Armstrong, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Armstrong
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The Armstrong post office
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Vermilion County's location in Illinois
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 Armstrong
Location in Vermilion County, Illinois
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Illinois |
| County | Vermilion County |
| Township | Middlefork Township |
| Established | 1876 |
| Elevation | 212 m (696 ft) |
| ZIP code |
61812
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0403620 |
Armstrong is a small, unincorporated community. It is located in Vermilion County, Illinois. An unincorporated community means it's a settlement that isn't officially a city or town with its own local government.
History of Armstrong
Armstrong was first settled in 1876. It was built on land owned by two men named Thomas and Henry Armstrong. The community grew up along the route of a special kind of train track. This track belonged to the Havana, Rantoul, and Eastern narrow-gauge railroad. A narrow-gauge railroad uses tracks that are closer together than standard tracks. This railroad later became part of the Illinois Central Railroad.
The Great Fire of 1908
On October 2, 1908, a big fire caused a lot of damage in Armstrong. Many important buildings were destroyed. These included the general store, where people bought everyday items. The harness shop, blacksmith shop, and lumber yard also burned down. Even the opera house and the post office were lost. The grain elevator, which stores crops, was also destroyed.
The people of Armstrong worked hard to fight the fire. They pumped water by hand. Water was also brought in by train from over a mile away. At that time, the community did not have its own fire equipment.
Where is Armstrong?
Armstrong is located in the northwestern part of Vermilion County. You can find it just northeast of where two main roads meet. These roads are U.S. Route 136 and Illinois State Route 49. Armstrong is about four miles west of a town called Potomac.
