Shirland, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shirland
|
|
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Country | United States |
State | Illinois |
County | Winnebago |
Township | Shirland |
Elevation | 738 ft (225 m) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Postal code |
61079
|
Area code(s) | 815 |
Shirland is a small place in Illinois, United States. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Shirland is located in Winnebago County, specifically in Shirland Township. It's found to the northwest of a larger city called Rockford. Shirland is also part of the bigger area around Rockford, known as the Rockford Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Discovering Shirland's Past
Shirland has an interesting history, even though it's a small community today. Learning about its past helps us understand how places get their names and how they grow over time.
Early Name: Kepotah
Before it was called Shirland, this area had a different name: Kepotah. It's common for places to have older names, especially if they were settled a long time ago. These names often come from local history or the people who lived there first.
How Shirland Got Its Name
The name Shirland became official when a post office was opened there. This happened on August 15, 1857. When a post office is established, it often means the community is growing and needs a way to send and receive mail. This also helps to give the place a clear identity and a name that everyone uses.