Waddams Grove, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waddams Grove
Wadam's
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 Waddams Grove
Location in Illinois
Waddams Grove
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Stephenson |
| Township | West Point |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| • Land | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,033 ft (315 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | Unknown |
| Postal code |
61048
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| Area code(s) | 815 |
Waddams Grove is a small place in Illinois, United States. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.
This community is located in Stephenson County, within West Point. It holds a special place in history because it was the very first settlement in Stephenson County. Waddams Grove is found northwest of Lena. A famous event, the Battle of Waddams Grove during the Black Hawk War, happened nearby.
History of Waddams Grove
Waddams Grove was founded in 1832 by William Waddams and his two sons, Hiram and Nelson. They arrived in Stephenson County after the Black Hawk War had ended. Their arrival marked the beginning of the first lasting settlement in the county. This opened the door for many more people to move to the area.
In the spring of 1833, William Waddams brought his whole family to the new settlement. He built their home there. Waddams had lived in other places before, like Indiana and other parts of Illinois. He stayed in Waddams Grove until he passed away. Many early settlers stopped at Waddams Grove first before moving on to claim their own land. This made it a starting point for other communities in Stephenson County.
Growth and Name Changes
From 1832 to 1836, Waddams Grove grew quite a bit. When Stephenson County was officially created in 1837, Waddams Grove was not chosen to be the main county town.
The community got its first U.S. Post Office on March 31, 1838. This post office served the village until July 28, 1859. Over the years, the village's name changed a few times. It was called Wadam's, then Sada. Finally, on January 14, 1876, the name was changed back to Waddams Grove. It has been known by this name ever since.
