Many Illinois cities and towns were established and thrived along rivers which were important transportation routes and manufacturing sites. Over the years, national and regional economic shifts, different transportation developments, river modifications, and the tendency for new commercial developments to be on their suburban fringes have had major impacts on these places. Recently many towns have been planning and reshaping their waterfronts as they renew and reinvent their relationships with their rivers. This presentation will place particular focus on the Mississippi River, but the framework for considering these places can be applied to other river cities in Illinois.