Towanda, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Towanda, Illinois
Village
Half of the old U.S. Route 66 roadbed is a walking trail in Towanda.
Location in McLean County, Illinois
Towanda, Illinois Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	McLean
Township	Towanda
Founded	May 5, 1875
Area
• Total	0.74 sq mi (1.93 km2)
• Land	0.74 sq mi (1.93 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	781 ft (238 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	431
• Density	579.30/sq mi (223.62/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	61776
Area code(s)	309
FIPS code	17-75822
GNIS ID	2399997
Wikimedia Commons	Towanda, Illinois

Towanda is a small village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 431 people lived there. It is part of the larger Bloomington–Normal area.

History of Towanda

How Towanda Got Started

The village of Towanda was named after a town in Pennsylvania. Its name means "burial ground" in the Nanticoke language. This is an old Native American language.

The land for Towanda was first looked at by Charles Badeau. He worked for a railroad company. Because railroads couldn't start new towns back then, the land was given to two real estate developers. These were Jesse W. Fell and Charles W. Holder. They planned the town of Towanda and officially recorded it on December 7, 1854.

Jesse W. Fell was well-known for starting many towns in central Illinois. These included Normal and Pontiac. Charles W. Holder also helped start towns with Fell. The town of Holder is named after him.

Town Layout and Design

Older towns in central Illinois, like Bloomington, were often built around a central square. But in the 1850s, towns like Towanda were designed differently. They were built to face the railroad tracks.

Towanda had a main street that ran next to the railroad. Shops and businesses were on one side, looking across at the tracks. This design was common for new towns along the Chicago and Alton Railroad.

This type of town plan sometimes left unusual triangle-shaped pieces of land. In Towanda, Jesse Fell gave two of these triangle areas to the town. They were called "plazas" and have always been used as parks.

Growing Up in Towanda

The first house in Towanda was built by Alex Warren. James Alexander built the first warehouse. Soon, more businesses opened, like Wesley Bishop's grocery store.

A large two-story building was built by Charles Roadnight. It was used for stores on the first floor and a meeting room upstairs. This building burned down around 1900.

Wooden sidewalks were built in 1873. Later, they were replaced with brick and then concrete. The town officially became a village in 1870.

One exciting event in Towanda's history was when a group of women attacked the Buena Vista Tavern. They were upset about how much money their husbands spent on drinks. They used hatchets to smash bottles and throw things through the windows. Each woman was fined one dollar.

Life in Early Towanda

Photographs from the 1870s show what early Towanda looked like. The town had many fences. Cattle and hogs were brought into town at night. They were kept in pens before being shipped by train. Houses had fences to protect gardens from farm animals.

Most homes were simple wooden houses. Along the railroad, you could see long buildings for storing corn. The train station was a simple wooden building. A stone tank house with a windmill was also a striking sight.

Towanda in the 1900s

Towanda has had several fires. In 1905, a big part of the downtown area burned. In 1917, the original train station also caught fire.

But there was also progress. Telephone service started in 1901. Main Street was paved in 1937. Towanda remained smaller than nearby towns like Normal and Bloomington.

Trains were important for the town's growth. However, not many trains stopped there. Passenger train service stopped completely in the 1940s. People started traveling more by cars and trucks.

Route 66 and the Parkway

The famous U.S. Route 66 ran through Towanda from 1926 to the early 1970s. Later, Interstate 55 was built. In 1955, Route 66 in Towanda was made wider. It became a four-lane highway.

Today, part of the old Route 66 is a walking trail. It's called the Towanda Historic Route 66 Parkway. This project started between 1998 and 2000. It saved a section of the old road.

The parkway includes an outdoor exhibit. It teaches visitors about the history of Route 66 across all eight states. There are also picnic areas and birdhouses. This trail is now a popular spot for tourists.

Towanda Today

In 2006, the Towanda Area Historical Society worked with the library. They got a grant to create a digital collection. This project, called "Capturing Towanda's Past for Eternity," added many old documents and images to a website.

Geography of Towanda

Towanda is located in the middle of McLean County. It is about 6 miles northeast of Normal. It is also 8 miles northeast of Bloomington. Interstate 55 passes by the northwest side of the village. You can get off at Exit 171. I-55 goes northeast to Chicago and southwest to Springfield.

The village covers about 0.74 square miles of land. A small stream that flows into Money Creek runs through Towanda. Money Creek then flows into the Mackinaw River.

Climate in Towanda

Towanda gets about 37 inches of rain each year. The average snowfall is about 24 inches. There are usually 104 days a year with some rain or snow.

On average, Towanda has 190 sunny days each year. In July, the temperature is around 87 degrees Fahrenheit. In January, the low temperature is about 16 degrees Fahrenheit.

Towanda has had some tornado activity. On May 5, 1977, a strong tornado hit about 22 miles away. It caused injuries and damage. Another strong tornado hit about 24 miles away on July 7, 2004, injuring three people.

Population of Towanda

In 2000, there were 493 people living in Towanda. There were 199 households and 146 families. The population density was about 709 people per square mile.

About 29% of households had children under 18. Most households (62%) were married couples. The average household had 2.48 people. The average family had 2.91 people.

The median age in the village was 37 years old. About 24% of the population was under 18. About 13% were 65 or older.

Community Life in Towanda

Towanda has a grain silo complex, a local library, and Towanda Elementary School. The school is part of the McLean County Unit District Number 5.

Every year on July 3, Towanda holds a spaghetti supper in the evening. After that, there is a street dance. People from Towanda and nearby areas come to enjoy the fun.

On July 4, Towanda has a parade. It is a big event in McLean County. Many people from surrounding towns come to watch. There is also a flea market. Vendors from all over the United States sell antiques and other items in the two town parks.

Bonnie Lou, singer, musician, and television personality born in Towanda, Illinois

Famous People from Towanda

One famous person from Towanda was Bonnie Lou. She was born Mary Joan Kath. She became a popular singer, musician, and TV personality in the 1950s. She was known for her rock and roll and country songs. Bonnie Lou was a popular TV host in Cincinnati until she retired.

Wilbur Cash (1887–1956) also lived in Towanda. He was a farmer, businessman, and politician.

See also

In Spanish: Towanda (Illinois) para niños