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Danville __________________
Driving Directions
Take I-172 south for about 13 miles. Merge onto I-72 east and continue
on I-72 through Springfield for a total of 180 miles. Take the I-57 north
exit for 2 miles then exit onto I-74 east. Follow I-74 east for 35 miles
to Danville. Approximately 230 miles.
Calendar of Events
Check out
this site for Danville’s Calendar of Events.
History
The community of Danville was founded in 1827 by Dan Beckworth. The
Vermilion River provided ample traffic to help Danville grow and thrive
as the county seat of Vermilion County.
Prior to the incorporation of Danville, the Vermilion River banks served
as home to a Kickapoo Indian village. After salt mines were discovered in
1801, the Kickapoo were persuaded to give up a large tract of their land
to the United States government. The salt mines, often referred to as "salines,"
proved to be excellent sources of salt. Danville was plotted out just a
few miles east of the salines.
Although salt was the original attraction, coal soon became the mineral
of choice. Danville saw an increasing population in the mid 1800's due to
the abundance of coal mines in the area. By the late 1800's Vermilion County
out ranked all Illinois counties in coal production with more than 4,000
coal-related jobs.
Abraham Lincoln is also an important part of Danville history. While practicing
law from 1841 through 1859, one of Lincoln’s stops was at the Vermilion
County Courthouse. Lincoln’s law partner, Ward Hill Lamon, was also
a resident of Danville. The two spent a fair amount of time in Danville
and the town has several historical markers that point out Lincoln’s
part of Danville history.