2012 - 2013
Visitor and Relocation Information for
Bureau County, Illinois
Visitor and Relocation Information for
Bureau County, Illinois
Towns and Villages
Arlington was named by an early superintendant of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, Michael Kennedy. The town name comes from a city in New York state in which Kennedy lived prior to coming to Illinois. Civic pride still resides in Arlington. The town proudly displays the American flag in a way that is impossible to miss.
The Shallowbrook Farm Retreat & Conference Center sits just inside the Bureau County border but is very close to the town of Bradford, which is located in Stark County, thus we include Bradford here. An exceptional facility, Shallowbrook is both functional and picturesque. A stable of horses is present and there are numerous places to climb and for children (and adults) to engage in outside activities.
Formerly named French Grove. Although there were early settlers of French extraction, there are no records of land purchases.
On the north side of Buda on Route 40 sits the expansive Bunker Hill Church, serving parishioners from southwest Bureau County and beyond. A vital part of the area, Bunker Hill is a shining example of what can be done with small town participation–it even has its own gymnasium!
Two railroads met and incorporated the town as Bureau Junction in 1874. Today the depot is abandoned though trains still pass through. For the fishermen, try your luck at the Hormel Ponds just north of Children’s Memorial Park and Playground. Some great catfishing awaits. Just south of town there is easy access to the Hennepin Canal Parkway bike and hiking path. Follow it east to the Canal beginnings. Check out the bridge along the way. Look for the big steam engine from Rock Island pulling in July 22nd.
Cherry is where the tragic Cherry Mine Disaster occurred on November 13, 1909. A load of hay intended for mules at the bottom of the mine caught fire from a kerosene lamp and spread quickly. A total of 259 miners and rescuers were lost. This mine disaster was one of the worst in U.S. history but resulted in stricter regulations for mine safety. A beautiful stone monument in memory of the lost miners and a miner cemetery are both on the south side of town.
The largely Italian population of Dalzell served a mining industry that is no longer in existence. Geno V's is a fine eating establishment located off the beaten path but well worth the extra effort. Take the frontage road (sign indicating Dalzell) south of I-80. Go west and south 2.3 miles to the Geno V's.
Just off Rt. 6 West lies the St. Bede Abbey, a prominent local educational facility. The Abbey Orchard has over 30 varieties of apples along with delicious award winning fall apple cider for sale. Call 815-223-3140 for more information.
DePue, originally built on a coal mining operation in the area, is now home to the fast paced A.P.B.A. Pro National Championship Boat Races on Lake Depue. The DePue Men's Club does a great job of coordinating this event. There are numerous family activities and a chance to visit with drivers, view the pits, and experience the thrill of the racing action. Bring some blankets, chairs, and a cooler. And maybe an umbrella although there are shade trees along the banks for early arrivers. Ample food and beverage stands are available.
One of the first villages in Bureau County, Dover was, at one time, an important center in the county. A hotel was built in Dover in 1839 and served as a stopping point for immigrants heading to points west. The Big Sugar Camp was an area near town where Indians camped for 42 years prior to 1830. A large educational academy was also built here. Harold Steele has a great Farm and Home Show every year at his farm. See Bureau County Antique Farm and Home Show below for contact information. Plan on spending a half day. The many demonstrations will intrigue all ages.
Settled initially by a group of 40 German immigrants in 1846, the town is heralded as one of the earliest in Bureau County.
Between the city of Princeton and Hollowayville is a shallow valley that was once the site of 13 coal mines. Named Coal Hollow, the community, formed after the Civil War, supplied Princeton and other towns with coal.
The community had 50 homes, a church, a general store—all are gone now save for a few houses and a marker on the side of a hill heading into Coal Hollow from the west.
Kasbeer is unincorporated with an agricultural history. The Kasbeer Congregational Church was an important part of the early settlers’ lives–a place to practice their faith and maintain weekly fellowship with their neighbors. West of Kasbeer in the Fall is the Midwest Rocketry Power Launches. Visit http://www.tripoliquadcities39.com.
Ladd's first trading center was established in the 1880s. Mining, farming, and the railroad were important industries in the early days.
Ladd recently won two Governor's Hometown Awards for the renovations to their World War I Soldier War Memorial in Veteran's Park.
South of the intersection of Rts. 92 and 34 sits the village of LaMoille, most famous for its Buffalo Days celebration in June. Buffalo days, initiated by buying some buffalos and holding a festival, has grown over the years. Today, the festival has three days of family oriented activities including a parade, 3-on-3 basketball, buffalo burgers (from Grubbsteaks in Buda), Baby Buff contest, Talent Show, Hired Hand Auction, car show, games, and live bands.
Home to the famous Malden Balloon water tower, Malden is a quiet town with a local restaurant of some renown, the Feed Store. Malden is also home of Bureau County’s well drillers, Lutes H2O Well Drilling. Lute’s owner, Jet Hall, is from a Bureau County family going back to the 1800s that was originally from New Bedford. He is currently doing research on an important learning academy once located in Dover.
Contains the home office of the Michlig AgriCenter company and the historic Manlius First State Bank Building. The bank is a rare existing example of the work of the architect Parker Barry, a chief designer for Louis Sullivan. No longer a functioning bank, the Manlius Historical Society holds their meetings there. The bank can be viewed by contacting one of the Manlius Historical Society members or make it to one of their monthly meetings held in the bank. The Society is in the process of restoring the lobby and exterior.
A jump off place for travelers on the Hennepin Canal Parkway and Grand Illinois Trail. Hickory Grove campground is located north of Sheffield.
If you don’t feel like cooking, enjoy the nearby Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill for one of their famous Wagon Burgers, delicious chicken, prime rib, fish, or daily specials. During warm weather try the patio dining! Or, travel to Sheffield to dine at one of their fine eating establishments.
The road between Neponset and Mineral passes through land formerly part of a strip mining operation and now part of the land reclamation process. Portions of the fence lines along the road have blue bird houses affixed to the fence posts, providing homes to some of Bureau County's more colorful feathered friends.
The road also passes the Witness Tree, so named as a reference point, or "witness" for railroad surveyors.
Neponset is the world headquarters for Martin Engineering, the world leader in the problem solving of bulk material handling.
New Bedford, near a narrow portion of the Green River, is where Winnebago Indians lived during their winter hunts. Drainage of a nearby former swamp area (given to Bureau County in 1850s) resulted in the creation of fine and fertile farmland. In 1836, Henry Thomas entered 80 acres of land. Mary Thomas, the second daughter of Henry Thomas, was said to be the first white child born in Bureau County. Cyrus Watson (the first actual settler) built a cabin on the Thomas holdings believing it to be vacant land. He moved when he discovered otherwise.
The Atherton Grain Company’s elevator in Normandy has been serving the farmers of Bureau County since 1925. Take the road on the east side of the elevator and go south to the exciting Sunset Ridge Motocross complex. Professional and amateur riders take advantage of the biker and ATV trail for a day or weekend of dirt track action between February and November.
The village of Ohio, at the corner of Rts. 26 and 92, lies along the Reagan Trail, running from Dixon to Eureka, Illinois and was a place where Ronald Reagan and his brother Neil thumbed rides north when commuting from Eureka college to Reagan's boyhood home in Dixon. There are signs to Reagan's birthplace (Tampico) and boyhood home (Dixon).
Located at the heart of Bureau County, Princeton, the county seat, is an active and growing community of 7600. A visit to historic Princeton offers something for everyone. Map of Princeton.
Lying just east of Hollowayville, Seatonville is home to Seatonville Greenhouse in the south part of town. The greenhouse offers a seasonal selection of varied plantings.
The discovery of coal in 1832 spurred the establishment of the village of Sheffield. In 1852 the land was platted, creating the town of Sheffield, named after Joseph E. Sheffield, one of the partners in the Sheffield Mining and Transportation Company. The mining company produced coal for the Rock Island railroad for 50 years. As coal production waned, agriculture took over as the mainstay of the economy of the town.
Spring Valley was founded on the banks of the Illinois River in the heart of the coal fields of northern Illinois. It was incorporated in 1886 and became a thriving coal community. Immigrants from Poland, Italy, Lithuania, and Ireland settled here to work in the mines. John Mitchell, 5th President of the United Mine Workers of America and known as the "Father of the 8 Hour Day," called Spring Valley home. Find out more about Spring Valley's 125th Anniversary Celebration at http://www.spring-valley.il.us.
A few miles south of Thomas and the Green River lies the McCune Sand Prairie conservation area. The result of over-grazing livestock, the grounds with footpath trails are mostly sand with prickly pear cactus and sparse vegetation. Keep your eyes open because the wooden sign noting the area is easy to miss if your mind is elsewhere.
CAUTION: Don't put your knees on the ground to get a close up picture of the cacti or you will be picking out tiny needles for a week after! More than a few people have found this out after it was too late!
The Plow Creek Mennonite community resides near Tiskilwa (the "Gem of the Valley"). Spring is the time for picking your own strawberries and raspberries at Plow Creek during the season, a popular local activity, especially for children. Canal Day is back again, so they didn't all get caught last year. Bring that special child for a fun-filled day of fishing on the Hennepin Canal, a family activity the kids will be sure to love.
Van Orin is a farming community dating back to 1800s. Just to the northwest of Van Orin along Route 92 is the Bache Memorial Chapel. A lovely non-sectarian structure for hosting weddings, reunions and other social functions. The expansive downstairs includes a complete kitchen. Outside there is ample room for other activities or use as a space for children to let off steam. The chapel itself affords soft natural lighting through colored window panels. A lectern sits at the front as an aide in services with seating on wooden pews.
Walnut was incorporated in 1872, and quickly grew into a bustling, thriving progressive community.
Wyanet's Henry Thomas Museum contains displays of Indian artifacts, Thomas family heirlooms, primitives including cheese boxes and wooden tools. The museum is one of those undiscovered jewels. The Wyanet Historical Society, up the street, has a number of rooms filled with local historical items.
Located in the northwest corner of Bureau County. Yorktown sill contains the General Store building built in 1853. The nearby access to the Hennepin Canal Parkway Feeder Canal is a great place to launch a quiet picnic or begin and end a biking or hiking adventure. It's a great place to walk a dog or ride a bike. The path is well cushioned so there is no knee shock like there would be on an asphalt path. There always seems to be an abundance of wildlife and aspects of the natural world you wouldn’t encounter otherwise. And the best part is that you often have the trail all to yourself.
