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Dixon, Illinois

Dixon is a city and the county seat of Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,274 as of the 2020 census. The city is named after founder John Dixon, who operated a rope ferry service across the Rock River, which runs through the city. The Illinois General Assembly designated Dixon as "Petunia Capital of Illinois" in 1999 and "The Catfish Capital of Illinois" in 2009.

Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The city is also the site of the Lincoln Monument State Memorial, marking the spot where Abraham Lincoln joined the Illinois militia at Fort Dixon in 1832 during the Black Hawk War. The memorial is located on the west side of Dixon's main north-south street, Galena Avenue, (U.S. Route 52, also Illinois Route 26), north of the Rock River. The city is also the site of the Dixon Bridge Disaster of 1873, the worst road bridge disaster in American history. A marker for the disaster stands near the Lincoln Statue, on the north bank of the river.

History
Around 1828, Joseph Ogee, a man of mixed French and Native American descent, established a ferry and a cabin along the banks of the Rock River. In 1829, an employee of Ogee was named postmaster at the newly constructed post office. John Dixon, the eponymous founder, bought Ogee's Ferry in the spring of 1830 and brought his family to his newly purchased establishment on April 11 of that year. Shortly after, the name of the post office was changed to Dixon's Ferry.

On May 4, 1873, the Truesdell Bridge collapsed resulting in the deaths of 46 people. About 150-200 people were on the bridge in order to watch a baptism ceremony in the river below.

Running by Interstate 88 is a road named Bloody Gulch Road. The road is named after a murder and body disposal. On September 12, 1885, two young men walked along a county road south of Dixon, one a farm hand named Joseph M. Mosse and the other, Frank C. Thiel, a traveling salesman from Elgin, IL. The unemployed farmhand told the salesman of a place he could sell his Bibles and proceeded to take him to a farm where he had worked. As the two men passed a gulch the farmhand struck and killed the salesman with a knife and a walnut baluster he was seen carrying under his arm. He then buried the body in the culvert. The body was later discovered when cattle refused to use the underpass en route to a milking barn. An overnight rain had washed away some of the dirt exposing a limb. When the sheriff arrived to question the farm hand, since he was seen leaving Dixon with the deceased, he pretended to get a drink while throwing a watch chain taken from the salesman in the bushes. The evidence was found and the farmhand was eventually put in jail for life, while the road over the underpass began to be called Bloody Gulch Road.

In April 2012, Dixon Municipal Comptroller Rita Crundwell was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for embezzlement. She used the embezzled funds to pay for her lavish lifestyle and what became one of the nation's best-known quarter horse-breeding programs, among other things. Crundwell's crimes, thought to be the most substantial municipal theft in U.S. history, impacted Dixon's finances severely. Federal prosecutors estimated the amount embezzled at $53 million since 1990. The city sued the auditors who had failed to detect the embezzlement and the bank at which Crundwell maintained a secret account, and received $40 million in settlements. In February 2013, Crundwell was sentenced to almost 20 years in prison.

On May 16, 2018, Matthew Milby, a 19-year-old student, entered Dixon High School and fired shots during graduation practice. He was pursued by School Resource Officer Mark Dallas, of the Dixon Police Department. After firing shots at the officer, the shooter was wounded by Dallas as he returned fire. Milby was then taken into custody. There were no additional injuries. Milby was diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder and initially found unfit to stand trial. On July 14, 2022 he pleaded guilty to aggravated discharge of a firearm towards a peace officer and aggravated discharge of a firearm in a school building; he was sentenced to thirty years in prison.

Ronald Reagan
Dixon was the childhood home of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Reagan was born in nearby Tampico and moved to Dixon, aged nine. In his teen years, he lifeguarded along the banks of the Rock River. His family house is preserved at 816 South Hennepin Avenue, and authorized by Congress to become the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home. On February 6, 1984, during his first term as president, Reagan returned to Dixon to celebrate his 73rd birthday. He toured his boyhood residence and the city held a parade in his honor.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Dixon has a total area of 7.862 sqmi, of which 7.43 sqmi (or 94.51%) is land and 0.432 sqmi (or 5.49%) is water.

Climate
Dixon has a hot summer humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfa) with four seasons. The winters are generally cold and see frequent snowfall, while the summers are warm and humid. Typically Dixon ranges from a low of 10 °F (-12 °C) to a high of 82 °F (28 °C). A low of -32 °F (-35 °C) was recorded during the January–February 2019 North American cold wave, and a record high of 110 °F (43 °C) was recorded during the 1936 North American heat wave. Average monthly precipitation ranges from 1.43 in in February to 4.88 in in June.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, 15,941 people, 5,681 households, and 3,488 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,519.8 PD/sqmi. The city consisted of 6,138 housing units at an average density of 970.3 /sqmi. The city's racial makeup included 86.33% White, 10.48% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race comprised 4.30% of the population.

There were 5,681 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,720, and the median income for a family was $45,088. Males had a median income of $32,511 versus $21,777 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,630. About 5.7% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Dixon is a regional employment hub and is part of two fast growing distribution and warehousing and food processing districts: one is I-88 West and the other, the I-39 Logistics Corridor. The biggest industries are healthcare and government. Healthcare employs over 1,700, while government jobs approach 1,500. The Dixon Correctional Center employs over 600 workers, as does the Department of Transportation. KSB Hospital has nearly 1,000 employees. Dixon has many industries employing thousands of the region's residents. The largest are Raynor Garage Doors, Donaldson Inc., Borg Warner, and Spectrum Brands. Fifteen miles away in Ashton, Crest Foods employs over 600.

Arts and culture
The city of Dixon has numerous art venues including: a downtown art gallery, 2 galleries held in museums, and several private business galleries. Dixon also has a performing arts theatre called Dixon Stage Left, and a musician and visual arts co-op called Rosbrook Studio. The city has numerous festivals throughout the year including: Gardenstock Arts & Music Fest, Venitian Night on the Riverfront, a downtown wine festival, Blues-Brews-and BBQ, Reagan Trail Days, and the fall Scarecrow Festival.

Every summer Dixon holds the annual Petunia Festival featuring a parade, carnival (Farrow shows), country concert, fireworks show, and a 5K race—the Reagan Run. The parade features a multitude of floats from surrounding businesses, politicians, and other area groups. A carnival is also held in Dixon during this time, and the festival ends with the Fourth of July fireworks. The Downtown district has become a National Historic District. The Rock River which runs through the center of Dixon has been designated a National Waterway by the Federal Government. Dixon residents have supported a variety of large-scale projects that have created several aspects to their rural community. One aspect of this small town is that an individual can kayak the Rock River to the city's downtown docks and join a public Yoga session on the riverfront.

The Petunia Festival was conceived after Dutch Elm Disease and highway expansion wiped out the trees along the major roads in the late 1950s. In response to the dramatic change the streetscape underwent, the Dixon Men's Garden Club planted petunias along Galena Avenue to regain some sort of streetscape identity once again in the early 1960s. Before this annual festival, volunteers plant thousands of pink petunias along the main streets. The flowers are watered and maintained by the combined efforts of city workers and volunteers.

An iconic arch along Galena Avenue, just south of the Rock River, features the word "Dixon" in neon glasswork. Though commonly referred to as the Dixon Arch, the proper name for the structure is the War Memorial Arch. The Northwest Territory Historic Center is a History Research and Learning Center housed in President Ronald Reagan's boyhood South Central School. Restored with the dedicated support of the townspeople and Reagan colleagues, the Center is proudly affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.

The Center houses the Veterans History Project Regional Center, auditorium, research library, historical exhibits, art gallery, surround-sound theater, and museum store.

Parks and recreation
The Dixon Park District owns more than 1100 acres of land including two historic parks platted in 1842. The parks range from Lowell Park's 200 acres which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; rural Meadows Park which encompasses 567 acres of recreational opportunities with natural areas and farm land; to neighborhood parks located throughout the city. Lee County, of which Dixon is the County Seat, offers many recreational areas and campgrounds; over 7,000 campsites are located within 17 miles (27 km) of the city. Tourists from nearby Chicago take advantage of Lee County's recreational opportunities, particularly during summer weekends, adding approximately 20,000 people to the area's population.

Health care
Dixon is a regional center for healthcare. The community has KSB Hospital which is a medical student teaching facility, 4 adult clinics, a children's clinic, 2 dialysis centers, 2 urgent care clinics, and is home to Sinnissippi Mental Health Center and the Northern Illinois Cancer Center. There is also a hospital, an infirmary, and a clinic for the mentally ill at the Dixon Correctional Center. The Mabley State Mental Health complex is also located in Dixon.

Airport
Dixon is served by the Dixon Municipal, Charles R Walgreen Field Airport, a general aviation only airport.

Notable people

 * Noah Brooks: journalist and biographier of Abraham Lincoln
 * William Conger: painter and educator
 * Hubert D. Considine: Illinois state representative and businessman.
 * Rita Crundwell: breeder of quarterhorses; embezzled approximately $53 million while Dixon comptroller in what is believed to be the largest municipal fraud in American history.
 * John Dement: 19th century politician and military commander.
 * John Deere: industrialist, manufacturer, invented first commercially successful steel plow; born in Vermont, lived in Grand Detour.
 * John Devine: professional bicycle racer.
 * John P. Devine: Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.
 * Sherwood Dixon: politician, 36th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.
 * James K. Edsall: politician, Illinois Attorney General.
 * Samuel Cook Edsall: Episcopal Bishop of Minnesota.
 * Daniel G. Garnsey: United States Congressman.
 * Harriet E. Garrison (1848–1930), physician, writer
 * Jerry Hey: five-time Grammy winner.
 * David Klamen: artist and academic
 * Jeanie Linders: writer and producer of Menopause: The Musical.
 * William H. McMaster: South Dakota state representative, state senator, lieutenant governor, governor, US senator, later banker in Dixon.
 * Ward T. Miller: professional baseball player in early 1900s for Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Terriers (FL) and St. Louis Browns.
 * Julia Swift Orvis, history professor at Wellesley College
 * Louella Parsons (born Louella Rose Oettinger): influential newspaper columnist; born in Freeport and grew up in Dixon.
 * Ronald Reagan: 40th President of the United States, 33rd Governor of California, noted actor; born in Tampico and grew up in Dixon.
 * Rondi Reed: Tony Award-winning actress and singer.
 * Fred E. Sterling: politician.
 * Charles Rudolph Walgreen: founder of drugstore chain; he grew up in Dixon and began his career there as a pharmacist.
 * Minnie Gow Walsworth, poet
 * Larry Young: MLB umpire.
 * Isaiah Roby: NBA Oklahoma City Thunder
 * George Ham Page: industrialist and co-founder of the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, a predecessor of Nestlé, primarily resided in Cham, Switzerland during his life

Sister cities
Dixon has four sister cities.
 * Dikson, Russia
 * Herzberg, Germany
 * Castlebar, Ireland
 * Thika, Kenya

title: Dixon, Illinois


text:
Franklin Grove, Illinois

Franklin Grove is a village in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,021 at the 2010 census, down from 1,052 in 2000.

History
Franklin Grove was named for James R. Franklin, a pioneer who settled in a grove near the town site.

The Lincoln Highway Association (LHA) maintains a national tourist center in Franklin Grove, in a historic building built by Harry Isaac Lincoln, a cousin of Abraham Lincoln. The LHA is a national organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Lincoln Highway, the first road across the United States of America, which was routed through Franklin Grove.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Franklin Grove has a total area of 0.48 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,052 people, 372 households, and 249 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,835.5 PD/sqmi. There were 394 housing units at an average density of 1,062.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.24% White, 0.10% African American, 0.10% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.

There were 372 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $41,181, and the median income for a family was $45,875. Males had a median income of $33,654 versus $19,063 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,427. About 5.9% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

The Nachusa Grasslands, a prairie restoration operated by the Nature Conservancy, began operating in 1986.

Churches
Franklin Grove has four churches within the city limits: The Franklin Grove United Methodist Church, Church of the Brethren, First Presbyterian and St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Franklin Grove, Illinois


text:
Harmon, Illinois

Harmon is a village in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 120 at the 2010 census, down from 149 in 2000.

Geography
Harmon is located at 41.72056°N, -89.55528°W (41.720660, -89.555298).

According to the 2010 census, Harmon has a total area of 0.15 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 149 people, 58 households, and 44 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,049.7 PD/sqmi. There were 62 housing units at an average density of 436.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.33% White, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.03% of the population.

There were 58 households, out of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 125.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $58,750, and the median income for a family was $63,750. Males had a median income of $33,864 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,697. There were 2.6% of families and 3.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 30.0% of those over 64.

Notable people

 * Hubert D. Considine, Illinois state representative and businessman, was born in Harmon.
 * John P. Devine, lawyer and Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, was born in Harmon.

title: Harmon, Illinois


text:
Nelson, Illinois

Nelson is a village in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 170 at the 2010 census, up from 163 in 2000.

History
A post office called Nelson was first established in 1858. The village was named for Samuel Nelson, a pioneer settler.

Geography
Nelson is located at 41.79639°N, -89.60472°W (41.796494, -89.604646).

According to the 2010 census, Nelson has a total area of 0.244 sqmi, of which 0.24 sqmi (or 98.36%) is land and 0.004 sqmi (or 1.64%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 163 people, 64 households, and 49 families residing in the village. The population density was 719.0 PD/sqmi. There were 70 housing units at an average density of 308.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 96.32% White, 0.61% African American, 0.61% Native American, and 2.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.13% of the population.

There were 64 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the village, the age distribution of the population shows 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $35,833, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $33,125 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,043. About 15.9% of families and 30.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 60.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 9.1% of those 65 or over.

Education
Besides the local public schools, Christ Lutheran School, located in nearby Sterling, serves students of various religious backgrounds from Milledgeville to Walnut and from Morrison to Dixon. As part of the largest network of Protestant schools in the US, CLS provides an education for students from age 3 through 8th grade that is focused on all of the core academic subjects while remaining true to the Bible.

Notable person

 * Lou Bevil, pitcher for the Washington Senators

title: Nelson, Illinois


text:
Paw Paw, Illinois

Paw Paw is a village in Lee County in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 census, the village was home to 830 people, down from 870 at the 2010 census. It was settled in the mid 19th century and by 1878 the village had a railroad connection. Paw Paw is home to a house which is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and was the recipient of a 2005 federal grant to construct a water tower.

History
In 1829, present-day Chicago Road was part of the Frink and Walker stagecoach line from Galena, Illinois to Chicago, though the Potawatomi Indians were the first to use the trail. The tribe didn't turn over the area to the U.S. government until 1833. Frink and Walker also held the mail contract for the area's settlers. The route became popular and garnered a mention in the work of writer Margaret Fuller.

Paw Paw's first permanent resident was David A. Town in 1834, a native of Vermont, Town settled on the southeast side of a 2000 acre grove. The first cabin was built the next spring by Edward Butterfield on the site of Paw Paw. This first house also held the village's first store and would eventually become the first structure in town to burn. During its earliest days, the town was sectioned off into East, West, and South Paw Paw, all of which became known as simply Paw Paw. In 1837, the village got its first postmaster, William Rodgers. Before, the nearest post office was 20 miles away in Somonauk. In 1839, a new road was constructed which allowed mail to be carried from Paw Paw to Princeton. The first stagecoach station (known as a "Tavern") was built along Chicago Road and operated by Isaac Balding. Balding operated the station until the railroad came to town several years later.

Though settlement in present-day Paw Paw began during the 1830s, by 1847 there were probably no more than 50 people in the village. The name Paw Paw was derived from a nearby grove of Pawpaw trees on the edge of a 2000 acre forest. American general Winfield Scott is credited with being the first person of European ancestry to discover the area. The area that Paw Paw is located in was home to more than one stand of Paw Paw trees, thus more than one settlement took the name Paw Paw. To avoid confusion the townspeople renamed the village Wyoming Township. The new name came from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania, where many of Paw Paw's earliest settlers originated. The Wyoming Valley was the scene of a massacre during the American Revolution in which over 300 American settlers were killed by Native Americans allied with the British. Many of Paw Paw's early settlers shared surnames with those who are listed as having been involved in the fighting and massacre.

In 1850, Wyoming Township experienced a growth spurt despite being passed over for the coveted railroad link, by this time there were several businesses and a school. By 1878, the village finally got a railroad connection, was home to two newspapers, three churches and was christened, officially, as Paw Paw. The village was officially established in 1882 and is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2007.

In June 1890 a cyclone destroyed much of Paw Paw, including a schoolhouse. Fourteen people were killed, including 7 in the school.

In 2005, the village received some U.S. federal government attention. On May 22 of that year, a local Queen Anne style house, the Stephen Wright House was listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, it is the only property with that designation in Paw Paw. The same year the village was the recipient of a US$192,000 United States Environmental Protection Agency earmark to construct an elevated water tower.

Demographics
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 852 people, 342 households, and 228 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,506.2 PD/sqmi. There were 359 housing units at an average density of 634.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.71% White, 0.12% Native American, 0.35% Asian, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.

There were 342 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a woman householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 women there were 99.5 men. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 97.4 men.

The median income for a household in the village was $37,563, and the median income for a family was $47,500. Men had a median income of $36,833 versus $22,000 for women. The per capita income for the village was $17,461. About 2.9% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Geography
Paw Paw is located at 41.68778°N, -88.9825°W (41.687856, -88.982577).

According to the 2010 census, Paw Paw has a total area of 0.59 sqmi, all land. The village is located within close reach of Interstate 39.

Climate
Humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfa" (Hot Summer Continental Climate).

Education
Public education in Paw Paw is overseen by Unit 271 school district. The district operates Paw Paw Junior High School and Paw Paw Elementary School. Paw Paw Jr/Sr High School opened in 1841 and closed in 2019, with students being sent to Indian Creek High School.

Notable people

 * George Bristow, outfielder for the Cleveland Spiders
 * Ulysses S. Guyer, Former U.S. Representative
 * Jesse Harper, football coach
 * Robben Wright Fleming, educator

title: Paw Paw, Illinois


text:
Steward, Illinois

Steward is a village in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 256 at the 2010 census, down from 271 in 2000.

History
Steward, Illinois, was named for Wesley Steward, who in 1855 came to this area in Alto Township to settle the land owned by his father, Marcus Steward. John Grimes built the first house in Alto Township in Plum Thicket in 1847, located east on the outskirts of the village as it is today. In 1861, Mr. Steward married and built the first farm house in the location of Steward, which is still standing. The town is located in the west central part of Alto Township and the northeast part of Lee County. Mr. Steward was influential in getting the Chicago and Iowa Railroad, now known as the Burlington Northern, through the township extending from Hinckley, Illinois to Rochelle, Illinois completed in 1870. The Village Hall on Main Street is one of the oldest buildings in existence and the jail cells bought in 1903 and housed in the building are still one of the few reminders of the early days (not used). In 1872 Mr. Steward built the first elevator at the east end of Main Street run by steam. The history of the elevators in Steward over the years is a story in itself. The first house in Steward after the town's formation is on John Street, also standing today, built in 1872.

The railroad offices and warehouse were in Wesley Steward's barn until 1871, when the first depot was then built. It is said to have burned down in 1894. The present depot, no longer in use by the Burlington Northern and in the process of being salvaged by a group in interested citizens of the village as a historical landmark, a museum, library, and social meeting place for anyone in the community, was built in 1896. This project “The Steward Illinois Depot Project, Inc.” was being projected as a Bicentennial venture during the 1976 year. In 1902 Steward was selected as the junctional point for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company as they recognized the need for a railroad to run south out of Rockford, Illinois. The Milwaukee depot and switch tower for both railroads were on the northwest edge of town.

The first businesses were a restaurant and general merchandise store built in 1871. By the early 1900s, business houses were located on both sides of Main Street with a steady growth and expansion until the depression days when the town could then gradually see a decline in the businesses. The charter for the First National Bank of Steward was signed and issued on December 18, 1902. A new building was erected and business started January 2, 1903, and continued till 1933. The first Post Office was established at Heaton August 31, 1871, and located in the Steward depot. It was relocated in Steward April 12, 1876. Today it is located in the old bank building on Main Street. By 1976, the village became mostly a residential community with the exception of the Post Office.

Education
Steward, IL has one public school in its district (district #220) named, Steward Elementary School. This school serves children ages Kindergarten through 8th grade. Their mascot is an Eagle.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Steward has a total area of 0.2 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 271 people, 99 households, and 79 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,180.9 PD/sqmi. There were 103 housing units at an average density of 828.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.52% White, 0.37% African American, 0.74% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.06% of the population.

There were 99 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $46,071, and the median income for a family was $51,500. Males had a median income of $35,469 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,270. About 2.5% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 4.5% of those 65 or over.

Notable person

 * Leroy Herrmann, pitcher with the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds

title: Steward, Illinois


text:
Sublette, Illinois

Sublette is a village in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 449 at the 2010 census.

History
The earliest references to Sublette as a town are from plat maps dating to the 1850s. At this point in time, Sublette was known as "Hanno" (named for Hanau, Prussia). It was a small cluster of houses just north of the settlement at Knox Grove. In 1854, the Illinois Central Railroad built a line through Hanno and constructed a depot there for passenger and freight services. A plat map from the following year lists the town's name as being "Soublette" or the "Town of Soublett". The town name was officially changed to "Sublette" by an act of the state legislature in 1857. The name is unaffiliated with the town being sublet from the railroad; it likely traces back to an Americanized spelling of the French surname Soblet.

Geography
Sublette is located in southern Lee County at 41.64306°N, -89.23056°W (41.643141, -89.230460). U.S. Route 52 passes through the village as North Pennsylvania Avenue. US 52 leads northwest 7 mi to Amboy and southeast 9 mi to Mendota. Dixon, the Lee county seat, is 20 mi northwest of Sublette via US 52.

Woodhaven Lakes, a private camping resort, is 3 mi northwest of Sublette.

According to the 2010 census, Sublette has a total area of 0.35 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 456 people, 189 households, and 127 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,303.5 PD/sqmi. There were 203 housing units at an average density of 580.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 97.81% White, 0.88% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.88% from other races, and 0.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.82% of the population.

There were 189 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $43,393, and the median income for a family was $51,250. Males had a median income of $40,368 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the village was $22,982. About 2.4% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

title: Sublette, Illinois


text:
West Brooklyn, Illinois

West Brooklyn is a village in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 142 at the 2010 census, down from 174 in 2000. There is one Church located in West Brooklyn...St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Parish.

History

 * Henry F. Gehant (1863–1927), farmer, merchant, and banker, served in the Illinois General Assembly; he also served as president of the West Brooklyn Village Board.

Geography
West Brooklyn is located at 41.69361°N, -89.14722°W (41.693533, -89.147123).

According to the 2010 census, West Brooklyn has a total area of 0.11 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 174 people, 60 households, and 43 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,629.0 PD/sqmi. There were 67 housing units at an average density of 627.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 91.95% White, 0.57% African American, 1.15% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 1.72% from other races, and 4.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.75% of the population.

There were 60 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples living together, and 28.3% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 35.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $34,375, and the median income for a family was $44,750. Males had a median income of $26,786 versus $27,750 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,102. About 2.4% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 21.4% of those 65 or over.

title: West Brooklyn, Illinois


text:
Campus, Illinois

Campus is a village in Round Grove and Broughton townships, Livingston County, Illinois. The population was 149 at the 2020 census.

History
Campus was laid out and platted by Charles William Sheldon (1839–1911) in April 1880, along the Wabash Railroad on his farm of 640 acre. The town was named "Campus" because the many trees made someone think of a college campus.

Sheldon was a farmer and he owned the first business in town, Campus Brick & Tile Co. He later sold the company, which passed through several owners before closing in 1952. Over the years the tile company produced millions of feet of drain tile and was one of the principal industries in the town.

Thomas Feehery (1839–1926) built the first store and post office in Campus. The Chariton brothers built the second store in town. In 1896, the first hotel was built. Other businesses at that time included Ole Nelson and Thomas Connors' livery stable.

Campus had a water system by 1894. The town also had street lights, cement sidewalks, an electric light plant and tile drains, which were great improvements for such an isolated rural town in those early years.

The town had a disastrous fire in 1897 that destroyed three of the business houses. A brick building was built on the ruins.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church was the first brick structure in the village. The Catholic Church had its start in the area in the 1870s when a small church was built in Broughton Township a mile south of Campus. The building was later moved into town. Joseph Zeller (1918–2018), Pennsylvania businessman and state legislator, was born in Campus.

The present brick building on Elm Street was begun in June 1983 and completed a year later. A rectory was built next to the church. A convent school was built in 1898 on the other side of Elm Street. The school closed in 1930 and was vacant for several years. It later served as a vocation center and home for priests.

By the 1970s the former school building had become a rooming house and laundromat. The beautiful building later became vacant and in disrepair.

In 2024 the village was awarded $1.3 million from the USDA and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly for water system improvements.

Geography
Campus is located in northeastern Livingston County. Most of the village is in Round Grove Township, but four blocks of the village are in Broughton Township to the south. Campus is 11 mi by road southeast of Dwight.

According to the 2010 census, Campus has a total area of 0.09 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 145 people, 40 households, and 31 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,459.1 PD/sqmi. There were 45 housing units at an average density of 452.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.38% of the population.

There were 40 households, out of which 55.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.63 and the average family size was 4.10.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 42.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 10.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $47,750, and the median income for a family was $49,250. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,005. There were 3.7% of families and 3.4% of the population living below the poverty line, including 7.5% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

title: Campus, Illinois


text:
Chatsworth, Illinois

Chatsworth is an incorporated town in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,332 at the 2020 census.

Geography
Chatsworth is located in southeastern Livingston County in northern Chatsworth Township, with a small panhandle extending north into Charlotte Township. The town limits also extend south from the town center and include a large undeveloped area in central Chatsworth Township.

U.S. Route 24 runs through the town south of the town center, leading east 15 mi to Interstate 57 at Gilman and west 23 mi to Interstate 55 at Chenoa.

According to the 2020 census, Chatsworth has a total area of 2.8 sqmi, all land.

Founding
Chatsworth was laid out by Zeno Secor (1809 – 1875) and Cornelia Gilman on June 8, 1859. Both founders were from New York. Secor was a member of the Board of Directors of the company that was building the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad. He was a noted civil engineer and marine engine designer, who was involved with a number of railroads. Secor was later president of the Toledo Peoria and Western Railroad. Secor is best known for building a number of ironclad warships for the Union Navy. Cornelia Gilman was perhaps the person of that name who was the wife of Samuel Gilman, another director of the firm, and the man who gave his name to the nearby town of Gilman. The town of Chatsworth is perhaps named for Chatsworth House, the home of the Duke of Devonshire. Trains were running along the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad before the town was platted. The railroad soon became the Toledo, Peoria and Western.

Original design
Chatsworth was surveyed by Nelson Buck, the County Surveyor of Livingston County. However, the plan used was virtually identical to that used at Fairbury, including the street names, and very similar to that used at Gridley, El Paso and other places along the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad. This suggests that the railroad supplied the plan from which Buck worked. Like these other towns, Chatsworth was centered on a long narrow depot grounds rather than a public square. The plat of the original town was exceptionally large, covering 160 acre and consisting of 42 blocks, most located north of the railroad. The early depot was on the south side of the tracks. Block 16 of the plat was not divided into lots, and 1878 was listed as the City Park. It was eventually planted with over 500 maple trees, and a pavilion was added in 1962.

Growth
The first building was a $1 1/2$-story frame structure used as both a residence and store, which was built by Charles D. Brooks and Truman Brockway of New York. Brooks was the first postmaster and the first grain dealer. Early growth of the town was very rapid, and by 1870 Chatsworth had 999 people. The first hotel was the Cottage House, built by Samuel Patton. Soon a newspaper, the Plaindealer, was being published. In 1879 a second railroad, the Kankakee and Southwestern, passed through the town and was given a right of way down Second Street. In 1887 the town rendered aid in the train accident known as the Great Chatsworth Train Wreck. Telephone service came in 1883, and an electric light plant was built in 1894. In March 1924 seventy to one hundred men arrived in town to work on a paved highway, at first known as the Corn Belt Trail, which soon became Route 24 and formed an important east-west route across Illinois.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,265 people, 533 households, and 338 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,412.8 PD/sqmi. There were 581 housing units at an average density of 648.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.81% White, 0.32% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.

There were 533 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,159, and the median income for a family was $42,679. Males had a median income of $31,848 versus $20,667 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,241. About 13.0% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Alice Gentle, opera singer

title: Chatsworth, Illinois


text:
Cornell, Illinois

Cornell is a village in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 446 at the 2020 census.

History
The modern town of Cornell is a blending of two towns founded at almost the same time. Both were attempting to attract a station on the new Fairbury Pontiac and Northwestern Railroad, which eventually became part of the Wabash Railroad. The town of Cornell was laid out by Walter P. Cornell (April 3, 1811 – May 5, 1889) on June 15, 1871. The adjoining town of Amity was laid out two days later by Willard D. Blake (February 5, 1840 – June 1, 1875). Walter Cornell was born in Rhode Island, came to Illinois in 1837, served three years as County Treasurer, and was a director of the railroad. Blake was a farmer born in LaSalle County, Illinois, who died at the age of 35. Ironically, while the name Cornell was kept by the new town, most of the early businesses were in the Amity part of the plat. Indeed, several early houses built in Cornell were soon moved a few blocks down to the Amity part of the town. Cornell was officially organized as a town in 1873.

The original town of Cornell was centered on a block of public land, which is today called North Park. Neither original town had a railroad ground, but a small triangular “Public Ground” was later added. South Park dates from a later addition to the town. Years ago the town had several grocery stores, a bank, four churches, a stockyard, a harness shop and a newspaper, the Cornell Journal.

Geography
Cornell is located in northwestern Livingston County in the northeastern part of Amity Township. Illinois Route 23 passes through the village, leading northwest 14 mi to Streator and southeast 12 mi to Pontiac, the Livingston county seat.

According to the 2010 census, Cornell has a total area of 0.64 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 511 people, 205 households, and 142 families residing in the village. The population density was 803.8 PD/sqmi. There were 217 housing units at an average density of 341.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.83% White, 0.39% African American, 0.78% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57% of the population.

There were 205 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $45,313, and the median income for a family was $51,429. Males had a median income of $39,375 versus $17,273 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,655. About 8.3% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

title: Cornell, Illinois


text:
Cullom, Illinois

Cullom is a village in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. Cullom is situated twenty miles east of Pontiac which is the county seat, and is one mile west of the Ford County line. The population was 555 at the 2010 census.

History
Cullom owes its beginning to the Illinois Central Railroad which reached the village in 1878. The location of the village was established by Frederick Hack who granted a 90 foot right of way across his farm and paid a cash bonus of $4000 to the railroad company. Hack platted and laid out the village and donated forty acres of land on which to build it.

The village was named for Shelby Moore Cullom, 17th governor of Illinois. The story was that Mr. Hack wanted the town called Jeffrey after the man who was roadmaster of the Illinois Central Railroad at that time. Jeffrey wanted the town called Hack but he declined the honor. The two men then compromised and called it Cullom. The governor was notified of their decision, and he sent a draft for $25, to be given to the denomination that built the first church in the village. The money was given to the Methodists which built the first church in 1880.

The main street going through the business district was then called Hack Street in honor of Mr. Hack. The first building was moved here from Chatsworth, Illinois in the fall of 1878 by John Tims. It was used for a lumber office. J. W. White and Dr. Keck arrived about the same time from Barrington, Illinois and shipped the first lumber into town with which to erect a building that was later used as a saloon.

James Righter moved a two-story frame building from Sullivan Center, Illinois which was used for a general store. Another store building was erected on Maple Street by Dr. Kay and E. K. Brown which was later known as Crosten’s Drug Store.

A post office has been in operation at Cullom since 1878. John Weinland was the first postmaster. He had a small building near the stockyards and traded hogs and grain as a sideline. He also sold building lots for Mr. Hack, some of them selling for $15.

Peter Gingry and Andrew Keck Sr. operated the first saloon and Mike Harshbarger ran a pool hall in an adjoining room. Cullom’s first train depot was a small “two by four” building which was used until a better one was moved from Kempton, Illinois on a flat car. James Fitzmaurice was the first permanent station agent. David Farmer built a brick building, known as the Cullom Hotel, on Maple Street which was used for many purposes. Some of the early businessmen rented space there to start a store before buying a building of their own. The first school in Cullom was built about 1880. It was a frame building and consisted of two rooms. The primary room on the lower floor and the intermediate grades on the upper floor.

Although Cullom was started in 1878, it was not incorporated until July 27, 1882, the charter being signed by James A. Rose, Secretary of State. Election of the village officers was held in August with the following being elected: Mayor: Jesse Hatfield; Trustees: Frederick Hack, Dr. Z. L. Kay, James Dorsey, J.W. White, A. Loubke; Clerk: W. C. Bullard.

The town was enlarged in 1901 and 1902 with the Hertlein’s addition to the south and east and Peterdorf’s addition to the west. A few years later Heckelmans addition to the east and north further enlarged the village. By the early 1900s the population of Cullom had risen to over 500. H. G. Steiman of Melvin, Illinois came to Cullom and opened the first bank called the First National Bank in 1907.

At one time Cullom had four grocery stores, five saloons, two hotels, a bank, a milliner shop, a hardware store, a drug store, a post office, a clothing store, a pool and billiard hall, a cobbler, a baker, a confectionery and ice cream parlor, a shoe store, two barbershops, a tin shop, two blacksmith shops, a glove factory, two livery barns, a cement factory, three doctors, a weekly newspaper, a tile factory, and two grain elevators.

Geography
Cullom is located in eastern Livingston County and is the only incorporated community in Sullivan Township.

Illinois Route 116 passes through the village, leading west 20 mi to Pontiac, the county seat, and east 16 mi to Ashkum. Route 116 connects to Interstate 55 on the west side of Pontiac and to Interstate 57 on the west side of Ashkum.

According to the 2010 census, Cullom has a total area of 0.33 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 563 people, 248 households, and 155 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,827.0 PD/sqmi. There were 269 housing units at an average density of 873.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.93% White, 0.18% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.18% Pacific Islander, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.36% of the population.

There were 248 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $31,042, and the median income for a family was $46,406. Males had a median income of $40,221 versus $25,500 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,207. About 1.9% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest
In 2002 American Legion Skinner-Trost Post 122 dedicated a monument to all the local area veterans, living and dead, at the West Lawn Cemetery located on W. Jackson Street. The monument includes etched emblems of all branches of military service, US Air Force, US Army, US Marine Corps, United States Navy, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves. Names are updated as members of the community join the military and are discharged.

Tri Point High School serves grade 9-12 students from Cullom, Cabery, Kempton, Piper City, and Stelle.

Notable people
Arnold Orville Beckman (April 10, 1900 – May 18, 2004) was a chemist, inventor, investor, and philanthropist born in Cullom.

title: Cullom, Illinois


text:
Emington, Illinois

Emington is a village in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 117 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Emington is located in northeastern Livingston County 18 mi northeast of the county seat of Pontiac and 12 mi southeast of Dwight. It is 35 mi west of Kankakee and 46 mi south of Joliet.

According to the 2010 census, Emington has a total area of 0.11 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 120 people, 49 households, and 26 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,184.7 PD/sqmi. There were 52 housing units at an average density of 513.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 97.50% White, 0.83% Asian, and 1.67% from two or more races.

There were 49 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 38.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.37.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 30.8% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $30,417, and the median income for a family was $31,607. Males had a median income of $30,250 versus $16,875 for females. The per capita income for the village was $12,183. There were 16.1% of families and 12.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including 16.3% of under eighteens and 23.1% of those over 64.

title: Emington, Illinois


text:
Fairbury, Illinois

Fairbury is a city in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,633 at the 2020 census.

Fairbury is located on U.S. Route 24 11 miles east of Chenoa and six miles west of Forrest. It was founded in 1857. The town has a large population of members of the Apostolic Christian faith, who first settled in the area in 1864.

Founding
Fairbury was laid out on November 10, 1857 by Caleb L. Patton and Octave Chanute. Like most Illinois towns of the 1850s, the original town of Fairbury was centered on a depot ground. It consisted of twenty-six blocks, each divided into fourteen to sixteen lots. There was no central public square, but one was later included in Marsh's addition. The plan used was virtually identical to that at Chatsworth, Illinois, including the street names, and the plan was similar to that at Gridley and El Paso on the same railroad.

Octave Chanute was a civil engineer employed by the new Peoria and Oquawka Railroad, which is now the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad. Caleb L. Patton was an early settler on the land where the town was built. Chanute, a French native, was later famed for publishing Progress in Flying Machines, which helped pioneer aviation (the Wright brothers even mentioned Chanute as a mentor to them). Chanute built the railroad that made Fairbury possible, but did so against the will of Patton, Fairbury's first citizen.

Caleb Patton owned the land that the original town was built on and advertised lots for sale, attracting other people to live there. When Patton heard that Chanute wanted to build a railroad in the area's general direction, he saw it as an opportunity to make use of his otherwise deserted land and struck a deal. If Chanute built his railroad through Fairbury, then Patton would give Chanute half of the town's property. Patton and Chanute reached an agreement, and Chanute kept up his end of the deal. Patton gave a small chunk of the land to the Baptist Church and set aside an area for the railroad and a depot. However, when Chanute reached Fairbury, he was met by a group of armed citizens. The town had passed an ordinance that no railroad would pass through Fairbury, and they advised Chanute to simply build around the town. They had even received an injunction from Pontiac, Illinois forbidding Chanute from building a railroad through the town. Alma Lewis-James, author of Stuffed Clubs and Antimacassars: Account and Tales of Early Fairbury, best describes what Chanute did next:

"...Chanute was clever. He did not use force, but quietly laid his rails to the eastern edge of town, skipped Fairbury, began again at the western edge, and worked straight on until Saturday night. In the darkness and secretly, he moved his crews back; and the next morning, at first dawn; and reinforced by armed guards of his own, he was ready for business. To the consternation of the dumbfounded and helpless villagers, he rushed the track straight through the town and the courthouse was closed. By Monday morning he was well on his way to Peoria."

In 1859, John Marsh bought 80 acre of land to the west of Patton's. He donated a section of his property to the town, and it was named Marsh Park. He named another part of his addition to the town Livingston Square. It was to be used for businesses and markets. He built the Arcade Block in another section, which were a series of brick buildings connected to each other. In 1866, the Livingston Hotel was built. It was renowned for being the only hotel in Illinois with running water. Marsh did not like the east side of Fairbury and developed his west side vigorously, creating a feud. After a devastating fire, many of the people on the east side went to work in Marsh's west side because of all of the work opportunities over there. A new railroad was being considered, and Marsh used his power to see that it passed through only the west side of Fairbury and not through the east.

The Most Flammable Town in the Midwest
After the fire caused by the train, three more subsequent fires succeeded in destroying many parts of the town. All of them were around the railroad, and together they destroyed more than twenty buildings and houses. Additionally, every few nights someone would try to start a fire in a residential area, and sometimes succeeded. Fairbury became known as the most flammable town in the Midwest.

The fire era of Fairbury came to an end after the Livingston Hotel burned. Marsh blamed Amsbary for the fire, and Amsbary blamed Marsh. Both of the men filed suits against each other for arson, and then for slander. Marsh was indicted, but was found not guilty. The power that the two men held in the town quickly died down, as did the feud between the east and west sides of Fairbury. The town ceased its civil quarrel, and agreed to work with each other instead of against each other.

McDonald's lawsuit
It was in this very town that a resident and restaurant owner named Ronald McDonald was in a 26-year legal battle with McDonald's over the name of his restaurant. He ultimately prevailed and continued using his name on his restaurant despite objections by the franchise.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Fairbury has a total area of 1.8 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,968 people, 1,544 households, and 1,053 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,060.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,623 housing units at an average density of 1,251.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.80% White, 0.40% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 1.66% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.60% of the population.

There were 1,544 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,298, and the median income for a family was $51,117. Males had a median income of $33,507 versus $24,188 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,145. About 3.3% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The offices of the Prairie Central Consolidated School District are located in Fairbury, as is the district's only high school, Prairie Central High School. High school graduates who attend community college do so at Heartland Community College, either in Pontiac or Normal.

Notable people

 * DJ Ashba, rock musician, lead guitarist for Sixx:A.M., former lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses
 * George S. Brydia, journalist, salesman, politician, and a reporter for the Fairbury Local Record newspaper
 * Hazel Keener, American actress
 * Margaret Cairns Munns, teacher, social reformer, parliamentarian
 * Francis Everett Townsend, an American physician and political activist, born in Fairbury
 * Skottie Young, comic book artist

title: Fairbury, Illinois


text:
Flanagan, Illinois

Flanagan is a village in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,110 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Flanagan is located in western Livingston County. Illinois Route 116 passes along the southern edge of the village, leading east 12 mi to Pontiac, the county seat, and west 10 mi to Woodford.

According to the 2010 census, Flanagan has a total area of 0.53 sqmi, all land. A small man-made lake (originally four separate lakes, some being filled in), called the Legion Lake, is located on the west side of the village. A walking trail surrounds it and a park shelter is located on the site. Artesian Park, another small park within the village boundaries, is located on the east side of town. It boasts two picnic shelters, a tennis court and playground equipment. A small business district of roughly one block in length is located in the center of town. Just north of this, the Flanagan Co-op can be found, a complex of several grain elevators and silos at Main and Lumber streets.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,110 people, 446 occupied households, and 278 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,028.8 PD/sqmi. There were 497 housing units at an average density of 889.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 97.7% White, 0.8% African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 446 households, out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.3 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $39,479, and the median income for a family was $49,167. Males had a median income of $30,875 versus $21,359 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,767. About 2.6% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Lois Gunden, recipient of the title Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem for her efforts to care for and protect Jewish children and child refugees of the Spanish Civil War during World War II.
 * Jeff Gundy, poet

title: Flanagan, Illinois


text:
Forrest, Illinois

Forrest is a village in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,220 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Forrest is located in southeastern Livingston County in the northern part of Forrest Township, with a small area extending north into Pleasant Ridge Township.

U.S. Route 24 (Wabash Avenue) passes through the village, leading east 21 mi to Interstate 57 at Gilman and west 17 mi to Interstate 55 at Chenoa. Illinois Route 47 (Center Street) crosses US 24 near the village center; it leads north 24 mi to Dwight and south 20 mi to Gibson City.

According to the 2010 census, Forrest has a total area of 0.68 sqmi, all land.

Founding and naming
Forrest was laid out on December 11, 1866, by Israel J. Krack (1816 – 1900). Krack was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Both of his parents had come from Germany. He was briefly a teacher, lived in Indiana, and came to Livingston County in 1854. Krack was a farmer, notary public, grain dealer, and in later life an insurance agent. Krack was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1872 and became treasurer of Livingston County in 1878. Krack Street, which parallels the railroad, was named for the town's founder.

When Forrest was established, the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad had already been in operation for almost ten years, and therefore the origin of the town is unlike Fairbury, Chatsworth, Chenoa, Gridley and El Paso, all of which were founded when the railroad was first built. Within a few years of its founding, the people of Forrest did not know the full name of the person for whom the town was named. The author of the 1878 History of Livingston County says only two things about Mr. Forrest: he was a business partner of C. L. Frost, an official of the Toledo, Peoria and Western, and that he had promised to do something for the young village and that promise was "unfulfilled". The first version of the name was said to be "Forestville", spelled with one "r", but the "Forrest" spelling quickly came into use. Forrest Township was created soon after the village was founded and took its name from the village.

Design and commerce
In 1861 or 1862, before the town was platted, Israel J. Krack was operating a grain elevator at the location. Like most towns of the period, the plan of the original town of Forrest was centered on a long narrow depot grounds, which were on the north side of the tracks. The plat was for a simple grid of twenty blocks. The first house in Forrest was built by Mr. Krack, who was also the first postmaster and the first station agent. He also laid out many additions to the town. The first hotel was built by William Umberfield and was known as the Forrest House. The first mill was built by R. B. Wilson. The first church was built by the Methodists in 1868. The town grew rapidly and by 1890 had over 1,000 people. Forrest, like almost every other early town of central Illinois during this period, was built from inexpensive pine lumber brought in by the railroad from Michigan or Wisconsin. In the winter of 1868-1869 much of the business district, including one grain warehouse, was burned. It was quickly rebuilt. This was the first of many fires that plagued the new town. In 1890 a particularly devastating blaze destroyed much of downtown Forrest. Rebuilding was rapid, and by 1893 there were five hotels.

Introduction of the Wabash Railroad
The people of Forrest worked to attract a second railroad. At first there were hopes that the Chicago and Paducah Railroad could be induced to construct its tracks through the town, but this road was diverted to nearby Fairbury. Success came when the Wabash Railroad was constructed through Forrest in 1880. On May 1 of that year, the first train on the Wabash passed through Forrest. The village became an important stopping place on the Wabash line linking Chicago and Kansas City. Soon repair shops were built, and by the early 1890s over sixty men were employed here. The town became a freight shipment point for the Chicago Division of the railroad. In 1894 local workers supported a strike against the Wabash, and many of those who had supported the strike lost their jobs to strikebreakers. The Freight Division was removed to Decatur. Between 1914 and 1921 it was briefly returned to Forrest. By the 1920s the days of Forrest as a railroad center began to fade. In 1924 the state of Illinois began construction on a paved road that eventually became Route 24.

Historical landmarks
In the Railroad Park at Forrest are several important railroad-related remains. A surviving railroad turntable is located here. The turntable was re-painted in 2017. The park also contains the former Wabash Railroad station and a restored Norfolk & Western Railroad caboose. The Wabash Railroad station is now a museum, and contains a scale model of the town as it was in its railroad heyday. The model includes a fully functional turntable and electric railroad track. The museum also contains many artifacts from the early 1900s.

Demographics
Per the 2010 United States Census, Forrest had 1,220 people. Among non-Hispanics this includes 1,135 White (93.0%), 5 Black (0.4%), 2 Asian (0.2%), & 2 from two or more races. The Hispanic or Latino population included 75 people (6.1%).

There were 469 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 3.4% had a female householder with children & no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 28.6% had someone who was 65 years of age or older.

The population had 74.0% over the age of 18 and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.9 years. The gender ratio was 49.8% male & 50.2% female. Among 469 occupied households, 73.1% were owner-occupied & 26.9% were renter-occupied.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,225 people, 470 households, and 344 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,956.4 PD/sqmi. There were 504 housing units at an average density of 804.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 96.33% White, 0.57% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 1.31% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.69% of the population.

There were 470 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the village, the population was spread, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $40,677, and the median income for a family was $45,938. Males had a median income of $37,868 versus $20,694 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,707. About 5.8% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

title: Forrest, Illinois


text:
Long Point, Illinois

Long Point is a village in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 226 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Long Point is located in northwestern Livingston County 21 mi by road northwest of Pontiac, the county seat, and 11 mi south-southwest of Streator.

According to the 2010 census, Long Point has a total area of 0.19 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 226 people, 85 households, and 62 families residing in the village. The population density was 1167 PD/sqmi. There were 98 housing units, of which 13 (13.3%) were vacant. The racial makeup of the village was 99.1% White, 0.4% African American, and 0.4% Asian.

Of the 85 households in the village, 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were headed by married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66, and the average family size was 3.14.

In the village, 26.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% were from 18 to 24, 23.9% were from 25 to 44, 28.8% were from 45 to 64, and 11.9% were 65 or older. The median age was 36.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.

As of the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the village was $45,625, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,416. About 7.7% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.

title: Long Point, Illinois


text:
Odell, Illinois

Odell is a village in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,046 at the 2010 census.

Media
In October 2006, Odell was featured on the USA Food Network's "Riding Old Route 66", which visited the Standard Oil station.

Geography
Odell is in northern Livingston County, in the northern part of Odell Township. Interstate 55 passes north and west of the village, with access from Exit 209. I-55 leads northeast 9 mi to Dwight and 87 mi to downtown Chicago, while to the southwest it leads 11 mi to Pontiac, the Livingston county seat, and 48 mi to Bloomington. Historic US 66 passes through the northwest side of the village, on an older bypass than I-55.

According to the 2010 census, Odell has a total area of 1.126 sqmi, of which 1.11 sqmi (or 98.58%) is land and 0.016 sqmi (or 1.42%) is water.

Founding
Odell was laid out by Sydney S. Morgan (1823 – 1884) and Henry A. Gardner (1816 – 1875) on August 10, 1856. Both men were railroad engineers who had worked on the survey and construction of what soon became the Chicago and Alton Railroad. For a time Sydney S. Morgan divided his time between Joliet and Odell, but soon settled in Odell on a permanent basis where he became the town's chief promoter. Gardner was born in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and had begun his railroad career working as a rodman on an extension of the Great Western Railroad in Massachusetts. He rose quickly through the ranks until he became chief engineer of the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad. Gardner came west in 1853 to work as assistant engineer to Oliver H. Lee on the Chicago and Mississippi Railroad. He purchased land near Dwight and later went on to become Chief Engineer on the Michigan Central Railroad. Gardner was never a resident of Odell.

The town was platted when it became clear that the railroad would pass through Morgan's and Gardner's land. The railroad was originally known as the Chicago and Mississippi, but quickly became the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis, and then the Chicago and Alton. An excursion train ran through the town on July 4, 1854, and regular service began in August 1854. Before the coming of the railroad, the land which became Odell Township was completely unsettled. Between 1852 and 1855 almost all of the land in the township was entered, and farms were rapidly developed. The land on which the town would soon be erected had been first purchased from the government by James C. Spencer and Henry A. Gardner on May 4, 1853. Through a series of quick transactions, Spencer sold his land to William H. Odell who then transferred it to Sydney S. Morgan.

Original design
The town was surveyed by Thomas F. Norton, deputy surveyor of Livingston County. The railroad had been granted a 100 ft swath of land extending diagonally through the town. This presented a problem in town design, which was solved at Odell by aligning the entire original town with the tracks. A similar problem was presented by several towns along this railroad. Unlike the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad, built through Livingston County at about the same time, a standard plan with shared street names does not seem to have been used along the Chicago and Mississippi. Lots sold from twenty to thirty dollars, with twenty being more common. Where the tracks passed through the town, the land used by the railroad was widened an additional 100 yards on both sides of the tracks, to create railroad grounds, although at Odell they were not labeled as such. This kind of widening of railroad property at townsites was a common feature of railroad towns built in the 1850s and may be seen at places like Dwight, Towanda, McLean, Fairbury and Chatsworth; it became less common with later railroad towns. The depot at Odell was on the north side of the tracks and the two early elevators on the south side. The original town included 24 numbered blocks, each of which contained up to 20 lots. There was no central public square designated on the plat. The original town plan remains substantially unaltered to this day.

Early growth
The first sign of activity at the site of the new town was the building of a switch and tank. For the first year the only inhabitants of the place were railroad employees who manned the station and kept water in the tank. Daniel Smith, of New York, was the first station master. Slowly a few local merchants were attracted to the townsite; some came from the now-defunct town of New Michigan in northern Livingston County. David Williams put up a shack and began to sell "a few basketfuls of groceries and notions". He soon gave up and returned to New Michigan. The railroad erected a small warehouse which was rented out for use as a grocery store. The first dwelling in Odell was erected by Sydney S. Morgan for the use of Thomas Lyon. Morgan also began buying grain from local farmers. In the fall of 1857 A.A. Streator built a small hotel. In the same year a grain elevator and a school were erected. By the spring of 1858 Odell had about 100 people. On February 8, 1867, the town of Odell was officially organized.

Becoming a highway town
Early Odell was a railroad town and a grain collection point. It was surrounded by some of the richest agricultural land in the United States. By the late 1870s over a million and a half bushels of grain were being shipped from Odell. In 1877 a newspaper, the Odell Herald, was established. In May 1886 several buildings in Odell were destroyed by a powerful tornado. By 1900 there were 1,000 people in the town, and since that date its population has remained at about that number. The major change came not in population, but in transportation, as Odell made the transition from a railroad to a highway town. In 1921 the state put under contract a highway paving project for what at first was known as the "Chicago-Springfield East St. Louis Road". Paving was finished through Odell in 1922. The designation of the road was soon changed to Route 4. In 1926, what was substantially the same road became Route 66. At first all of these roads passed through the center of Odell, and by 1933 the local citizens became so frustrated by the inability of people to cross the road that they constructed a pedestrian underpass beneath the highway. In 1946 the problem was eased when a bypass was built around the town. In 1932 Patrick O'Donnell built the Standard Oil and Gasoline Station to serve traffic along the highway; this building has now been carefully restored and has become a popular stop for visitors touring Route 66. The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. In 1964 the first stage of Interstate 55 was completed past Odell. It was improved in the 1970s. This highway substantially paralleled both the earlier roads and the original route of the Chicago and Mississippi Railroad.

Demographics
Per the 2010 United States Census, Odell had 1,046 people. Among non-Hispanics this includes 1,017 White (97.2%), 5 Black (0.5%), 2 Asian (0.2%), & 6 from two or more races. The Hispanic or Latino population included 16 people (1.5%).

There were 417 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with children & no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 28.1% had someone who was 65 years of age or older.

The population had 73.4% over the age of 18 and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.9 years. The gender ratio was 50.3% male & 49.7% female. Among 417 occupied households, 79.4% were owner-occupied & 20.6% were renter-occupied.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,014 people, 408 households, and 283 families residing in the village. The population density was 909.0 PD/sqmi. There were 433 housing units at an average density of 388.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 97.93% White, 0.10% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.69% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 408 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the village, the age distribution of the population shows 29.8% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $41,346, and the median income for a family was $51,250. Males had a median income of $37,614 versus $25,536 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,538. About 7.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable persons

 * Leslie Allen, racing driver
 * Bernard Jean Bettelheim, missionary and pharmacist
 * Bud Clancy, first baseman for the Chicago White Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies
 * Kenneth Raisbeck, playwright and screenwriter
 * Mac Speedie, NFL player and coach, born in Odell

title: Odell, Illinois