropolitan areas. Red Bud's economy is diverse, with major employment sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and retail trade. The city is proactively fostering economic growth through the development of the Red Bud Business Park, aimed at attracting new businesses and revitalizing the local job market. Southwestern Illinois College has a campus in Red Bud. Red Bud's history is rooted in its establishment as a trading center and its growth with German immigrants. The Red Bud Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, showcases the city's 19th-century architecture and its significance as a crossroads commercial town.
Red Bud, Illinois
- Classification
- City
- FIPS Code
- 17-63043
- Country
- United States
- County
- Randolph County
- Region
- Southern Illinois
- Elevation
- 449 ft
- Total Area
- 2.453 sq mi
- Land Area
- 2.43 sq mi
- Water Area
- 0.023 sq mi
- Latitude
- 38.2117
- Longitude
- -89.9943
- Climate
- The weather on March 3, 2026 is 65°F.
- Notable Features
- Kaskaskia River
- Neighboring Areas
- Ruma · Hecker
- Population (2020)
- 3,804
- Est. Population (2026)
- 3,748
- Median Age
- 39.7
- Median Income
- $71,850
- Poverty Rate
- 4.89%
- Owner-Occupied
- 76.1%
- Racial & Ethnic Composition
- The racial makeup of the city is 95.88% White, with smaller percentages of other races and ethnicities.
- Government Type
- Mayor-Council
- Governing Body
- City Council
- Municipal Services
- Police Department · Fire Department · Utility Department · Zoning & Planning
- Unemployment Rate
- 4.4%
- Economic Profile
- Mix of suburban and rural
- Employment Sectors
- Health Care & Social Assistance · Manufacturing · Retail Trade
- Major Employers
- Red Bud Industries · The Material Works, Ltd. · Roeslein and Associates · Total Titanium · Secon Rubber and Plastics
- Colleges & Universities
- Southwestern Illinois College-Red Bud Campus
- Transportation
- Illinois Routes 3, 154, and 159 · MidAmerica St. Louis Airport · St. Louis Lambert International Airport
- Utilities
- City-provided utilities including electric, water, sewer, and natural gas · High-speed fiber internet
- Major Facilities
- Red Bud Regional Hospital
- Outdoor Access
- Yes
- Major Recreation Areas
- Ratz Memorial Park · Lincoln Park · Red Bud Sports Complex
- Parks & Trails
- Ratz Memorial Park · Lincoln Park with a walking trail
- Founded
- 1847
- Incorporated
- 1875
- Named After
- The redbud tree, a native species of prairie flora
- Historical Significance
- Important station on the stagecoach route between St. Louis and Chester and a 19th-century crossroads commercial town
- Key Events
- First settler Preston Brickey arrived in 1820 · First store opened in 1840 by R.D. Dufree · Village of Red Bud organized on April 19, 1866 · Chartered as a city on February 28, 1867