Ottawa, Illinois

27 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1892 and the latest in 1994. It stands in Ottawa Township. It lies in ZIP code area 61350. It stands on Fox River. The Survey maps it on the Ottawa quadrangle. 18,840 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 482 feet above sea level.

Ottawa within LaSalle County

On record in Ottawa

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 10 records

Starved RockNational Historic Landmark · listed 1966
Fisher-Nash-Griggs Houselisted 1998
John Hossack Houselisted 1972
Knuessl Buildinglisted 1992
Andrew J. O'Conor III Houselisted 1993
Ottawa Commercial Historic Districtlisted 2011
Ottawa East Side Historic Districtlisted 2013
Starved Rock Lock and Dam Historic Districtlisted 2004
Jeremiah Strawn Houselisted 1995
Washington Park Historic Districtlisted 1973

Population over time

2 figures

Ottawa grew from 18,768 to 18,840 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

Year	People	Change
2010	18,768
2020	18,840	+72 (+0%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

9 surveys from 27 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

1892 USGS Ottawa quadrangle1:62500, 9 printings
1915 USGS Ottawa quadrangle1:62500, 7 printings
1946 USGS Ottawa quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
1958 USGS Aurora quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
1961 USGS Aurora quadrangle1:250000
1970 USGS Ottawa quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
1985 USGS Ottawa quadrangle1:100000
1991 USGS Ottawa quadrangle1:100000
1994 USGS Ottawa quadrangle1:24000

Fires near this place

5 since 2008

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 5 fires within 5 miles of Ottawa between 2008 and 2018, burning about 5 acres in total. None started naturally. 2 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	3
Arson/incendiarism	2

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
6 April 2008	Arson/incendiarism	1.0 acres	Illinois Division of Forestry Resources	BUFFALO
29 March 2010	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	1.0 acres	Illinois Division of Forestry Resources	1023
29 March 2010	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Illinois Division of Forestry Resources	1023
28 March 2008	Arson/incendiarism	2.0 acres	Illinois Division of Forestry Resources	GRASS
19 March 2018	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Illinois Division of Forestry Resources	180318007

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in LaSalle County

Mines and quarries near this place

8 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 8 workings within 5 miles of Ottawa: 6 past producers, 2 producers. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Clay, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Silica. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status
Lasalle County Highway Pit	Stone	Past Producer
Ottawa Industries Sand Pit	Silica	Producer
Dickens Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Ottawa Pit No. 8	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Ill.Valley Min.Co.Clay Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Materialite Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Ottawa Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Porter Co.Clay Pit	Clay	Past Producer

Storms near this place

60 of 82 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Ottawa in 82 storm reports between 1996 and 2026: 49 thunderstorm wind, 19 hail, 6 flood, 4 lightning. The reports record 2 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
August 2011	Lightning	Ottawa	1 hurt	A man working near a window in his basement felt a big jolt, as lightning struck near his house. He later found a natural gas line damaged by the lightning and while on the way to buy replacement parts, his right arm became numb. He stopped at fire station, who then transported him to a local hospital. He was not expected to have any long lasting injuries.
July 2003	Hail	Ottawa	1 hurt	no account filed
August 2007	Flash Flood	Ottawa	$250,000	Several inches of flowing water over Route 23 in and north of Ottawa. Flash flooding occurred in Utica as Clark Run Creek overflowed its banks sending floodwaters down the main part of town. According to reports, about 45 residents responded to a request for evacuation. Widespread basement flooding was reported in the Peru-La Salle areas. Many streets and county roads flooded within La Salle County. Flash flooding was also reported in Triumph, Naplate, and Grand Ridge in La Salle County. Dee Bennet Road near Buffalo Rock State park was closed due to flooding. Portions of Route 178 were also closed.
October 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	$100,000	no account filed
August 2011	Lightning	Ottawa	$50,000	A house in Ottawa was struck by lightning.
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	$30,000	Numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down across Ottawa. Two homes were damaged by falling tree limbs. Route 23 was closed due power lines that fell across the road.
July 2011	Lightning	Ottawa	$20,000	Lightning damaged the chimney of the historic Reddick Building, which was built in the 1850s. Falling bricks damaged an air conditioner and broke a window.
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	$5,000	Trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down. A large tree limb fell on a pickup truck.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	$5,000	Tree limbs and power lines were blown down on Hillside Avenue in northern Ottawa.
May 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	$5,000	Several trees, utility poles and power lines were blown down across parts of Southern Ottawa.
August 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	$3,000	Trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Ottawa.
December 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	$2,000	A utility pole was snapped off. Part of the pole went through the roof of a building.
September 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	$2,000	A tree limb was blown down on York Street which took down power lines.
March 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	$1,000	Law enforcement relayed reports of power poles and power lines down just south of Ottawa. A large tree was also blown down onto Illinois Route 71.
April 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	A photo was shared of a tree down across Columbus St just north of E Jackson St in Ottawa.
March 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Power poles were leaning in Ottawa.
January 2024	Flood	Ottawa	-	An ice jam occurred along the Fox River at the Route 6 bridge which caused some water and ice chunks to spill out of the river banks near a medical center.
July 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	A large tree was uprooted in the 700 block of Guthrie Street, which also brought down power lines and snapped a utility pole.
August 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Power outages, downed trees, and a flipped picnic table were reported on the north side of Ottawa. A semi truck was also rolled on I-80 near Ottawa.
August 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Tree limbs were blown down in Ottawa. One tree was snapped and a utility pole was bent.
August 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Tree limbs 6 to 8 inches in diameter were blown down.
May 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Trees were blown down on the east side of Ottawa.
August 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Ottawa. A shed was destroyed. Multiple signs in downtown Ottawa were blown down.
August 2020	Tornado (EF1)	Ottawa	-	A tornado with peak winds of 100 mph touched down south of Marquette Street west of La Salle Street. The tornado impacted several businesses ripping off well anchored roofing material and snapping a utility pole at its base. The roof of a flooring business was blown off and hit a nearby building. It was here the tornado reached peak intensity. The tornado continued east ripping shingles off of roofs of buildings and houses and shredding trees. One tree was shredded badly near Canal Street and a large tree limb fell onto a new pickup truck causing significant damage. Fallen trees and tree limbs covered most areas along the path to the Fox River. The tornado is believed to have lifted in an inaccessible forested area east of the Fox River. Eye witnesses indicated the tornado may have had multiple vortices with clear rising and rotating motion of debris.
February 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Wind gusts were estimated to 70 mph.
July 2017	Flood	Ottawa	-	Up to five inches of standing water was reported covering Route 6 west of the Fox River.
February 2017	Hail	Ottawa	-	Hail was estimated to be the size of baseballs in Ottawa.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Measured by U.S. Army Corp of Engineers sensor.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Several large trees down along Oaklane Drive. Relayed via Facebook.
July 2016	Hail	Ottawa	-	Intersection of Boyce Memorial Drive and Ottawa Avenue.
July 2015	Hail	Ottawa	-	Golf ball size hail fell just north of Route 6.
June 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Tree branches to around 12 inches in diameter were blown down.
June 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Winds were measured to 62 mph at a mesonet site approximately a mile south-southwest of Ottawa. Large trees were uprooted on the south side of Ottawa.
September 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	A large tree was blown down onto power lines near the intersection of Route 6 and Route 23.
August 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	A large tree was blown down near Marcy and Guthrie Streets.
June 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Tree limbs were blown down.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Wind gusts were estimated to 65 mph.
June 2007	Flood	Ottawa	-	One to two feet of standing water in Madison Street, 2.07 inches of rain measured in on hour from 130 pm CST to 230 pm CST.
May 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	On Interstate 80, near mile marker 85, a car was picked up and turned around.
March 2007	Hail	Ottawa	-	Penny size hail was reported on Route 23, just south of Interstate 80.
August 2007	Flood	Ottawa	-	Covel Creek affecting homes near Route 23 south of Ottawa. Water on roadways throughout the county, 4.51 inches of rain since 10 am on August 23rd.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Several large trees blown down on the north side of Ottawa.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Measured gust to 70 mph.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Measured gust to 63 mph.
August 2007	Flood	Ottawa	-	Four inches of water over Route 23.
August 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Trees blown down along Jack Dougherty Road.
August 2006	Flood	Ottawa	-	Three to four inches of water was reported covering streets in Ottawa, where 1.49 inches of rain was measured.
August 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph.
March 2005	Hail	Ottawa	-	Nickel sized hail was reported south of Rt. 80 on E. 16th rd. in the Autumnwood subdivision, 1830-1840 CST.The ground was reported to be covered with 2 to 3 inches of quarter sized hail, 1842-1847 CST.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Several large trees were blown down on the west side of Ottawa.
July 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	A gust to 60 mph was reported in Ottawa with some tree damage.
May 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Trees were blown down at the water tower.
May 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Many tree limbs were blown down on the south side of town.
June 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	Trees were down on Highway 71 near Ottawa. A spotter reported 60 to 65 mph winds near Streator.
June 1997	Tornado (F0)	Ottawa	-	State police reported a tornado over an open field. There were no damages.
April 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Ottawa	-	no account filed
May 2020	Hail	Ottawa	-	no account filed
May 2020	Funnel Cloud	Ottawa	-	no account filed
September 2010	Hail	Ottawa	-	no account filed
September 2010	Hail	Ottawa	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in LaSalle County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Place	Distance	Sheets
South Ottawa (historical)	1.0 miles	27
Naplate	2.1 miles	27
Hitt	2.1 miles	27
Stoneyville	2.8 miles	27
Woodland Addition	3.2 miles	27
Dayton	3.7 miles	26
Reed Crossing	5.0 miles	27
Sulphur Springs	6.2 miles	26

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on Ottawa	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q576209	The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 425680. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.