Wheatland Township, Will County, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Wheatland Township is located in Will County
Will County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The population was 44,349 at the 2000 census.
As of 2008, Wheatland Township had over 27,000 parcels located within its boundaries. It ranked third in Will County for land parcels and the highest in EAV (Equalized Assessed Value.)
Wheatland Township History
Most of Wheatland Township was still owned by a Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe, the Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
, until 1833. The Treaty of Chicago
Treaty of Chicago
The Treaty of Chicago may refer to either of two treaties made and signed in Chicago, Illinois between the United States and the Ottawa, Ojibwe , and Potawatomi Native American peoples.-1821 Treaty of Chicago:...
obtained this land and officially made it available for settlement. Growth was slow during the 1830s due to a lack of significant wooded lands. Farmers depended on wood for building and a source of fuel. They also believed if the land could not grow trees than it would not be beneficial for farming.
As adjacent townships grew, small settlements developed around rural crossroads, schools, churches and post offices. These centers offered goods and services and were determined by the distance the area farmers could complete a round trip in one-half day’s time. Normantown and Wolfs Crossing provided markets for farmers to weigh, sell and ship their produce. Tamarack offered hardware supplies and watch repair, other centers included East Wheatland Post Office,Hoddam, and Tokio Post Office.
Wheatland Presbyterian Church,became known locally as The Scotch Church, in recognition of the numerous Scottish families that had settled the area.Across from the Church and its parrish, was a one room schoolhouse. The school house originally served eight grades within a single room in preparation for transfer to high school at either Plainfield or Oswego Illinois. Numerous other churches provided community support for the Township representing Methodists, Baptist and Lutheran faiths. Throughout the early 20th century the churches created recreational leagues, among the churches, for various competitions including baseball and the annual plowing match. The plowing competition which began with horses and evolved into tractors, measured the quality and accuracy of tilling the soil on various Township farmlands. In later years, the winner of the competition was rewarded with a trip to Scotland, where he could compete with his former countrymen.
Farming was the primary industry of the township in the late 19th century and first half of the 20th century. The settlers in this area were predominately Scottish immigrants. Early farming families included the Stewarts, Muirs, McMickens, Gilmours, Browns, Boardmans, Boughtons, Clows, Frys, and Pattersons among others. Many of these families are buried in the Wheatland Presbyterian Church cemetery where their origin of birth can be seen on the historic tombstones. Nearby and bordering Townships were populated by German and Swedish families bonded by their respective cultural heritages. The once magnificently beautiful farmland consisting of thousands of acres within the Township, has been reduced to approximately six (6) family owned farms with over 80 acres (323,748.8 m²).
Some of the original farmhouses are still in existence today and can be seen throughout the township. For example, the Boughton family farmhouse is located on Plainfield-Naperville Road. The Clow farmhouse and barn have been preserved by the Forest Preserve District of Will County
Forest Preserve District of Will County
The Forest Preserve District of Will County was created by referendum on July 25, 1927, to preserve open spaces in Will County, Illinois, USA. The first land acquisition was in 1930. As of December 2010, the District owns or manages 21,916 acres of land...
and is located near 111th Street and Book Road.
Wheatland township has grown from 1,098 population in 1880 to over 44,349 according to the 2000 census.