Data has been Contributed by Mary Paulius
on Aug. 20th, 2006
Source: Knight & Leonard H. W. Beckwith and Son - History of
Vermilion Co., Illinois
Source: Baldwin, Thomas and J. Thomas, M.D. New and Complete
Gazetteer of the United States.
Philadelphia, PA; Lippincott, Grambo & Co., 1854 V. p. 1205
The parts of
Illinois now know as Vermilion County was originally a
portion of New France. New France was divided into two
districts, one known as Canada and the other Louisiana. At one
time prior to 1745 the division line of the “Illinois country”
began on the Wabash. This was at the mouth of Vermilion River
and northwest to LaSalle’s old fort on the Illinois River and a
few miles above Ottawa.
Vermilion is a county
of Illinois, bordering on Indiana, has an area estimated
at 1200 square miles. It is drained by the Vermilion river
(affluent of the Wabash) and by its branches, the Salt fork.
Middle fork, and North fork, which unite near the middle of the
county; the Little Vermilion river flows through the South part.
Vermilion County contains a large portion of prairie, with
plenty of timber distributed along the streams. Indian corn,
wheat, oats, wool, butter, potatoes, and pork are the staples.
In 1850 it produced 1,475,195 bushels of corn; 46,301 wheat;
168,976 of oats, and 178,586 pounds of butter. It contained
25 churches, 2 newspaper offices, 70 pupils
attending public schools, and 200 attending an academy.
A plank-road connects Danville with the Wabash river and canal.
A railroad is in progress through the county, leading to
Springfield and Lafayette. Vermilion river affords valuable
water-power. Stone coal abounds on the banks of the river.
Capital, Danville. Population, 11,492.
Vermilion County
was established January 18, 1826; named after the Vermilion
River. Danville became the County Seat in 1827. Townships in
Vermilion County are: Blount, Butler, Carroll, Catlin, Danville,
Elwood, Georgetown, Grant, Jamaica, Love, McKendree, Middle
Fork, Newell, Oakwood, Pilot, Ross, Sidell, South Ross, and
Vance.
Vermilion
County once belonged to the Indian tribes Maims, Kickapoo, and
Potawatomie. It was here that salt was as popular to white men
as gold. The settlement of these frontiersmen became known as
"Salt Saline’s". You can view one of the original iron kettles
on I-74 at the Salt Kettle rest area (as I was growing up, I
remember this kettle sitting on Route 150 near the Vermilion
County Fairgrounds).
Danville
and Vermilion County were known for their Coal Mining in the
1800's rather than salt.
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