Bureau County IL A guide to
2017
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INFO, HISTORY, & DEMOGRAPHICS Bureau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,978. Its county seat is Princeton. Bureau County is part of the Ottawa–Peru, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which the Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park is located partly in this county. Bureau County was created out of Putnam County in 1837. It is named for either Michel or Pierre Bureau, French Canadian brothers who ran a trading post from 1776 until the 1780s near where Big Bureau Creek joins the Illinois River. Their actual surname most likely was Belleau, but the local American Indians had difficulty pronouncing the “l” sound, which was not found in some local languages. An early settler of this area was Bulbona, a man of mixed French and Native American descent with a Native American wife. Unlike most of the other Native Americans in the area, Bulbona remained after the area was settled by Euro-Americans and ran a trading post where he sold whiskey. The founders of Princeton, the oldest town in the county consisted entirely of settlers from New England. They were descendants of the English Puritans who settled New England in the 17th century. They were part of a wave of New England farmers who moved to the Northwest Territory in the early 19th century. Most of them came soon after of the completion of the Erie Canal. When they arrived in what is now Bureau County there was nothing but a virgin forest and wild prairie, the New Englanders laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings and established post routes. They brought with them many of their Yankee New England values, such as a passion for education, establishing many schools as well as staunch support for abolitionism. They were mostly members of the Congregationalist Church though some were Episcopalian. Culturally Bureau County, like much of northern Illinois would be culturally very continuous with early New England
culture, for most of its history. Like so many other areas in the Midwest, this county was on a “line” of the Underground Railroad. There was a “station” at the home of Owen Lovejoy in Princeton, as well as several other locations throughout the county. As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 34,978 people, 14,262 households, and 9,605 families residing in the county. The population density was 40.2 inhabitants per square mile (15.5/km2). There were 15,720 housing units at an average density of 18.1 per square mile (7.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% white, 0.7% Asian, 0.6% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 3.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 32.8% were German, 13.8% were Irish, 12.1% were English, 9.2% were American, 8.8% were Italian, 7.6% were Swedish, and 5.8% were Polish. Of the 14,262 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.7% were non-families, and 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 42.5 years. The median income for a household in the county was $45,692 and the median income for a family was $55,217. Males had a median income of $42,327 versus $29,210 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,103. About 8.6% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over. In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Princeton have ranged from a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of 102 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.48 inches (38 mm) in February to 4.76 inches (121 mm) in August. Notable people Warren Giles, executive in Baseball Hall of Fame Virgil Fox, concert organist Kathryn Hays, actress
Robert Petkoff, actor Eliza Suggs, author and temperance activist Richard Widmark, actor Princeton is a city in and the county seat of Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,700 at the 2014 census. Princeton is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area. Due to its location where Interstate 80 meets the Amtrak system, as well as its well-preserved main street and historic housing stock, Princeton has become a popular satellite town for Chicago and the Quad Cities. Bureau County was a New England settlement. The original founders of Princeton consisted entirely of settlers from New England. These people were “Yankees,” descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s. They were part of a wave of New England farmers who headed west into what was then the wilds of the Northwest Territory during the early 1800s. Most of them arrived as a result of the completion of the Erie Canal. When they arrived in what is now Bureau County there was nothing but a virgin forest and wild prairie, the New Englanders laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings and established post routes. They brought with them many of their Yankee New England values, such as a passion for education, fueling the establishment of many schools, as well as staunch support for abolitionism. They were mostly members of the Congregationalist Church though some were Episcopalian. Culturally Bureau County, like much of northern Illinois, would be culturally very continuous with early New England culture for most of its history. During the time of slavery, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad at the home of Owen Lovejoy. The name of Princeton was supposedly determined by drawing from a hat: “The naming of the township of Princeton was the privilege of the three trustees, Roland Moseley, John Musgrove and John P. Blake. When these men came together to act upon the subject of christening this new legal division of land, each one had a favorite name to present. It is only natural when one wanders away from the scenes of his
early life that he should feel a longing for something that looks or sounds like home, so it was with the school trustees of what is now Princeton. They each presented the name of their choice, but could come to no agreement; finally it was decided that it should be settled by lottery. Each man was to write the name of his choice upon a piece of paper and place it in a hat, and a stranger, being blind-folded, should make the drawing. Mr. Musgrove, coming from New Jersey, and being loyal to his classic institution, wrote upon his slip Princeton, and as it had been agreed that the first name drawn should settle the question, there was quite a little excitement in the preparation for the deciding contest. Matters were finally arranged and the bandage placed over the eyes of the drawer, and he was led up to the hat wherein the papers had been placed and with outstretched hand he stood ready to decide the great and momentous question of christening the first born of the future Bureau county. At last the word was given, the drawing was made, while those interested stood with bated breath, awaiting the result which was soon announced by the declaration that upon the slip of paper drawn by the blind-folded man, Princeton was plainly written, and so we today have the classic name of Princeton for the legal center of Bureau county. Princeton, for many years has enjoyed the distinction of being one of the literary centers of the state. She has the proud record of organizing and putting in successful operation the first township high school in Illinois. It is surely a city of quiet and pleasant homes.” — George B. Harrington, Past and Present of Bureau County, 1906 Princeton’s former nickname was “The City of Elms” because of the large number of elm trees the city had during the middle of the 20th century. However, an epidemic struck the elm trees of Princeton and killed off almost every elm. The current slogan, “Where Tradition Meets Progress”, was adopted in the mid 1960s by a contest among the city’s elementary school students. The student who submitted the winning slogan was Maybeth Monroe. (photograph available)
LOCAL SCHOOLS Allen Junior High School 301 Main St La Moille (815) 638-2233
Depue Unit Schools 204 Pleasant St Depue (815) 447-2121
Princeton High School 103 S Euclid Ave Princeton (815) 875-3308
Bureau Valley High School 9154 County Road 2125 N Manlius (815) 445-4004
Fairfield Amish Mennonite Schl 29467 425 E St Tampico (815) 438-2508
Princeton School District Ofc 506 E Dover Rd Princeton (815) 875-3162
Bureau Valley School Dist 340 9068 2125 North Ave Manlius (815) 445-3101
Hall High School 800 W Erie St Spring Valley (815) 664-4500
Spring Valley Cc Schl Dist 99 800 N Richards St Spring Valley (815) 664-4242
Cherry Grade School 314 S Main St Cherry (815) 894-2777
John F Kennedy School 800 N Richards St Spring Valley (815) 664-4601
St Bede Abbey Press 25 W US Highway 6 Peru (815) 223-5300
Crossroads High School 400 N Galena St Tiskilwa (815) 646-4037
Midwest Bus Sales Inc 3135 N Main St Princeton (815) 875-4510
St Bede Academy 24 W US Highway 6 Peru (815) 223-3140
Dalzell Grade School 307 Chestnut St Dalzell (815) 663-8821
Neponset Preschool 201 W Main St Neponset (309) 594-2225
De Pue School District PO Box 800 Depue (815) 447-2121
Princeton Christian Academy 21890 US Highway 34 Princeton (815) 875-2933
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Associated Gastroenterology 530 Park Ave E # 207 Princeton (815) 875-8666
Illinois Cancer Care 530 Park Ave E # 409 Princeton (815) 875-3010
Bureau Valley Anesthesia 130 N Main St Princeton (815) 875-6001
Illinois Urologic Hlth Surgns 600 E 1st St Spring Valley (815) 664-5367
Family Health Clinic 530 Park Ave E # 303 Princeton (815) 875-4531
Sheffield Family Medical Ctr 113 S Main St Sheffield (815) 454-2811
Family Health Ctr 415 E 2nd St Spring Valley (815) 663-5511
Spring Valley Clinic 1302 N Greenwood St Spring Valley (815) 663-5511
Family Orthopedic Ctr 600 E 1st St # 4 Spring Valley (815) 664-1664
St Margaret’s Family Health 415 E 2nd St Spring Valley (815) 664-2366
Hazel Marie Boyle Health Ctr 600 E 1st St # 2 Spring Valley (815) 663-2300
St Margaret’s Medical Clinics 600 E 1st St # 2 Spring Valley (815) 223-9351
Valley Orthopedics & Sports 600 E 1st St # 3 Spring Valley (815) 664-5343
Buda Police Dept Buda (309) 895-2408
Spring Valley Police Spring Valley (815) 663-2351
Neponset Village Police Dept Neponset (309) 594-2158
Tiskilwa Police Dept Tiskilwa (815) 875-3344
Princeton Police Chief Princeton (815) 872-2351
Village Of Depue Depue (815) 447-2137
Princeton Police Dept Princeton (815) 872-2351
Walnut Police Dept Walnut (815) 379-9000
Sheffield Police Station Sheffield (815) 454-2499
Wyanet Police Dept Wyanet (815) 699-2500
Arlington Fire Dept Arlington (815) 638-2329
LA Moille Fire Station La Moille (815) 638-2343
Bureau Fire Protection Dist Bureau (815) 659-3074
Ladd Fire Dept Ladd (815) 894-2511
Cherry Fire Dept Cherry (815) 894-2525
Malden Fire Dept Malden (815) 643-2251
Dalzell Fire Station Dalzell (815) 663-7371
Mineral & Gold Fire District Mineral (309) 288-3351
Depue Fire Co #1 Depue (815) 447-2168
Princeton Fire Dept Manlius (815) 879-3381
Galena Territory Depue Not Available
Princeton Fire Dept Princeton (815) 875-1861
Seatonville Fire District Seatonville (815) 894-2424 Spring Valley Fire Dept Spring Valley (815) 664-5160 Tiskilwa Fire Dept Tiskilwa (815) 646-4722 Walnut Fire Dept Inc Walnut (815) 379-2341 Wyanet Fire Protection Wyanet (815) 699-7700