Illinois Route 49 crosses US 24 on the western side of Crescent City; it leads north 8 miles (13 km) to US Routes 45 and 52 near L'Erable, and south 23 miles (37 km) to Rankin.

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Crescent City has a total area of 0.46 square miles (1.19 km2), all land.

[4] On June 21, 1970, the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad Company's Train No.

A propane tank car ruptured, and explosions caused fires that destroyed the city center, which included numerous houses and businesses.

[5][6] The disaster would later be featured on episode #124 of the Discovery Channel show Destroyed in Seconds.

The building was then used for special education purposes until around 2019, when they transferred them to Gilman, Illinois.