88 topographic sheets cover 87 settlements here, and 13 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
13 National Register listings published here · the county-history sources name 2 people · people the book names include John Stark'S Dream (Carroll Township, 1879) · Georgetown Towxsh I P. (Georgetown Township, 1879) (machine-read).
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
| Photograph | Property | Type | Listed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Adams Building | building | 2000 | 00001337 |
 | Building at 210-212 West North Street | building | 2000 | 00001334 |
 | Dale Building | building | 2000 | 99001711 |
 | Danville Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Historic District | district | 1992 | 91001973 |
 | Danville Public Library | building | 1978 | 78003064 |
 | First National Bank Building | building | 2018 | 00001335 |
 | Fischer Theater | building | 2001 | 01000978 |
 | Fithian House | building | 1975 | 75002060 |
 | Holland Apartments | building | 1988 | 88002232 |
 | Hoopes-Cunningham Mansion | building | 1985 | 85002307 |
 | Hoopeston Carnegie Public Library | building | 2002 | 02000458 |
 | Stone Arch Bridge | structure | 1986 | 86001087 |
 | United States Post Office and Court House | building | 2016 | 16000785 |
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 31 of them, burning about 233 acres. None started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 13 |
| Debris and open burning | 9 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 3 |
| Smoking | 3 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 2 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 October 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 100 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | 2750 |
| 9 November 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 25 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | TRUEX |
| 1 October 2011 | Debris and open burning | 20 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | NORTH |
| 15 October 2011 | Debris and open burning | 15 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | HENNIN |
| 23 September 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | DANVILLE |
| 6 October 2011 | Debris and open burning | 10 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | THORNSBUSH |
| 23 March 2003 | Recreation and ceremony | 5.0 acres | Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
| 7 November 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 5.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | 1428 |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 695 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 32 injuries and about $76,004,480 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 368 |
| Hail | 202 |
| Tornado | 64 |
| Flash Flood | 53 |
| Flood | 5 |
| Lightning | 2 |
| Funnel Cloud | 1 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1953 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 1 killed, 5 hurt, $25,000,000 | no account filed |
| April 1974 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 12 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| April 1982 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 5 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 4 hurt | no account filed |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | New Town | 2 hurt | Trees were blown down onto multiple buildings at Camp Drake, and a bridge on the property was destroyed. Two minor injuries occurred when a tree fell on top of a shower house used as a shelter. |
| November 2013 | Tornado (EF2) | Allerton | 1 hurt, $9,500,000 | A tornado touched down in an open field 2.8 miles NE of Allerton at 1:03 PM CST. The tornado tracked to the northeast for about 15 miles and did major damage to 2 homes, roof damage to 4 other homes, and destroyed 9 outbuildings, 4 garages, and 2 grain bins. Numerous trees and power poles were also snapped. The tornado crossed State Route 1 about 2 miles north of Westville, impacting the villages of Belgium and Hegeler where 1 person was injured. Nine homes sustained major damage, 26 had significant roof damage, and more than 100 had minor roof damage. The tornado also damaged more than 50 mobile homes, numerous garages and vehicles, and destroyed about 25 outbuildings. The tornado crossed the Vermilion River and moved through about a mile of forested area before dissipating 4.4 miles NE of Westville and 3 miles W of the Indiana border. Total damage was estimated at $9.5 million. |
| May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Westville | 1 hurt, $500,000 | Thunderstorm winds peeled the roof off an elementary school. A custodian was injured by falling debris. There was $80,000 in damages to the roof and another $10,000 in water damage. Some of the roof debris damaged nearby homes. Tree limbs were also blown down. |
| October 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | 1 hurt | Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous trees, tree limbs, and power lines countywide. In Georgetown, the community center sustained moderate roof damage when a 120 foot by 100 foot section was blown apart. In Rossville, several outbuildings sustained minor to moderate damage. In Danville, the roof of a business was blown off. Also, several homes sustained minor damage in Westville, Sidell, and Georgetown. |
| February 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fithian | 1 hurt | A semi was blown over on I-74 just north of Fithian. The driver sustained minor injuries. In Danville, several windows on a business were broken and in Hoopeston several power poles were blown down. |
| July 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hoopeston | $8,500,000 | Downburst winds caused considerable damage on the west side of Hoopeston. Three businesses were destroyed, one hundred homes sustained minor to moderate damage, and the EMS building was destroyed. Also, the sewer department suffered major damage and a church suffered minor damage. Numerous trees, tree limbs, power poles, and power lines were blown down in Hoopeston and areas to the southeast, east of Rossville. No injuries or deaths were reported. Damage was estimated around 8.5 million dollars. |
| May 2019 | Hail | Hegeler | $4,000,000 | Approximately 4 million dollars of hail damage occurred at the Toyota dealership on the south side of Tilton. |
| May 2000 | Hail | Indianola | $4,000,000 | no account filed |
| February 2018 | Flood | Cheneyville | $3,000,000 | Around 1.00 to 1.75 inches of rain fell onto frozen ground late on February 19th. This set the conditions for rapid flash flooding to occur on February 20th into the 21st when 3.00 to 5.00 of rain occurred. Numerous creeks and streams rapidly flooded in northern and central Vermilion County. Numerous roads in Hoopeston, Bismarck and Danville were impassable. Another 0.50 to 1.00 inch of rain from late on February 21st into early February 23rd exacerbated the flooding. The North Fork of the Vermilion River flooded so quickly that 25 homes had to be evacuated by boat in the Morin addition on the west side of Danville early in the morning on February 21st. A person attempting to cross a flooded section of Illinois Route 1, between Hoopeston and Rossville had to be rescued from the roof of their car, also early in the morning on February 21st. The flood waters took more than two days to recede, with much of the flooding ending by the late afternoon of February 23rd. |
| May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rossville | $2,800,000 | Extensive tree damage occurred across Rossville due to wind gusts of 80-90mph. Many homes and cars were damaged due to falling trees and tree branches. Numerous power poles and power lines were blown down and a few street lights were broken. |
| November 2013 | Tornado (EF2) | Ellis | $2,500,000 | This tornado crossed from Champaign County into Vermilion County 4.1 miles NW of Armstrong at 1:00 PM CST, then tracked northeastward across rural northwest Vermilion County. The tornado destroyed 1 home, 20 outbuildings, and a camper. It also damaged 7 other homes and snapped numerous power poles and trees. The tornado weakened as it moved out of Vermilion County into Iroquois County in National Weather Service Chicago's County Warning Area (CWA) about 3.7 miles WNW of Hoopeston at 1:14PM CST. |
| March 1991 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| March 1976 | Tornado (F4) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bismarck | $600,000 | Numerous trees, power poles, and power lines were blown down. |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fithian | $500,000 | A line of severe thunderstorms moved from northwest to southeast across Vermilion County. There was widespread tree and power line damage. Several small grain bins and barns were destroyed. In Oakwood, the roof of a truck stop was severely damaged. Several semis were blown over on I-74 near Oakwood and near Fithian. The drivers were uninjured. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Central Park | $400,000 | Forty train cars were blown over just southwest of Tilton. |
| April 2011 | Tornado (EF1) | Gundy | $360,000 | A tornado touched down 4.4 miles east of Rossvile at 711 PM CST. It traveled northeastward, damaging 6 grain bins, 2 farmsteads, 2 large sheds, and a combine before dissipating 5.6 miles east-northeast of Rossville at 714 PM CST. |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Danville | $350,000 | A severe thunderstorm moved south across Vermilion County. It caused considerable damage to the roof of a canning factory in Danville, as well as, destroying a nearby gas station's sign and causing minor damage to a hotel roof. As the storm moved into Georgetown, it blew down several large tree limbs and power lines. No injuries were reported. Damage to the canning factory was estimated around $350,000. |
| May 2017 | Hail | East Lynn | $325,000 | Hail lasted for 4 minutes and broke windshields. |
| December 1998 | Tornado (F0) | Collison | $300,000 | A tornado touched down on the west side of Collison. It caused moderate to major damage to a dozen homes and destroyed a post office and two mobile homes. Dozens of trees were blown over and numerous projectiles...ranging from small tree branches to 2 inch by 8 inch boards...were either driven into the ground or into structures. No injuries or deaths were reported. Damage was estimated around $300,000. |
| June 1984 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| November 1975 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 2011 | Tornado (EF0) | Henning | $225,000 | A tornado touched down near Henning at 702 PM CST. It traveled northeastward, damaging roofs, siding, and awnings on numerous houses. The tornado also knocked down a number of trees before dissipating 3 miles northeast of Henning at 705 PM CST. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Oakwood | $205,000 | A downburst with estimated winds of 85 to 90 mph caused widespread wind damage on the south side of Oakwood. Tin roofing material was lifted off a barn just south of Route 150 and west of South Oakwood Street. Numerous large trees and tree limbs were blown down, causing damage to several mobile homes. Further south, five power poles were blown down and a garage was destroyed on South Oakwood Street. Extensive tree damage continued about three quarters of a mile east into a heavily wooded area. Several homes were damaged in this area. |
| May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Georgetown | $140,000 | Thunderstorm winds tore the roof off of a gym in Mary Miller Junior High and did significant structural damage to an adjoining administration building. Damage was estimated around $140,000. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Danville | $100,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down throughout Danville. Several streets were blocked. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Henning | $100,000 | Downburst winds damaged numerous grain bins and trees in a path from 3 miles northeast of Henning northeastward to about 4 miles east-southeast of Rossville. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Georgetown | $85,000 | Numerous trees were blown down in Georgetown, including one that fell onto a house. |
| March 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Danville | $80,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Danville. |
| July 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Allerton | $80,000 | Power poles were blown down on buildings. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Danville | $80,000 | Numerous trees were blown down in Danville causing power outages across the city. |
| August 2009 | Tornado (EF0) | Jamesburg | $80,000 | The tornado touched down 3.5 miles northeast of Collision at 410 PM CST, and lifted at 418 PM CST one-half mile southeast of Henning. It damaged two homes and numerous outbuildings in addition to crop and tree damage. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Steelton | $75,000 | Numerous trees and power poles were blown down from southwest of Danville to Georgetown. |
| March 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ryan | $75,000 | Several power poles and power lines were blown down between Fairmount and Catlin. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Steelton | $75,000 | Power poles and power lines were blown down on South Henning Road just south of US Highway 150. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bismarck | $75,000 | Numerous trees were blown down onto power lines or across roads from Danville to Bismarck. |
| May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rankin | $75,000 | Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down in Rankin. |
| April 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Danville | $70,000 | Roof damage to buildings on Bensyl and Emerson and the 100 block of North Walnut. |
| November 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Danville | $70,000 | Numerous power lines were blown down in Danville. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Westville | $70,000 | Multiple trees were blown down across Vermilion County. |
| March 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairmount | $65,000 | Several power poles were blown down near 1050N Road and 100E Road. |
| May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rossville | $65,000 | A farmstead had an outbuilding destroyed and several trees damaged. |
| May 2017 | Hail | Rossville | $65,000 | Wind-driven hail did extensive damage to the siding and roof of a house. |
| May 2012 | Tornado (EF0) | East Lynn | $65,000 | A tornado touched down about 3.2 miles west-southwest of Hoopeston at 5:18 PM CDT. The tornado tracked eastward, destroying a grain silo, throwing a grain auger into a 20 X 40 shed, and ripping shingles off two houses before lifting 1.1 miles southwest of Hoopeston at 5:23 PM CDT. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Westville | $60,000 | Several power poles and power lines were blown down. |
| May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rossville | $60,000 | A farmstead had an outbuilding destroyed and several trees damaged. |
| November 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Danville | $60,000 | A roof was blown off a house. |
| November 2011 | Hail | Rossville | $60,000 | The ground was covered with hailstones. Some minor damage to vehicles and buildings was reported. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Indianola | $60,000 | A barn was destroyed and several trees were uprooted. |
| September 2016 | Tornado (EF1) | (Dnv)Vermlion Apt Da | $50,000 | A tornado touched down 3.6 miles southwest of Bismarck at 6:34pm CDT, then tracked northeastward for 1.6 miles mostly across open fields. The tornado damaged a few trees, took shingles off the roof of a house, and blew a camper over before dissipating 2.3 miles south-southwest of Bismarck at 6:43pm CDT. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Danville | $50,000 | A 30x50 farm building was destroyed by strong thunderstorm winds. |
| August 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Danville | $50,000 | Several trees were blown down in Danville. Approximately 200 people lost power as 50 to 60 mph winds arrived along a gust front. |
| May 2013 | Tornado (EF1) | Meeks | $50,000 | A tornado touched down in an open field 2.6 miles southeast of Westville at 11:24 PM CDT. The tornado tracked to the northeast, crossing North 1850 East Road, then severely damaged an attached garage and part of a house. The garage was pulled from its foundation and pushed about 10 feet on top of the car inside. A large barn was damaged and several trees were splintered as well. The tornado dissipated about one tenth of a mile northeast of the property at 11:25 PM CDT. No injuries were reported. |
| August 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hoopeston | $50,000 | Twenty five to thirty large trees were blown down in Hoopeston. One tree destroyed a car. |
| May 1998 | Tornado (F0) | Ridge Farm | $50,000 | A tornado touched down one mile west of Ridge Farm. It destroyed a barn and machine shed. Also, it damaged another barn, machine shed, and a grain bin. No injuries were reported and damage was estimated around $50,000. |
| May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rossville | $45,000 | A pole barn was destroyed, with its roof and walls being blown about 300 yards to the southwest into a field. A tree was snapped in half. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 15 workings inside this county. 6 still produce and 9 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 11 |
| Fire Clay (Refractory) | 2 |
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 1 |
| Clay | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danville Pit | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Fairmount Quarry & Mill | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Plant | ||
| Harmattan Mine Shale Exposure | Fire Clay (Refractory) | Occurrence | ||
| Western Brick Co. Shale Exposure | Fire Clay (Refractory) | Occurrence | ||
| Allison Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Allison Sand & Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Barrick Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Bush Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Lonnas Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| National Gravel Co., Inc. | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Potomac Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Sand Valley Sand & Gravel | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Seymour Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Thomas Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Tucker Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a Tale of Its Evolution, Settlement, and Progress for Nearly a Century devotes a chapter to each township: its boundaries and streams, who settled it and when, the mills, the schools and the churches. All 17 are reproduced here in full. Each row shows the township's own shape and where it lies in the county, drawn from the Census Bureau's boundary. Which settlements belong to which township is computed from that same boundary, not taken from the book.
2 books written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 66 chapters in all. Every chapter is public domain, machine-read from the scan and reproduced complete. A chapter already given under one of the county's towns is not repeated in this list.
Everyone History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a Tale of Its Evolution, Settlement, and Progress for Nearly a Century stops to write about, with the section that describes them. Among them are the men who founded the place and governed the Territory. Each name opens the passage itself, in the words of 1911.
Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
South Ross township · 61811 · On Middle Branch North Fork Vermilion River · Bismarck quadrangle
13 sheets, 1933 to 1987
Danville township · 61832 · Near Thompson Hollow · Danville SW quadrangle
20 sheets, 1899 to 1987
Danville township · 61832 · On North Fork Vermilion River · Danville NW quadrangle
19 sheets, 1899 to 1987
Oakwood township · 61858 · On Glenburn Creek · Collison quadrangle
15 sheets, 1931 to 1987
Middlefork township · 61865 · Potomac quadrangle
13 sheets, 1936 to 1987
No longer a settlement
Danville township · 61834 · On Hawbuck Creek · Danville SE quadrangle
19 sheets, 1899 to 1987
Oakwood township · 61858 · On Glenburn Creek · Danville SW quadrangle
20 sheets, 1899 to 1987
Danville township · 61832 · On North Fork Vermilion River · Danville SW quadrangle
20 sheets, 1899 to 1987
Newell township · 61832 · Danville NW quadrangle
19 sheets, 1899 to 1987
No longer a settlement
Danville township · 61834 · On Hawbuck Creek · Danville SE quadrangle
19 sheets, 1899 to 1987
Blount township · 61865 · On Collison Branch · Collison quadrangle
15 sheets, 1931 to 1987
Blount township · 61834 · On Painter Creek · Henning quadrangle
12 sheets, 1933 to 1987
Newell township · 61834 · On Painter Creek · Henning quadrangle
12 sheets, 1933 to 1987
No longer a settlement
Middlefork township · 61865 · On Bluegrass Creek · Potomac quadrangle
13 sheets, 1936 to 1987
South Ross township · 61811 · On Middle Branch North Fork Vermilion River · Henning quadrangle
12 sheets, 1933 to 1987
Danville township · 61832 · On North Fork Vermilion River · Danville SW quadrangle
20 sheets, 1899 to 1987
Danville township · 61833 · On North Fork Vermilion River · Danville SW quadrangle
20 sheets, 1899 to 1987
Danville township · 61832 · On North Fork Vermilion River · Danville SW quadrangle
20 sheets, 1899 to 1987
South Ross township · 61811 · On Middle Branch North Fork Vermilion River · Bismarck quadrangle
13 sheets, 1933 to 1987
Danville township · 61832 · On North Fork Vermilion River · Danville NW quadrangle
19 sheets, 1899 to 1987
The vanished settlements of Vermilion County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.
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