FAQs
Elgin boasts two highly protected nature preserves, the Bluff Spring Fen and Trout Park. For its size, Bluff Spring Fen has a remarkable number of distinct plant communities, including a hill prairie and a fen, or alkaline spring marshland, which is home to several rare orchids.
Who were the first settlers in Elgin Illinois? ›
The first Anglo-European settler in Elgin was Hezekiah Gifford who first arrived in 1834 and returned with his brother James Gifford in April of 1835 to permanently settle in the area. Other families soon followed and by 1837 a dam was built across the Fox River to provide power for grist mills.
What is the oldest house in Elgin Illinois? ›
Built in 1846, the Nancy Kimball house is the oldest cobblestone building in Elgin, and one of the last ones left standing at 302 W. Chicago Street. It was built for the widow of one of Elgin's founders, Joseph Kimball by her sons, William and Samuel.
How old is Elgin, Illinois? ›
| Elgin, Illinois |
|---|
| Founded | 1835 |
| Incorporated (city) | April 24, 1854 |
| Government |
| • Type | Council–manager |
33 more rowsElgin is the largest town in Moray and considered the 'capital'. It sits on the River Lossie, and has an impressive cathedral, now ruined, but once the third largest in Scotland. The high street is pedestrianised with a variety of independent shops and chain stores.
Is it expensive to live in Elgin Illinois? ›
According to a June 2024 ranking by GoBankingRates, Elgin, Illinois is one of the most affordable cities in the United States. The ranking considered factors such as cost of living, crime rates, median income, and mortgage rates. Elgin's monthly cost of living is around $4,000, with an average mortgage cost of $1,840. In comparison to other cities, Elgin has lower housing and utility costs, but higher healthcare and transportation costs:
- Housing: 11% lower than the national average
- Utilities: 13% lower than the national average
- Transportation: 4% higher than the national average
- Healthcare: 10% higher than the national average
Cost of Living in Elgin, Illinois - Payscale
Cost of Living in Elgin, Illinois by Expense Category. ... Elgin's housing expenses are 11...
City of Elgin, Illinois (.gov)
In a New Ranking, Elgin Has Been Named the "Safest and Most ...
Jun 18, 2024 — Elgin, Illinois has been named the "safest and most affordable" city in the Un...
Elgin named ‘safest and most affordable’ city in US in new ranking
Jun 17, 2024 — Elgin was noted for having a median household income of $85,998, with average ...
The average cost of purchasing a home in Elgin is also lower than the national average, at $247,178 compared to the national average of $281,900. Living in Elgin, IL | U.S. News - Real Estate
While home prices and rent prices vary based on square footage, location and other factors...
Kaskaskia, the oldest town in the state and the first capitol of Illinois | Library of Congress.
Why is Elgin called Elgin? ›
The origin of the name Elgin is likely to be Celtic. It may derive from 'Aille' literally signifying beauty, but in topography a beautiful place or valley. Another possibility is 'ealg', meaning both 'Ireland' and 'worthy'.
Who founded Illinois? ›
The French were the first Europeans to explore Illinois and establish settlements there:
- 1673: French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet explored the Illinois River and Marquette established a mission at the Grand Village of the Illinois.
- 1680: French explorers under René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle and Henri de Tonti built a fort at the site of present-day Peoria.
- 1682: A fort was built atop Starved Rock in what is now Starved Rock State Park.
- 1699: French settlers from Canada established Cahokia, the first permanent white settlement in Illinois, and French priests founded a mission there.
- 1703: The French established Kaskaskia as a Native American mission with Indian converts by Jesuit missionaries.
- 1718: Governance of Illinois passed from Canada to Louisiana.
- 1719: Fort de Chartres was founded as the center of French military and civilian government in the region.
Illinois ‑ Chicago, Prohibition & the Great Chicago Fire
Nov 9, 2009 — In 1699, a small group of French settlers from Canada created Cahokia, Illinois...
Illinois - Wikipedia
French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet explored the Illinois River in 1673.
Illinois Historic Preservation Division
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency: Event Timeline
1720 Fort de Chartres. Fort de Chartres becomes the center of French military and civilian...
Illinois Statehood | History, Discovery & Capital - Study.com
The first Europeans to discover Illinois and explore portions of the Mississippi River wer...
Illinois History - FamilySearch
Brief History. ... 1699: French priests founded a mission at Cahokia, the oldest permanent...
Illinois Historic Preservation Division (.gov)
French in Illinois
The French were the first Europeans to make contact with Native Americans, the first to go...
After the French and Indian War in 1763, France ceded the Illinois country to Great Britain. In 1778, Illinois became a county of Virginia after Americans captured Kaskaskia, the British seat of government. In 1787, Congress made Illinois part of the Northwest Territory, and on February 3, 1809, Congress created the Illinois Territory. Illinois became the 21st state to enter the Union on December 3, 1818. Washington County, Illinois
Illinois History
Illinois became the 21st state to enter the Union on December 3, 1818. It was discovered i...
History of Illinois - Wikipedia
American Territory. The Illinois-Wabash Company was an early claimant to much of Illinois.
Illinois Secretary of State
CHRONOLOGY OF ILLINOIS HISTORY
1809 — FEBRUARY 3 — The Illinois Territory, including portions of the present states of Wi...
Illinois History - FamilySearch
Brief History. ... 1699: French priests founded a mission at Cahokia, the oldest permanent...
Illinois oldest living thing has been around for over 1000 years. According to naturalist Max Hutchison “It's at least 1,000 years old,” Illinois oldest living thing is a bald cypress tree located in the swamps of the Cache River in Pulaski County Illinois.
How many homeowners and renters are there in Elgin?
| Y-o-Y Change |
|---|
| Housing Units | 39,728 | 0.5% |
| Median Year Built | 1977 | 0.0% |
| Built in 1939 or Earlier | 7,669 | 0.2% |
| Built between 1940 and 1949 | 1,621 | -2.4% |
8 more rowsThe Batavia story is one of heritage. Founded in 1833, it is the oldest city in Kane County.
What Native American tribe is in Elgin Illinois? ›
Elgin, city, Kane and Cook counties, northeastern Illinois, U.S. It lies on the Fox River, about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of downtown Chicago. Potawatomi Indians were early inhabitants of the region.
When was Sherman Hospital in Elgin Illinois built? ›
With "Progress" as their motto, their first project was to establish and run a hospital in the booming and prosperous town of Elgin. Advocate Sherman Hospital opened its doors on July 7, 1888, in a two-story house donated by local drug store owner and prominent businessman, Henry Sherman.
What is the largest city in Kane County IL? ›
Kane County is a county located in northeastern Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area. It was founded in 1836 and is named after Elias Kane, a U.S. Senator from Illinois. The county seat is Geneva, and the largest city is Aurora.
What are some fun unique facts about Illinois? ›
Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery, 1865. Illinois was home to President Ulysses S. Grant, whose home is preserved in Galena. The Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station were the only buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire, 1871.
Why are there so many Mexicans in Elgin? ›
More than two centuries ago, it was railroad labor opportunities that brought the earliest Mexican immigrants to western suburbs like Elgin. Puerto Rican women came, too, to work as housemaids.
What is the crime rate in Elgin IL? ›
According to the Elgin Police Department's 2023 annual report, the overall crime rate in Elgin, Illinois has been decreasing for decades, even though some crimes increased slightly in 2023. In 2023, crimes against people, property, and society, such as murder, aggravated assault, sex offenses, and drug and narcotics violations, increased from 4,180 in 2022 to 4,254. However, gunfire incidents decreased by 10% compared to 2022. While some crimes increased in Elgin in 2023, new numbers show overall ...
Jan 18, 2024 — By Gloria Casas | Chicago Tribune. UPDATED: January 18, 2024 at 8:45 p.m. Seri...
According to Niche, Elgin's crime rates are as follows:
- Assault: 83rd nationally, 282.7
- Murder: 2.7th nationally, 6.1
- Rape: 76.9th nationally, 40.7
- Robbery: 27.4th nationally, 135.5
Elgin Crime Rates and Statistics - Niche
Elgin Crime Rates · Assault. 83. national 282.7 · Murder. 2.7. national 6.1 · Rape. 76.9.
In June 2024, NBC Chicago and GoBankingRates both ranked Elgin as one of the safest and most affordable cities in the US, noting its low number of violent and property crimes. In a New Ranking, Elgin Has Been Named the "Safest and Most ...
Jun 18, 2024 — According to a ranking by the finance website GoBankingRates, Elgin topped the...
Elgin named 'safest and most affordable' city in US in new ranking
Jun 17, 2024 — Elgin was noted for having a median household income of $85,998, with average ...
