Located on the Illinois side of where the Wabash River runs into the Ohio River, Kennedy is one of the so-called Tri-Cities, along with Candleton and Fort Benard. Due to over a century of Chicago's dominance over Illinois' budget, and decades of Illinois' gubernatorial and legistative incompetence and/or corruption Kennedy is a cesspool of crime and mismanagement.

Curiously, there is a fairly strong film industry in the city. It is the goto site for series set in post-apocalyptic urban environments.