92-519: Streator / ˈ s t r iː t ər / is a city in LaSalle and Livingston counties in the U.S. state of Illinois . The city is situated on the Vermilion River approximately 81 miles (130 km) southwest of Chicago in the prairie and farm land of north-central Illinois. As of the 2020 census , the population of Streator was 12,500. Although settlements had occasionally existed in
184-627: A New Englander Woodruff was replaced as sheriff by William Reddick a successful Irish landowner following Woodruff's role in putting down a riot along the canal in 1837. Irish and German immigration to LaSalle County, especially LaSalle. Ottawa and Peru prior to the Civil War was such that many German immigrants joined Illinois regiments during the war. In the late 1880s and early 1890s, Irish and German migrants began moving into LaSalle County; most of these later immigrants did not move directly from Ireland and Germany , but rather from other areas in
276-621: A Republican-leaning swing county, more competitive than most in urbanized Northern Illinois. In its early years, LaSalle County supported the Democratic Party, being southwest of the Free Soil strongholds in the far northeast of the state. Following the formation of the Republican party, LaSalle County voted for that party in every election until 1884, when it supported Democrat Grover Cleveland three consecutive times. Although
368-531: A friendly face to the servicemen during their stopover in Streator. During the 2½ years that the canteen operated, volunteers hosted over 1.5 million servicemen and women. Thirty other service groups from Streator joined to assist the Parents Service Club as well as 43 other organizations throughout the central-Illinois region. On Veterans Day , November 10, 2006, a bronze statue commemorating
460-673: A great push in coal production from 1866 until the 1920s, when many of the mines closed. The low-sulfur coal of the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and the growing demands for oil caused a decline in demand for Streator's high-sulfur coal. The St. Peter Sandstone is an Ordovician formation in the Chazyan stage of the Champlainian series. This layer runs east–west from Illinois to South Dakota . The stone consists of 99.44% quartz or silicon dioxide ( SiO 2 ), which
552-724: A homemade telescope used by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh and a Burlington Northern caboose rail car. During World War II the Streator Santa Fe Train Depot was a busy way-station for millions of soldiers and sailors who passed through the town on the way to or from training for the war. Beginning in 1943, the Streator Parents Service Club, a group of parents of veterans of the war, created the Streator Free Canteen. The volunteers handed out sandwiches and coffee and presented
644-443: A household in the county was $ 60,069 and the median income for a family was $ 72,583. Males had a median income of $ 50,214 versus $ 26,424 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 31,020. About 9.7% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over. LaSalle County is divided into thirty-seven townships : LaSalle has generally been
736-572: A lightweight, stronger beer bottle for the Miller Brewing Company . Owens Bottle Company opened in Streator in 1916. Production peaked in the 1960s with 3,500 employees working in its 68-acre (28 ha) facility. Today it is Streator's fifth-largest employer, with 210 employees. In 2006, the plant was honored by the Miller Brewing Company for producing 650 million bottles for the brewer. St. Mary's Hospital
828-523: A prominent railroad promoter from Cleveland, Ohio , financed the region's first mining operation. Streator approached his nephew Col. Ralph Plumb at a railway station in December 1865 about overseeing a mining operation in central Illinois for him and several investors. Colonel Plumb agreed and arrived in the town then called Hardscrabble in February 1866. Success of the project required a rail line near
920-747: A public works system. Its current mayor is Terra Bedi. Settlement in the region began with the Kaskaskia tribe of the Illiniwek Confederation . This Native American tribe's Grand Village was located on the north bank of the Illinois River in nearby Utica, Illinois . The Kaskaskia "were hunters and gatherers, farmers, warriors and traders." The Illiniwek were the last remnants of the Mississippian culture . French explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet were
1012-598: A representative in Congress. Streator grew rapidly due to a number of factors: the need for coal in Chicago, the desire of European immigrants to come to America, and the investments made by East Coast capitalists willing to invest in coal operations. Plumb needed laborers for his mines, but the Vermilion Coal Company was unable to afford European employment agents. Instead, it alerted steamship offices of
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#17327766110481104-413: A single small grocery house... the locality has grown to be a city of 6,000 prosperous and intelligent people. Churches, school-houses, large, substantial business houses and handsome residences, with elegant grounds and surroundings, now beautify the waste of ten years ago, while the hum of machinery and thronged streets are unmistakable evidences of business importance and prosperity. In addition to coal,
1196-523: A strong influence in Streator's economic engine. Though manufacturing provides the greatest share of earnings, the service industry now accounts for the largest share of jobs. Coal production in LaSalle County and Illinois peaked in the 1910s. Wyoming's Powder River Basin coal reserves, which contain a much lower sulphur content, were discovered in 1889, with full scale mining beginning in the 1920s. Glassmaking and, more specifically, glass blowing
1288-542: A strong influence on the area, despite the county being only 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Chicago. LaSalle County was formed on January 15, 1831, out of Tazewell and Putnam Counties . It is named for the early French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle . La Salle was the first European recorded as entering the area. He traveled the Mississippi River upriver from the Gulf of Mexico , claimed
1380-713: A victory over the British by George Rogers Clark at Kaskaskia ; Virginia named the region Illinois County . After the war, the area was included in the territory ceded by Britain to the United States under the Treaty of Paris (1783) ; in 1784, Virginia ceded its claim over Illinois County to the Congress of the Confederation of the United States. This area, south of what remained of Britain's Quebec but north of
1472-703: A zone surrounding them, but did not extend as far west as the Great Lakes or as far north as Rupert's Land . In 1774, the Parliament of Great Britain passed the Quebec Act that allowed Quebec to restore the use of French customary law ( Coutume de Paris ) in private matters alongside the English common law system, and allowing the Catholic Church to collect tithes . The act also enlarged
1564-560: Is 75.0 °F (23.9 °C). Streator has an average annual rainfall of 34.68 inches (88.09 cm), with an annual snowfall of 22.0 in (55.88 cm). The highest temperature recorded in Streator was 112 °F (44 °C) in July 1936 . The lowest temperature recorded was −25 °F (−32 °C) in January 1985. An F3 tornado hit the west side of Streator on July 17, 1903, killing six people and injuring 30. Five people died when
1656-528: Is a roadmap for civic, transportation, housing, commercial and recreational improvements in the city through 2027. As of 2021, Streator has a total area of 7.376 square miles (19.10 km), of which 7.308 square miles (18.93 km) (or 99.1%) is land and 0.068 square miles (0.18 km) (or 0.9%) is water. Streator lies within the Vermilion River/Illinois River Basin Assessment Area (VRAA) defined by
1748-661: Is an example of Stick style architecture. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in August 1991. The Silas Williams House is a Queen Anne style home built-in 1893. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 1976. Founded in 1883, St. Stephens Catholic Church was the first Slovak Catholic church in the United States. In September 2010, the four Roman Catholic churches in Streator were consolidated into one new parish named St. Michael
1840-522: Is held on the morning of Memorial Day at the Veterans Plaza at the southeast part of City Park. LaSalle County, Illinois LaSalle County is a county located within the Fox Valley and Illinois River Valley regions of the U.S. state of Illinois . As of the 2020 Census , it had a population of 109,658. Its county seat and largest city is Ottawa . LaSalle County is part of
1932-597: Is its distance from any major Interstate Highway . When the federal highway system started in the 1950s and 1960s no interstate was built near the city. Streator is 23 miles (37 km) from Interstate 55 , 16 miles (26 km) from Interstate 80 and Interstate 39 . Streator and the North Central Illinois Council of Governments (NCICG) finalized the Streator Comprehensive Plan in February 2007. The plan if approved
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#17327766110482024-579: Is one of the largest surviving pre- Civil War homes in Illinois. The mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, as part of the Washington Park Historic District . The tri-county area of DeKalb, LaSalle, and Kendall has been influential in terms of its politics, sports, multimedia, industry, and technology. DeKalb County was the birthplace of plant hybridization (DeKalb, DeKalb Agricultural ),
2116-1010: Is the city's largest employer with 550 employees. In late 2015, OSF Healthcare system purchased the hospital from HSHS Medical Group. It is undetermined what OSF Healthcare will do with the hospital. Founded in 1886 by the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, this 251-bed hospital serves Streator and its outlying areas. Streator was briefly home to the Erie Motor Carriage Company (which became Barley Motor Car Co. ). Current products of Streator include building and paving brick, milk, soda bottles, auto parts, sewer pipe, clothing, drain tile, auto truck dump bodies, and hydraulic hoists. Its major agricultural crops include corn and soybeans. Streator's parks and events reflect its heritage and prairie locale. A number of its residents have distinguished themselves in
2208-470: Is the crown jewel. Matthiessen State Park (south of Starved Rock on Ill 178) has many of the same features of Starved Rock, but is smaller, and faces the Vermilion River to the west. Buffalo Rock State Park (east of Utica, and west of Naplate/Ottawa on Dee Bennett Road) has an enclosure which features American bison , as well as the mound sculpture complex, known as the Effigy Tumuli. The village
2300-705: Is the home to a seminal piece of 20th Century architecture, the birthplace of the Harvester Reaper, (as well as the precursor to the International Harvester Company ), the plastic tackle box and plastic-injection molding, and is the home of multiple athletes, politicians, and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives . DeKalb, LaSalle, and Kendall Counties have all been featured in major films, with scripts either having been written by residents or former residents. LaSalle County
2392-548: Is used for the manufacture of glass. Its purity is especially important to glassmakers . Streator, which lies within outcrop area of the St. Peter sandstone formation, has mined this mineral since the late 19th century for use in its glass manufacturing industries. Streator has a continental climate , influenced by the Great Lakes . Its average winter temperature is 25.0 °F (−3.9 °C) and its average summer temperature
2484-630: The Boy Scouts of America in Ottawa, the council is named for him. He and two other founders established the BSA, but Boyce is given the sole credit since his faction of the BSA adopted the other two competing factions' elements within the organization. LaSalle County is within what is called the Lowaneu District of the W.D. Boyce Council. In 1838, William Reddick , a local farmer and landowner,
2576-684: The Congregational Church , though due to the Second Great Awakening , many of them had converted to Methodism , and some had become Baptists before coming to what is now LaSalle County. The Congregational Church has subsequently gone through many divisions, and some factions, including those in LaSalle County, are now known as the Church of Christ and the United Church of Christ . As a result of this heritage,
2668-431: The English legal system , with English speakers in the majority. The eastern part was named Lower Canada . In 1760, following the capitulation of Montreal, the colony was placed under military government , with civil government only instituted beginning in 1764. The following were the governors: There were also "lieutenant governors", but these were merely the deputies of the governors, and should not be confused with
2760-886: The Midwest where they had been living, particularly the state of Ohio . Immigrants around the Peterstown, Troy Grove, Meriden, Mendota, and Earlville area were largely of German descent, with the Mendota area directly being the epicenter of the German community in the county. Norwegian population has been strong in the area around Northville, Serena, Mission, and Miller Townships in LaSalle County, along with Little Rock and Fox Townships in Kendall County, and Sandwich and Somonauk Townships in DeKalb County. One such family,
2852-547: The Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area of Northern Illinois . LaSalle County borders Woodford, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, Livingston, Lee, DeKalb, Kendall, and Grundy counties. Though LaSalle County is in the Chicago media market, it retains a unique identity with a mix of river towns and vast expanses of farmland. The county lies at the intersection of the Chicago, Peoria, Quad Cities and Rockford television markets with all four regions broadcasting within its borders and having
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2944-622: The Pennsylvanian geologic period. According to the Illinois State Geological Survey , 211 billion tons of bituminous coal are estimated to lie under the surface, having a total heating value greater than the estimated oil deposits in the Arabian Peninsula . However, this coal has a high sulfur content, which causes acid rain . Streator's coal mining history closely parallels Illinois', with
3036-788: The Royal Proclamation of 1763 , Canada was renamed the Province of Quebec, and from 1774 extended from the coast of Labrador on the Atlantic Ocean, southwest through the Saint Lawrence River Valley to the Great Lakes and beyond to the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in the Illinois Country . Portions of its southwest, those areas south of the Great Lakes, were later ceded to
3128-610: The "Coffee Pot Ladies" of Streator was dedicated at the Santa Fe Railroad Station. The Streator Public Library was made possible with a $ 35,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie . With its two-story high domed ceiling, Ionic columns and oak staircases, it was considered too extravagant by critics when it opened in 1903. The Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The Ruffin Drew Fletcher House located on East Broadway Street
3220-437: The 45,089 households, 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.9% were non-families, and 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males. The median income for
3312-562: The Archangel. Currently all masses are conducted at St. Stephen's Church and discussions are continuing to decide if a new church will be built or if one of the existing churches will be rebuilt. Among Streator's other notable buildings are the ornate Bauhaus -inspired National Guard Armory near the Vermilion River and the town's turn-of-the-20th-century City Hall on Park Street (now a business). These facilities are accessible to
3404-541: The Borschsenius family, runs the Norway Store in the unincorporated community of Norway, in southern Mission Township, and the family has been deeply involved with businesses and the school district of nearby Serena and Sheridan. Ottawa was the first site of the famous Lincoln–Douglas debates on August 21, 1858. The community has a strong association with the 16th President, and elements of the downtown area of
3496-468: The Bridgeport neighborhood), supposedly because he watched loaded animals struggle up the river's banks. Another name for the new settlement was "Unionville". Streator received its current name to honor Worthy S. Streator , an Ohio industrialist who financed the region's first coal mining operation. Streator received a town charter in 1868 and incorporated as a city in 1882. In 1882 Col. Ralph Plumb
3588-548: The British continued to supply not only their own troops but a wide alliance of Native American nations through Detroit, Fort Niagara , Fort Michilimackinac , and so on, until these posts were turned over to the United States following the Jay Treaty (1794). Quebec retained its seigneurial system after the conquest. Owing to an influx of Loyalist refugees from the American Revolutionary War ,
3680-614: The Miners National Association and the United Mine Workers of America began to flourish, as did ethnic churches and social institutions such as the Masons and Knights of Pythias . In his 1877 History of LaSalle County , author H.F. Kett states: Perhaps no city...in Illinois, outside of the great city of Chicago, presents an instance of such rapid and substantial growth as the city of Streator. From
3772-714: The Mississippi River to the British at the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. Of this territory ceded by the French to Britain, the part extending down to the Ohio River was added to Britain's Quebec Province when the British Parliament passed the Quebec Act in 1774. During the American Revolutionary War (1775–83), this region that had been added to Quebec was claimed by Virginia in 1778, after
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3864-403: The Montreal District which were later detached in 1791 to create the new colony of Upper Canada. Known as Hesse District (named after Hesse in Germany) until 1792. Through Quebec, the British Crown retained access to the Ohio and Illinois Countries after the Treaty of Paris (1783) ceded control of this land to the United States. By well-established trade and military routes across the Great Lakes,
3956-507: The Myers-Sherman Company, manufacturing milking machines and conveyors for the agricultural industry. In the 1960s Myers-Sherman patented a sewer cleaning vehicle for the municipal public works market. The company was renamed Vactor when it became a subsidiary of the Federal Signal Corporation They are the world's leading producer of heavy-duty sewer cleaning equipment. They are the second-largest employer in Streator with 530 employees. Owens-Illinois' Streator plant produces Duraglas XL bottles;
4048-401: The Ohio River, later became the Northwest Territory created by the Congress on July 13, 1787. From part of this Northwest Territory area, the Indiana Territory was formed by the United States Congress on July 4, 1800; from part of this Indiana Territory area, the Illinois Territory created by Congress on March 1, 1809; and from part of that Illinois Territory area, the state of Illinois
4140-510: The Streator Bottle and Glass Company. Other companies like Thatcher Glass Manufacturing Corp (later Anchor Glass Containers) which began manufacturing milk bottles in 1909, the American Bottle Company in 1905, the Streator Cathedral Glass Company in 1890, Owens-Illinois and others soon followed. Through the 20th century Streator was known as the "Glass Container Capital of the World." Three of Streator's largest companies are some of its longest-lasting companies. Vactor Manufacturing began in 1911 as
4232-418: The area around Streator contained rich clay and shale, which gave rise to Streator's brick, tile and pipe industries. In time, these supplanted coal as Streator's leading exports, but Streator was best known for its glass bottle industry. In the early 20th century Streator held the title of "Glass Manufacturing Capital of the World." Streator continued to flourish for much of the early 20th century. Ultimately
4324-410: The area, they were not permanent. In 1824, surveyors for the Illinois and Michigan Canal which would extend from Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood to the Illinois River , a tributary of the Mississippi River , arrived in this area of the Vermillion River , followed by homesteaders by the 1830s. In 1861, miner John O'Neill established a trading post called "Hardscrabble" (ironically an early name for
4416-578: The art world. The Community Players of Streator offer summer stock theatre performances each year at the William C. Schiffbauer Center for the Performing Arts at Engle Lane Theatre. The Majestic Theatre, an art deco style movie house, originally opened in 1907 as a vaudeville house. It has gone through many changes, openings, and closings throughout its history, having most recently reopened in 2002. The Majestic shows recently released movies as well as hosting live musical acts. This has since closed due to deterioration. The Walldogs painted 17 murals in
4508-407: The boundaries of Quebec to include the Ohio Country and part of the Illinois Country , from the Appalachian Mountains on the east, south to the Ohio River , west to the Mississippi River and north to the southern boundary of lands owned by the Hudson's Bay Company , or Rupert's Land. Western District was one of four districts of the Province of Quebec created in 1788 in the western reaches of
4600-407: The canal and rivers ensued and towns sprouted quickly. Individual settlements in the Bruce Township region started as early as 1821. In 1861, John O'Neil established the first settlement in what was to become the city of Streator when he opened a small grocery and trading business. Streator began with coal. Vast beds of coal lie just beneath the surface throughout much of Illinois. The demand for coal
4692-443: The city retain much mid-19th century architecture. People in LaSalle County were predominantly abolitionist in attitude, and many Underground Railroad sites were maintained in the county prior to the American Civil War . Utica (officially North Utica ) is considered the gateway to the Starved Rock area. Visiting three parks provides a full experience of the area. Starved Rock State Park , (south of Utica on Illinois Route 178 ),
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#17327766110484784-425: The city was $ 40,778, and the median income for a family was $ 59,266. Males had a median income of $ 44,976 versus $ 21,567 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 25,818. About 17.9% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 40.0% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over. Streator is a principal city of the Ottawa Micropolitan Statistical Area , which
4876-430: The city. The population density was 1,694.69 inhabitants per square mile (654.32/km). There were 6,009 housing units at an average density of 814.67 per square mile (314.55/km). The racial makeup of the city was 80.94% White , 3.50% African American , 0.53% Native American , 0.62% Asian , 0.00% Pacific Islander , 5.81% from other races , and 8.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.58% of
4968-492: The county gave a plurality to Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and supported Franklin D. Roosevelt in his first three elections, it otherwise voted Republican until 1960. A Democratic trend, typical of Yankee Northern Illinois, saw Michael Dukakis carry LaSalle despite failing to win the election in 1988, and no Republican would carry the county again until George W. Bush in 2004. Province of Quebec (1763%E2%80%9391) The Province of Quebec ( French : Province de Québec )
5060-418: The county was 85.6% white, 2.4% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 3.6% from other races, and 7.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 27.8% were German , 18.0% were Irish , 8.7% were Italian , 8.1% were English , 7.6% were Polish , 4.4% were Norwegian , 3.8% were American , and 3.1% were French . Of
5152-457: The demand for coal was replaced with the growing needs for gas and oil. Many of the underground mines in Streator closed during the 1920s. The last of the mines shut down in 1958. While other areas of LaSalle County continued to grow, Streator's population peaked at about 17,000 residents in 1960 and has since declined. Many of the original downtown buildings have been demolished, but few have been replaced. Another reason for static growth in Streator
5244-446: The demographics of Quebec came to shift and now included a substantial English-speaking Protestant element from the former Thirteen Colonies . These United Empire Loyalists settled mainly in the Eastern Townships , Montreal, and what was known then as the pays d'en haut west of the Ottawa River . The Constitutional Act of 1791 divided the colony in two at the Ottawa River , so that the western part ( Upper Canada ) could be under
5336-413: The first Europeans to enter this region during a visit to the Grand Village in 1673. Marquette established a mission at the village in 1675. In 1679, French explorer Robert de LaSalle ordered a fortification to be built at the site that was later known as Starved Rock . Later that year Iroquois attacked the Kaskaskia village and the 8,000 villagers dispersed. The French and local tribes again fortified
5428-436: The first object to be discovered in what would later be identified as the Kuiper belt ; and George "Honey Boy" Evans , who wrote " In the Good Old Summer Time ." Streator hosts annual events including Streator Park Fest; an Independence Day celebration, the Roamer Cruise Night and the Light Up Streator celebration. Streator is governed by a Manager–council style of government. It maintains police and fire departments as well as
5520-428: The fourth-largest by total area. LaSalle County, Illinois, is one of the few counties in the United States to border as many as nine counties. Illinois has two such counties, with Pike County being the other. Many of the residents of LaSalle County live in cities and towns along the Illinois River . It is the main population core, with some exceptions, including Streator to the south of the county. Large cities along
5612-496: The governor until a legislative assembly was established after 1791. The individuals James Murray called into the council from 1764 to 1766: List of councillors under Carleton from 1766 to 1774: Around 1763 to 1764, the province was divided into two judicial districts: In 1790, the Trois-Rivières District was formed out of part of Quebec District. The Trois-Rivières and Quebec districts continued after 1791 when Lower Canada came into existence, while Montreal District west of
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#17327766110485704-426: The grandstand of a racetrack, where they had taken shelter, collapsed. The worst flood in Streator's history occurred in 1951. The Vermilion River reached a flood level of 18 feet (549 cm). At approximately 8:50 pm ( CST ) on June 5, 2010 , an EF2 tornado swept through southern Streator. The tornado initially touched down east of Magnolia , causing EF0 and EF1 damage as it traveled east. EF2 damage began as
5796-485: The hot-air hand dryer (Sandwich, Sahara-Pak), and is the home of supermodel Cindy Crawford , at least 7 MLB players, two NFL coaches, and three NFL players. LaSalle County was home to the Westclox Company for many years, it was the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas Debates , and was the home to the discoverer of Pluto , as well as a Wild West figure, multiple published authors, a legendary NCAA athletic director and coach, and multiple political figures. Kendall County
5888-458: The land for France , or rather as a possession of King Louis XIV of France , and named it Louisiana . In 1680, he and Henry de Tonty built Fort Crevecoeur on the Illinois River in present-day Tazewell County, and in 1683, they constructed Fort St. Louis on Starved Rock in present-day LaSalle County. By 1857, the county was served by the daily arrivals of two trains of the Illinois Central Railroad . As William D. Boyce reportedly founded
5980-494: The mines. Plumb and Streator "invited" Streator's friend, then Ohio Congressman James A. Garfield to sign on as an investor. In return, Garfield was expected to work with Robert C. Schenck , then the president of the American Central railroad, in getting the railroad to "bend their lines" to Streator. Eventually the plan did not work. The Vermilion Company then made arrangements with the Fox River line for their needed rail service. Included in Col. Plumb's duties were overseeing
6072-497: The new job opportunities and convinced local railroads to carry notices of Streator's promise. Land was sold to incoming miners at discounted prices as another enticement, but the company retained mineral rights to the land. In 1870, Streator's population was 1,486, but by 1880 its population tripled. Scottish, English, Welsh, German and Irish immigrants came to the area first, followed later by scores of mostly Slovaks; Czechs, Austrians and Hungarians came in lesser numbers. Today many of
6164-414: The newly established United States in the 1783 Treaty of Paris at the conclusion of the American Revolution ; although the British maintained a military presence there until 1796 and the Jay Treaty . In 1791, the territory north of the Great Lakes was reorganised and divided into Lower Canada and Upper Canada . Under the Proclamation, Quebec included the cities of Quebec and Montreal , as well as
6256-415: The northwest corner of the county. The construction of the Illinois & Michigan Canal brought thousands of Irish and Irish-American workers to Illinois. Many settled in the counties along the canal route. Ottawa and LaSalle County had a large Irish population due to the importance of Ottawa as a trade and industrial center on the canal. The election of the LaSalle County sheriff hinged on the Irish vote when
6348-436: The platting and incorporation of the quickly growing area. Plumb served as Streator's first mayor serving two terms. Plumb's mark on the early development of Streator was notable. The main hotel and the local opera house bore his name. He financed the construction of the city's first high school. Earlier in his life he served as an Ohio state representative and as an officer in the Union Army. Later in life he served Illinois as
6440-399: The population. There were 5,762 households, out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.74% were married couples living together, 12.55% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.82% were non-families. 43.21% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.09% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
6532-430: The public, with some limitations. Streator is also home to many private residences of significant historical interest and value, including the Kennedy Home on Pleasant Avenue. The Streator Food Truck Festival is held annually in May. Park Fest is held during the Memorial Day weekend through Sunday. Park Fest activities are held in City Park (the main public park in the downtown Streator area). A Memorial Day observance
6624-473: The residents are direct descendants of these original miners. The success of the local mining operations and the introduction of the new glass making industry allowed for improvements in the living conditions and personal wealth of its miners and laborers. An 1884 survey by the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that 20 percent of Streator's miners owned their houses. Labor movements like
6716-605: The river include Ottawa, LaSalle, Peru, and Marseilles. The regions north and south of the Illinois River are mostly agricultural, including the Fox River portion of the county, and have few large towns. In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Ottawa have ranged from a low of 12 °F (−11 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C)
6808-541: The six New England states as a result of overpopulation combined with land shortages in that region. Some of these later settlers were from upstate New York and had parents who had moved to that region from New England shortly after the Revolutionary War . New Englanders and New England transplants from upstate New York were the vast majority of LaSalle County's inhabitants during the first several decades of its history. These settlers were primarily members of
6900-542: The subsequent to 1791 Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec . The Province of Quebec did not have an elected legislature and was ruled directly by the governor with advice from counsellors. A council responsible to advise the governor (then James Murray) on all affairs of state was created in 1764. In 1774, the Quebec Act created a Council for the Affairs of the Province of Quebec to advise the governor on legislative affairs. The Legislative Council served as an advisory council to
6992-586: The summer of 2018. The downtown now is home to more than 20 murals. The Streatorland Historical Society Museum houses displays of Streator history and memorabilia of some of its famous citizens. One of the displays is a tribute to the Free Canteen. The Canteen was a group of local volunteers who served over 1.5 million soldiers during World War II who briefly stopped at the city's old Santa Fe Train Depot while traveling by troop trains. Other features include
7084-414: The tornado passed East 15th Road. No fatalities were reported, but there were reports of leveled houses and extensive damage throughout the area. The National Weather Service reported that there were two tornadoes. The second was reported to have touched down one mile west of Streator, with a base of 50 feet. As of the 2020 census there were 12,500 people, 5,762 households, and 2,949 families residing in
7176-581: The vast majority of inhabitants in LaSalle County − much like antebellum New England − were overwhelmingly in favor of the abolitionist movement during the decades leading up to the Civil War . When the New Englanders arrived in what is now LaSalle County, there was nothing but dense virgin forest and wild prairie. They laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings and established post routes. In 1834, Norwegian immigrants settled in
7268-545: The village and created Fort St. Louis , but the Iroqouis continued to attack. The settlement was eventually abandoned by 1691. In the years after the initial exploration, the French settled their newly claimed territory as La Louisiane . During much of the 18th century the region was sparsely populated by French, British and American fur traders. The French ceded control of the part of the La Louisiane territory east of
7360-484: The watershed of the Vermilion River, a major tributary to the Illinois River in Central Illinois , an area of mostly flat prairie . The topography of the basin is a complex collection of buried valleys , lowlands and uplands carved by repeated episodes of continental glaciation. Underneath the topsoil, the region's bedrock contains vast amounts of coal . About 68% of Illinois has coal-bearing strata of
7452-402: Was 2.89 and the average family size was 2.10. The city's age distribution consisted of 20.0% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males. The median income for a household in
7544-600: Was a colony in British North America which comprised the former French colony of Canada . It was established by the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1763, following the conquest of New France by British forces during the Seven Years' War . As part of the 1763 Treaty of Paris , France gave up its claim to the colony; it instead negotiated to keep the small profitable island of Guadeloupe . Following
7636-436: Was a highly skilled craft. Most of America's glassblowers came from Europe, or were trained there. Many of Streator's immigrant coal miners were trained in glass blowing. High-grade silica, the main ingredient in glass was in abundance in the Streator region and nearby Ottawa. The combination of silica, coal to fire the furnaces and skilled craftsmen were a perfect match for Streator's second major industry which began in 1887 with
7728-488: Was admitted to the union on December 3, 1818, by Congress. The city of Chicago served as the main impetus of growth in the area throughout the early 19th century, and more importantly to the region around Streator was the development of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1821. This canal connected Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River , greatly increasing shipping traffic in the region. Land speculation in areas lining
7820-535: Was elected sheriff of LaSalle County. He was hired to restore public order resulting from an influx of workmen creating the Illinois and Michigan Canal . Reddick served as sheriff for four consecutive two-year terms. After being elected to the Illinois State Senate , Reddick commissioned the construction of a luxurious Italianate home, now known as the Reddick Mansion . This structure
7912-419: Was elected as its first mayor. Streator's early growth was due to the coal mine, as well as a major glass manufacturer and its status as a midwestern railroad hub. Today Streator's economy is led by heavy-equipment manufacturer Vactor, food distributor U.S. Foodservice and glass bottle manufacturer Owens-Illinois . The city is the hometown of Clyde Tombaugh , who in 1930 discovered the dwarf planet Pluto ,
8004-736: Was founded largely by immigrants from New England . These were old stock Yankee immigrants, who were descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s. The completion of the Erie Canal caused a surge in New England immigration to what was then the Northwest Territory . The end of the Black Hawk War led to an additional surge of immigration, once again coming almost exclusively from
8096-462: Was increasing in the mid-19th century, and East Coast capitalists were willing to invest in this region. The area was originally known as Hardscrabble , "because it was a hard scrabble to cross the Vermilion River and get up the hill to where the town was first located". The town was renamed Unionville in honor of the local men who fought for the Union during the Civil War. In 1866 Worthy S. Streator ,
8188-535: Was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 112 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.32 inches (34 mm) in February to 4.13 inches (105 mm) in June. As of the 2020 United States Census , there were 109,658 people, 45,089 households, and 29,344 families residing in the county. The population density was 95.5 inhabitants per square mile (36.9/km ). There were 49,812 housing units at an average density of 43.4 per square mile (16.8/km ). The racial makeup of
8280-504: Was the tenth-most populous Micropolitan Statistical Area in the United States as of 2009. The small Livingston County portion of Streator is part of the Pontiac Micropolitan Statistical Area. Historically, the population of LaSalle County has increased 75% between 1870 and 1990, while the statewide population has grown 350%. Streator's economic history has been tied with its natural resources. Coal
8372-414: Was the initial catalyst of the city's economy from 1866 until the late 1920s. As the community matured, silica deposits provided the resource for Streator's next industry leader: glass-container manufacturing. While the coal industry eventually died, glass manufacturing remains a presence in Streator. Agriculture and related agri-business in the farmlands of LaSalle County and nearby Livingston County are also
8464-453: Was the site of a F3 tornado that ripped through the downtown and killed nine people on April 20, 2004. On November 15, 2023, a magnitude 3.6 earthquake hit the county. [1] According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,148 square miles (2,970 km ), of which 1,135 square miles (2,940 km ) is land and 13 square miles (34 km ) (1.1%) is water. It is the second-largest county in Illinois by land area and
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