Channahon

Channahon’s name meaning “Meeting of the Waters” in the language of the area’s original Potawatomiinhabitants, Channahon is located at the confluence of the Des Plaines and Kankakee rivers, where they form the Illinois River. The Illinois and Michigan Canal(including several locks) runs through most of the village, where it is fed by the water of the DuPage River. The local Channahon State Park celebrates the region’s unique geographical history.

Later in the 19th century, a railroad line that eventually came under the control of the Santa Fe Railroad was laid through the eastern portions of the township, but no railroad actually passed through the village itself. In the late 1920s, U.S. Highway 6 came through Channahon; Interstates 80 and 55 followed in the 1960s (although I-80 runs approximately two miles to the north of the village limits).

Lake Geneva

The City of Lake Geneva is located in southeastern Wisconsin, 10 miles north of the Illinois state line, 75 miles NNW of Chicago and 45 miles SW of Milwaukee. Recognized in 2009 as One of a Dozen Distinctive Destinations by The National Trust for Historic Preservation, it sits on the eastern shore of Geneva Lake in Walworth County.

Key Statistics

Population: 7,696 (2014 Estimate)

Area: 5.8 Sq Miles

Homes: 3,757

Most of our welcome visitors and guests are familiar with the many attractions in the Geneva Lakes area: our beaches at Library Park, and Big Foot State Park, specialty shops and galleries, golfing, boating, hiking the Potawatomi Trail, lake cruises, great food, and lodging services. However, many wonder about the origin of the rolling hills and lake, the early Indians, the pioneering white settlers, the quaint town and its yesteryear homes and buildings.

18,000 years ago, the last of many glaciers retreated to the North after having gorged-out and depressed our lake basin, and leaving a moraine of rolling, gravel hills.

The earliest record of white men seeing this beautiful expanse of water was a party traveling with the Kinzie family between their army post at Fort Dearborn (Chicago) and Fort Winnebago (Portage City) near the Fox and Wisconsin River portage in1831. This area was not on the river and lake highways of the earlier frontier period and thus lay undiscovered.

The ancient Oneota Tribes of the lost Hopewell Culture Indians lived here. These agricultural peoples enjoyed an advanced civilization on these shores as long ago as 1,000 B. C. They built effigy mounds in what is now Library Park. These effigies of a panther and a Lizard were removed several years ago. Eventually, the migrating forest tribes, who were hunters and fierce warriors, drove out the earlier inhabitants. Subsequently, these later Indians were removed by the United States Army to Kansas following the Black Hawk War of 1831-32. Questionable treaty arrangements in 1833 laid the foundation for the eviction of Chief Big Foot and our local Potawatomi Tribe in 1836.

John Brink, a government surveyor, laid claim to the waterfall power and adjacent land at the White River outlet to the lake in 1835. He named the lake after the lake in his home in Geneva, New York. The Indians had called it Kish-Way-Kee-Tow, meaning clear water. You must visit the dams and canal that fed many mills subsequently built here (adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce building in Flat Iron Park on Wrigley Drive).

Prior to the civil war, Lake Geneva was on the reverse route to the Great Lake ports for slaves escaping from Southern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky. After the war, the town became a resort for the wealthy Chicago families. These families began construction of the many mansions on the lake, and Lake Geneva became known as the Newport (RI) of the West. Visitors included Mary Todd Lincoln and Generals Sherman and Sheridan. The Chicago Fire of 1871 caused many Chicago families to move to their summer homes on the lake while the city was rebuilt. The construction and maintenance of these mansions, as well as household employment, developed a separate industry in the town adding to the milling, furniture, wagon and typewriter manufacturing enterprises. After arrival of the railroad, thousands of tons of Lake Geneva ice were shipped each year to the Chicago market, until the beginning of World War II.

Our towns filled with homes and buildings from these earlier times. They represent the frontier and pioneering, as well as the later Victorian period.

Joliet

Joliet is a vibrant city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located 40 miles southwest of Chicago. It became the county seat of Will County in 1836.

With a diverse population of 148,000, Joliet offers a family friendly atmosphere and a thriving business community. Joliet features entertainment including the Hollywood and Harrah’s Casinos, Bookie Magee’s Hideway & OTB, Route 66 Raceway, Chicagoland Speedway, Splash Station Water Park, Challenge Park Xtreme and the I&M Canal bike trail. The centerpiece of cultural activity is the Rialto Square Theatre, a spectacular performing arts center featuring world class entertainment.Downtown Joliet is home to the Joliet Public Library, and many businesses and restaurants. Union Station is a historic train station that connects Jolietans to neighboring cities all the way to Chicago. Bicentennial Park is a riverfront entertainment venue featuring indoor and outdoor theatres. The City of Joliet sponsors several festivals and parades throughout the year. Joliet is a tightknit community whose residents are united by a strong work ethic, a volunteer spirit and a desire to help one another because of civic pride.

Built on a strong work ethic, family values, and community pride,

Joliet is currently the fastest-growing city in the Midwest and the 12th-fastest-growing city in the United States among cities with more than 100,000 people.