How a fierce rivalry over a county seat shaped the city of Wheaton
In short: Wheaton, Illinois, was once so desperate to become the DuPage County seat that its residents launched a midnight raid on the Naperville courthouse to seize records. This intense competition, marked by ballot-stuffing allegations and a dramatic fire, eventually defined the city's identity and its path toward modern development.
The struggle for the DuPage county seat began in 1857 when the Illinois legislature authorized a vote to decide between Naperville and the more centrally located Wheaton. Naperville initially won, but animosity persisted. A second election in 1867 saw Wheaton narrowly secure victory. Following the vote, Wheaton quickly constructed a courthouse, dedicated on July 4, 1868, at a cost of $20,000.
Tensions boiled over in 1868 when Naperville refused to surrender county records. While some records were saved by Napervillians and sent to Chicago, the remaining documents were ultimately destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. With the records gone, Wheaton was officially proclaimed the county seat.
The city's infrastructure evolved alongside its administrative status. The original courthouse was replaced in 1887 for $69,390. By 1990, the county moved to a new 57-acre complex west of downtown, costing $52.5 million. This shift prompted a downtown renaissance, as the city repurposed older structures and developed new business and residential spaces, including the 758-unit Wheaton Center, to maintain its vitality.
Today, Wheaton is a distinct community shaped by its history and its large evangelical population, which notably maintained a ban on alcohol sales from 1887 until 1985. Beyond its administrative roots, the city hosts the DuPage County Fair and is home to Wheaton College, an institution often called 'The Harvard of Evangelical schools,' further cementing its unique cultural character within the Chicago suburbs.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Wheaton, Illinois
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