Page Contents for Toulon, Illinois

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Libraries.

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Statistics & Facts

The Illinois state capital is Springfield.
The population of Toulon is approximately 1292 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 558 (1990), 518 (2010).
The amount of land area in Toulon is 2.229 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Toulon to Washington DC is 721 miles.
The distance to the Illinois state capital is 91 miles. (as the crow flies)
Toulon is positioned 41.09 degrees north of the equator and 89.86 degrees west of the prime meridian.

Location

about 45 miles northwest of Peoria
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History & History Related Items

The first cabin was erected in Toulon in the spring of 1835. The original town was comprised of 16 square blocks, one which was set aside for the site of a courthouse. The first real home was built in Toulon in 1841 by Benjamin Turner who also became the first postmaster. This home is located at 224 S Franklin.

The first wooden courthouse was built in 1842, serving as a school house and church during its time. It was two stories high and the cultural center for the town. In 1856 the present brick courthouse was completed at a cost of $ 12,000. In 1858, Lincoln and Douglas spoke at the courthouse on successive days - just missing one of the famous debates. Legend has it that Mr. Lincoln had a tooth pulled at the office of Dr. Thomas Hall. The office sits today at 308 W. Jefferson, between the Toulon Public Library and the Stark County Historical Society's home and museum.

The town was officially created by an act of the Legislature on February 27, 1841 - two years after Stark County was organized. It is the county seat of shire town, as they were called then. The county is the second smallest in Illinois.

The first newspaper was published January 1, 1856 and was called the Prairie Advocate. It was largely unreadable because of the worn out type used by its publisher to start the business. It was reputed to be one of the first three mechanical printing presses in Illinois. The town was later served by the Stark County News which ceased publication in 1984.

Electricity came to Toulon on December 25, 1892. A town water system was introduced in the summer of 1911.
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The settling of Toulon

spring of 1835

The founding of Toulon

February 27, 1841

Attractions

The Rock Island Trail (Hiking & Bicycles)
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Toulon City Government

Toulon Police Department

Toulon Libraries

Toulon Public Library