Historical
DEKALB COUNTY
D
eKalb County is rich in history. Settlers came in 1834 for our fertile soil, hunting, and food supply. The county was named in honor of Johann de Kalb, a German hero of the American Revolutionary War.
DeKalb County’s industrial heritage is rooted in the agriculture industry. Barbed wire manufacturing was a booming business in 19th century DeKalb. The Sandwich Manufacturing Co. and Marsh Harvester Co. produced farm machinery; Gurler Brothers Pure Milk used early scientific processes to deliver a quality product to customers. DeKalb AgResearch created the famous “flying ear” logo for its revolutionary hybrid seed corn – the company was later acquired by Monsanto, which later merged with Bayer. DeKalb also is home to Northern Illinois University, a public research university with 17,000 students, which was founded in 1895. There are many guided and self-guided tours throughout our county. Some of our most notable attractions in DeKalb are the Egyptian Theatre, one of the last Egyptian movie palaces in the United States, the Ellwood House Museum, the Haish Memorial Library, and Altgeld Hall. In Sycamore you will find the historic Elmwood Cemetery, The Chicago and Northwestern Depot, and the Marsh House. In Sandwich, visit the Sandwich City Hall and Opera House as well as the Von Kleinsmid Mansion. A full schedule of tours and events is available through the DeKalb County History Center website: dekalbcountyhistory.org/programs.
All Area Codes 815 Unless Noted
10
dekalbcountycvb.com
