Griggsville Landing, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Griggsville Landing
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Griggsville Landing, 1913
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Nickname(s):
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 Griggsville Landing
Location in Illinois
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Pike County |
Griggsville Landing was once a small town on the Illinois River in Pike County. It was also known by other names like Phillips Landing or Phillips Ferry. Today, it is a ghost town, meaning it was abandoned a long time ago.
This former town was an important stop for steamboats starting in the 1830s. It had a special oven called a lime kiln that made lime, which was used in building. Griggsville Landing also had a boat yard, a grist mill (for grinding grain), and even a hotel. The old lime kiln, built around 1850, was still standing in 2007. Griggsville Landing is right next to the Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area.
Contents
A Look Back: Griggsville Landing's Story
Early Days and Changing Names
The area around Griggsville Landing in Pike County, Illinois was first mapped by the United States government between 1817 and 1819.
Over time, the town changed its name several times. It was first known as Phillipsburg. Then it became Griggsville Landing. Later, it was called the landing for Valley City. By 1912, it was even known as Parkers Landing.
What Was Made Here?
Griggsville Landing was a busy place for making things. A big part of its industry was making lime using a lime kiln. This was a commercial business before the American Civil War when the lime industry grew even more. Besides the lime kiln, the town also had a boat yard, a grist mill, and a hotel. The Griggsville Landing Lime Kiln, built around 1850, is a historic reminder of this past industry.
River Travel: Ferries and Steamboats
Crossing the River by Ferry
In 1822, Garrett Van Dusen started a ferry service here. He used a canoe to carry people and would swim horses across the river. Later, Van Dusen sold his ferry and land to Nimrod Phillips. By 1832, the spot was known as Phillips' Ferry. This ferry was very important. It was used by Hyrum Smith and his family during the Mormon migration to Missouri. For many years, the Phillips Ferry Road was the most used east-west route in the county.
Later, William Windsor ran a ferry at Valley City. He first used horses to power his ferry, and then he switched to a steam-powered ferry.
Steamboats Arrive
Griggsville Landing became a regular stop for steamboats in the 1830s. This continued for about 100 years, until the 1930s.
In 1844, Captain Samuel Rider built a boat called Olitippa right at Griggsville Landing. This boat was powered by horses and designed to carry goods even when the river water was low. Captain Rider also built two steamboats here named Timolian and Prairie State.
Why Griggsville Landing Became a Ghost Town
The Impact of Levees
One big reason Griggsville Landing became a ghost town was because of levees. The United States Army Corps of Engineers built these walls along the Illinois River. While levees protect some areas, they can cause other places to flood more often. The yearly floods caused by these levees greatly damaged Valley City, which was nearby. Businesses closed, people left their homes, and the town slowly faded away.
Before the levees, Valley City was a lively river town. Its economy depended on commercial fishing and transporting farm products like hogs, apples, and cattle to big cities like St. Louis and New Orleans. There were also many small businesses, including an ice house. This ice house would collect ice from the Illinois River in winter and deliver it to people in Griggsville.
The Rise of Railroads
Another reason for the decline was the arrival of railroads. When train services expanded into Pike County in the 1860s and 1870s, people no longer needed river landings as much for trade. By 1870, only a few steamboats made regular trips between Peoria and St. Louis.
In 1877, Valley City was planned out about half a mile north of Griggsville Landing. This new town was built where the railroad crossed the Illinois River. Because it was so close to the railroad, Valley City quickly became more important for trade and business than Griggsville Landing.
Other Reasons for Abandonment
In the late 1990s, the last major business in Valley City, the Tate Cheese Company, closed. With fewer jobs and less interest in the buildings, people started to leave. The Great Flood of 1993 also caused a lot of damage to homes across the Midwest, including those in Valley City, leading more people to move away permanently.
Where Was Griggsville Landing?
Griggsville Landing was located at 39°41′49″N 90°38′51″W / 39.69694°N 90.64750°W.
