Allentown, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Allentown, Illinois
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Allentown Union Hall
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 Allentown, Illinois
Location in Tazewell County, Illinois
Allentown, Illinois
Location in Illinois
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Tazewell |
| Elevation | 679 ft (207 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 309 |
| GNIS feature ID | 422400 |
Allentown is a small, unincorporated community in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States. This means it's a group of homes and buildings that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. It's located in Tremont Township, but it's actually closer to the town of Mackinaw than to Tremont. Allentown is about 2.5 miles (4 km) northwest of Mackinaw and 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Tremont.
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A Look Back: Allentown's History
Allentown got its name from a man named Edward James Allen. He lived from 1810 to 1889. The name "Allentown" first showed up on a map of Tremont Township in 1891.
How Allentown Got Its Name
Local stories say that Mr. Allen came up with the name "Allentown" in 1873. He needed a name for a cattle stop to keep a railroad shipping clerk happy. Allentown was a station on the Illinois Terminal Railroad for many years. This railroad system connected different towns.
The Community Schoolhouse
Maps from 1864 show that a country schoolhouse was in Allentown. By 1873, this school was known as School House No. 3 for the township. Locals say the school's location changed several times. The last school building was destroyed by a fire in 1946.
Store and Post Office
A general store and a post office opened in Allentown in 1879. These were important places for people to get supplies and send mail. They stayed open for a long time, finally closing in 1955.
The Allentown Union Hall
In 1892, the people of Allentown built a special place called the Allentown Union Hall. This hall was used for many community events.
- Community celebrations
- Church services
- Club meetings
- Local elections
- Performances by traveling musicians and vaudeville shows
The Allentown Union Hall is a historic building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 12, 1988. This means it's recognized as an important place in history.
Where is Allentown?
Allentown is located at 40°33′21″N 89°23′48″W / 40.55583°N 89.39667°W. This is its exact spot on a map.
How Many People Live There?
Since Allentown is an unincorporated community, there isn't an official count of how many people live there. However, Allentown has about 24 houses. This suggests that its unofficial population is likely somewhere between 50 and 100 people.
