Half Day, Illinois facts for kids
Half Day was once a small community in Lake County, Illinois. It was located about 30 miles (48 km) north of downtown Chicago. Today, Half Day is no longer a separate town. Its land is now part of the nearby village of Vernon Hills.
What Happened to Half Day?
In 1993, the village of Vernon Hills officially took over Half Day. This process is called "annexation." Soon after, another village, Lincolnshire, also tried to annex a part of Half Day. This led to a legal fight between Vernon Hills and Lincolnshire. In the end, a court decided that Vernon Hills could annex Half Day, but Lincolnshire could not.
Half Day's Legacy Today
Even though Half Day is no longer a separate town, its name lives on in the area.
- Half Day Road: A part of Illinois Route 22 that goes through the area is still called Half Day Road.
- Half Day School: This school was first built in 1839. It closed for a short time in the 1980s but reopened in 1992. Today, Half Day School teaches students in third, fourth, and fifth grades. It is part of the Lincolnshire-Prairie View School District 103.
In 1952, Half Day was in the news. The governor of Illinois at the time, Adlai Stevenson, flew to Half Day to vote in the presidential election. He was running for president that year.
Where Did the Name "Half Day" Come From?
The name Half Day comes from a local Potawatomi chief named Aptakisic. His name meant "sun at the meridian" or "half day." Chief Aptakisic was friendly with the White settlers during the Black Hawk War.
After 1833, Chief Aptakisic and his people moved to an area near Elmont, Kansas. Settlers then used his name for an inn, and later for the community itself.
Some local stories tell different reasons for the name "Half Day," but these are not true.
- One story says the town was a "half-day's journey" from Chicago by horse and carriage.
- Another story from the early 1900s claimed the name came from a chief called "Hefda."
These stories are interesting, but the real origin of the name is from Chief Aptakisic.
