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CITIES & TOWNSHIPS
More information within
Histories of Piatt Co., IL
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This County was formed in 1841 |
Atwood -
is a village in Douglass and
Piatt County, Illinois. Main Street
separates Piatt County and Douglas County to the
east of Main Street is Douglas County and to the
West is Piatt County.
Atwood has a rich cultural history. The
quaint village is the yearly home to the locally
well-known "Apple Dumplin' Festival." This
weekend event features live music, a small-town
bazaar, the ever popular Mud-vollyball
tournament, and of course delicious apple
dumplin's. (Click here for an article on the
1931 State Corn Husking Contest) |
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Bement
- Original Township -
The
Bryant Cottage State Historic Site is located in
Bement. |
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Blue
Ridge
- Original Township |
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Cerro
Gordo
- Original Township -
is named after the Battle of Cerro Gordo (1847)
in the Mexican-American War.
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Cisco |
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DeLand |
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Goose
Creek
- Original Township |
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Hammond |
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LaPlace |
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Lodge |
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Mansfield |
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Milmine |
Monticello (County Seat) -
Original Township
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Monticello's first resident was George Haworth.
Haworth came to the area in 1822 to serve as a
U. S. liaison agent to local Native American
tribes. Haworth did not remain, but in
1829, James A. Piatt purchased Haworth's small
log cabin. Soon more settlers arrived.
By 1837, residents decided to for a new town.
Abraham Marquiss, William Barnes, James
McReynolds, and James A. Piatt, Jr., formed a
joint stock company and purchased land from
James A. Piatt. Upon McReynolds
suggestion, the town was christened Monticello -
after the home of Thomas Jefferson.
Monticello officially became a town on July 1,
1837. Townsfolk held a celebration on July
4.
The first house in the new town was built by a Mr. Cass who
used the building as his home and a grocery
store. The second house was a log cabin built by
John Tenbrooke. In 1839, Nicholas DeVore built
the "Old Fort" which was later used as a hotel.
Monticello continued to grow as the population
increased over the next decade.
The citizens of Monticello were unhappy with the
distance required to travel to the county seat
for their legal issues. Due to the petitions of
George Patterson and others, a new county was
established on Jan 27 1841: Piatt County - named
in honor the first permanent settler, James A.
Piatt. As it was the only town in the area at
that time, Monticello was named the county seat.
The county began legal functions on April 5,
1841 in the "Old Fort." In 1843, the first
courthouse was built on land donated by William
H. Piatt.
Monticello's star resident arrived in 1885. Dr. William
B. Caldwell came to practice medicine in
Monticello but his homemade mixture of senna and
pepsin brought Monticello to a level of national
prominence. The Pepsin Syrup Company was founded
in 1893, and became the leading employer in the
city for decades.
Robert Allerton Park, a conference center
belonging to the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, is located just outside of
Monticello. |
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Pierson Station |
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Sangamon
- Original Township |
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Unity
- Original Township |
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White
Heath |
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Willow
Branch
- Original Township |
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