The History of Central Illinois

In 1673, Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, (two French Explorers) came to Illinois after traveling through the Mississippi, Arkansas and Illinois rivers. They were the first Europeans to travel to Illinois.

In 1717, Illinois became part of the French colony of Louisiana. In 1783, it then became part of the United States territory through the Treaty of Paris.

Illinois was placed in the Northwest Territory. In 1788, Arthur St. Clair became the first governor.

In 1813, the first land offices were opened in Kaskaskia and Shawneetown. In 1814, Kaskaskia was the home of the very first newspaper in Illinois, called the Illinois Herald. The Chicago Tribune was founded in 1847 by Joseph Medill.

In 1853, Illinois held the first state fair in Springfield. Then in 1855, a free public school system was adopted by the General Assembly. In 1867, the Illinois Industrial University at Champaign-Urbana was opened, and later was renamed as the University of Illinois in 1885.

In 1821, Illinois (with a population of 34,620) became a state with Shadrach Bond as the governor and Kaskaskia as its capital. In 1839, Springfield became the capital.