[3] The city sits on high ground that drains north to the Edwards River, a westward-flowing direct tributary of the Mississippi, and south to Pike Run, a tributary of Pope Creek, which flows to the Mississippi at Keithsburg.

Full-time, year-round male workers were estimated to have a median income of $44,435 and females $30,357.

Of those, 33.7% were estimated to be employed in educational services, health care or social assistance, 14.3% in manufacturing, 10.0% in construction, 8.4% in retail trade, 6.8% in professional, scientific, management, administrative or waste management services, 6.1% in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, 4.8% in arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation or food services and the remaining 15.9% in other trades, including agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, mining, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, utilities, information, public administration and other services.

Aledo was the home to William & Vashti College (1908–1917) — the campus/buildings were purchased and used by the Roosevelt Military Academy from 1924 to 1973.

William & Vashti College was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1910 to 1917.

The school also offers a variety of athletics including volleyball, football, both men and women's golf, men and women's basketball, wrestling, track and field, softball, baseball, and cross country.

[19][20] From 1998 to 2006, Aledo High School has reached the finals of five IHSA boys' football championship tournaments.

[citation needed] Aledo hosts two annual festivals, the Rhubarb Fest and Antique Days.

The festival additionally offers other crafts and forms of entertainment and music; it has been undertaken every year since 1991.

[23] The city of Aledo's Antique Days festivals likewise occur annually in the month of September, and includes a citywide food festival, music from local residents and the high school music departments, and sports competitions among communities in the area.

[25] Mercer County's weekly newspaper, The Times Record, is based in Aledo and is owned by Gannett.

[26] National Communications Magazine, a publication for radio hobbyists, moved its operations from Ohio to Aledo in 2014 after being acquired by a local resident.