Franks, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franks, Illinois
|
|
|---|---|
 Franks, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Franks, Illinois
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | DeKalb |
| Elevation | 725 ft (221 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 815 & 779 |
| GNIS feature ID | 422711 |
Franks is a small place in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and buildings that isn't officially a city or town with its own local government. Franks is located about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) northwest of Sandwich.
Contents
The Story of Franks
From Somonauk to Franks
Franks has an interesting past! It wasn't always called Franks. Originally, this area was home to a village named Somonauk. It was founded way back in 1834.
The first Somonauk was located along Chicago Road. This road was an important mail route connecting Chicago to the far western parts of the country. Many small cabins were built along Somonauk Creek.
A Secret Network
Some of these cabins in the original Somonauk were part of the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network of safe houses and routes. It helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the years before the American Civil War.
Life was very hard for many people living in the early Somonauk settlement. They faced tough times and struggled to find enough food.
Moving the Village
In the mid-1840s, something big happened. A new double-track railroad line, called the CB&Q mainline, was built. This railway connected Chicago to Galesburg.
Because of the new railway, the entire village of Somonauk decided to move! They relocated to where the present-day village of Somonauk is now. This move made it easier for people and goods to travel by train.
A Piece of the Past
Recently, one of the original houses from the very first Somonauk settlement caught fire. This shows how old and full of history the area around Franks truly is.
