Princeton, Illinois

13 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1893 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Princeton Township. It lies in ZIP code area 61356. The Survey maps it on the Princeton South quadrangle. 7,832 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 778 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Princeton within Bureau County

On record in Princeton

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

Owen Lovejoy HomesteadNational Historic Landmark · listed 1973
Greenwood Cottagelisted 1983
Hampshire Colony Congregational Churchlisted 2018
Oakland Cemetery Historic Districtlisted 2021
Colonel George H. Paddock Houselisted 2021
Princeton Chapter Houselisted 1980
Princeton North Main Street Historic Districtlisted 2018
Princeton South Main Street-Courthouse Square Historic Districtlisted 2018
Red Covered Bridgelisted 1975
Richard M. Skinner Houselisted 1983

Population over time

3 figures

Princeton grew from 2,473 to 7,832 between 1860 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
1860	2,473
2010	7,660
2020	7,832	+172 (+2%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 13 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.

1893 USGS Hennepin quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
1909 USGS Hennepin quadrangle1:62500
1911 USGS Hennepin quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
1958 USGS Aurora quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
1961 USGS Aurora quadrangle1:250000
1966 USGS Princeton South quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
1985 USGS Kewanee quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings

In the county-history sources

16,791 words on this township

Sketches of the Early Settlement and Present Advantages of Princeton, Including Valuable Statistics, Etc. Also, a Brief Sketch of Bureau County, and a Business Directory, published 1857 names this settlement in its chapter on Princeton Township. These are the passages that mention it, exactly as the scans read.

IN presenting these Sketches to the public, we expect them to be considered as a work of facts and not of imagination : had they been of the latter, a very different one probably would have been issued ; but we doubt whether it would have been more interesting or have contained more thrilling and pleasing items. It may appear, however, at first, to many of the old settlers that in some of the statements we have erred ; but we think that if they will take the trouble to compare notes and search out the facts, they will find that we are generally, if not in every instance, correct.

Passage source: Sketches of the Early Settlement and Present Advantages of Princeton, Including Valuable Statistics, Etc. Also, a Brief Sketch of Bureau County, and a Business Directory, published 1857.

In the Sketch of the County we have been very brief. At some future time we may, perhaps, give a more complete history of it, for we feel assured that it is worthy of being placed before the eyes of the public in the form of history, bringing to view its superiority of advantages as compared with other counties in the State.

In compiling the facts, we have endeavored to do it in as interesting a form as brevity would allow ; for in a work of this kind we could not be expected to give a full history of either County or Town, but merely to give a glance at the former and a more precise view of the latter. And here it may be well to say that, for the satisfaction of all, we have been at an expense of over one hundred dollars to obtain engravings ; so that whatever may be wanting to satisfy the mind of the reader, he will find made up in the fine illustrations. Bu,t should both 'sketches and engravings prove satisfactory and useful, it will afford much pleasure to

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Princeton Township - it names this place 26 more 26 times.

Mines and quarries near this place

3 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 3 workings within 5 miles of Princeton: 3 past producers. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. 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
Underwood Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Walnut Pit Walnut S & G Co.	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Wyanet Sand & Gravel	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Bureau County

Storms near this place

60 of 93 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Princeton in 93 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 48 thunderstorm wind, 26 hail, 9 flash flood, 4 funnel cloud. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. 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
September 2005	Hail	Princeton	$2,000,000	Also reported by emergency manager, law enforcement, and the fire department.Hail across Princeton ranged from 1.00 inch to 2.75 inches with the most significant hail damage on the south side of the city. State police also reported golfball sized hail (1.75 inch) at the Princeton exit on Interstate 80 (exit 56).
July 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$250,000	Wind gusts estimated to be 85 mph caused widespread wind damage across the central and southern parts of Princeton, IL between 950 pm and 1000 pm July 24. Several trees were blown down or uprooted. An outdoor stage was destroyed. A section of roof of a funeral home was ripped off. Several telephone poles were broken south of town. About 3 or 4 buildings were destroyed about 1/4 mile south of town.
September 2008	Flash Flood	Princeton	$250,000	Heavy rains caused flash flooding of parts of Bureau County during the afternoon of September 13.\|\|In Princeton, several streets, yards, and basements were flooded.\|\|South of Princeton, several area creeks were flooded and flood waters approached Route 26.
May 2003	Flash Flood	Princeton	$100,000	Water 12 inches deep on roads
May 2003	Heavy Rain	Princeton	$100,000	no account filed
July 2003	Lightning	Princeton	$70,000	No power & 911 system out
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$50,000	Wind gusts estimated to be 65 to 70 mph downed power lines, uprooted trees, and destroying fences. East Thompson Street and Euclid Avenue were particularly hard-hit with numerous trees, branches, and power lines down. A riding lawn mower was overturned, and the local newspaper reported that a boat was lodged in a tree.
September 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$50,000	A downburst occurred mainly across the northern part of the city near the conclusion of the large hail. The downburst combined with the large hail caused considerable damage to property. Numerous trees, tree limbs, and power lines were downed blocking roads.
April 2003	Hail	Princeton	$50,000	no account filed
May 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$30,000	no account filed
May 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$20,000	Severe winds downed numerous trees and damaged a large storage building. A few other buildings were also damaged by falling trees.
April 1997	Tornado (F1)	Princeton	$20,000	no account filed
May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$5,000	Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph blew a door 50 to 60 yards into a house and blew down a small shed about 2 miles south of Princeton, IL around 804 pm CDT May 22.
July 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$5,000	Numerous limbs 6 inches in diameter down across city. Several trees down with power lines down.
May 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$5,000	Power lines down near the 52 mile marker on I-80
May 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$2,000	The county emergency manager reported power lines and trees down from Princeton to La Moille along route 34.
March 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$2,000	power pole down on Backbone Rd
June 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$2,000	Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines.
August 2006	Lightning	Princeton	$1,000	A lightning strike took the power out across most of the city.
October 2006	Hail	Princeton	$1,000	On I-180 just south of Princeton, ping pong size hail cracked a windshield.
May 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	$1,000	no account filed
March 2026	Hail	Princeton	-	The time of the event was estimated using radar.
March 2025	Funnel Cloud	Princeton	-	A clear video of a funnel was received.
July 2025	Flash Flood	Princeton	-	A public report of street flooding via MPING.
July 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Large tree snapped at base and over a fence post. The of time of the event was estimated using radar.
July 2025	Flash Flood	Princeton	-	The Emergency Manager reported that the road was completely covered with water that was a couple of feet deep. Water was also in the yards across this area. .
July 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Emergency manager reported that a utility pole was snapped near Rt 26 and Progress Drive. Time of the event was estimated based on radar.
July 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Law Enforcement shared reports of several trees and power lines down throughout the county.
June 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Trees downed in town by thunderstorm winds.
March 2023	Hail	Princeton	-	Relayed by National Weather Service Chicago.
July 2022	Flash Flood	Princeton	-	The Emergency Manager reported that several roads in town were impassable due to high water.
July 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	The NWS in Chicago relayed a public report of a 12 inch diameter tree down.
June 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	A trained spotter in northwest Princeton reported that power was out on the northwest side of town. There was a 2 inch diameter tree limb down in the driveway. They also reported pea sized hail and heavy rain.
June 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	The COOP Observer reported that a tree was down over the street and that several smaller branches were also down.
June 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	The Emergency Manager reported numerous trees down in town with power outages.
June 2020	Flash Flood	Princeton	-	The Emergency Manager reported water 6 to 8 inches deep flowing over the streets in town, making driving difficult if not impossible.
June 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	A public report of 2 inch diameter tree branches down was received.
June 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	A tree was reported down, on power lines which caused them to arc.
September 2019	Flash Flood	Princeton	-	Several homes had 1 to 2 feet water in basements, due to 5.90 inches of rain.
July 2018	Flash Flood	Princeton	-	Local law enforcement reported street flooding and water backing up into houses.
April 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	The emergency manager reported two 24 to 36 inch trees snapped in town along with 5 to 10 other trees across the east side of Princeton. A power pole was also blown on to the roof of a nearby building which caused power outages in the city.
June 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Trees and power lines were blown down. The time was estimated from radar data.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	A trained spotter reported a 3 inch diameter tree limb was down.
June 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Law enforcement reported a semi trailer blown onto its side between Princeton and Dover.
June 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	The emergency manager reported a tree down in town blocking a lane.
May 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Law enforcement reported trees blown down and blocking roadways in Princeton.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	A trained spotter reported tree limbs and power lines down in Princeton. Two 5 inch diameter pine trees were also blown over.
April 2011	Hail	Princeton	-	Ping pong ball sized hail fell in Princeton, IL at 1005 pm CDT April 3.
July 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Wind gusts estimated to be 85 mph blew down several trees in Princeton, IL around 957 pm July 24. A power outage was observed in Princeton, IL, Walnut, IL, and Ohio, IL.
July 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	An 82 mph wind gust was measured in Princeton, IL around 950 pm July 24.
May 2008	Hail	Princeton	-	Quarter-sized hail fell about one mile west southwest of Princeton, IL around 10:35 pm May 31.
May 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Winds estimated to be 60 mph blew down some small limbs in Princeton, IL around 1:25 am.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	A wind gust measuring 84 mph was recorded in Princeton, IL around 700 am July 21.
June 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Wind gusts estimated to be 65 mph were observed in Princeton, IL at 2:31 pm June 15.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Wind gusts estimated to be 80 mph blew down numerous large trees up to 3 feet in diameter in and around Princeton, IL at 705 am July 21.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph blew down several tree limbs in Princeton, IL around 700 am July 21. A power outage was also observed.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Wind gusts estimated to be 60 mph blew down some 4 to 5 inch diameter tree branches about 1 mile northeast of Princeton, IL at 659 am July 21.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Princeton	-	Winds estimated to be 60 mph blew down some tree branches and small limbs near Princeton, IL.
April 2006	Hail	Princeton	-	dime size hail
May 2006	Hail	Princeton	-	A spotter reported mainly pea size hail with a few dime size stones.

Every storm recorded in Bureau 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
Coal Hollow	5.4 miles	13
Tiskilwa	5.7 miles	10
Dover	6.1 miles	13
Wyanet	6.3 miles	10
Malden	6.4 miles	13
Bureau	7.5 miles	13
Greenoak	8.3 miles	13
Limerick	8.7 miles	13

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 Princeton	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q574878	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 416226. 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.

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.