Why a small Illinois town was named after the capital of imperial China
In short: In 1829, the founders of a new settlement in Illinois chose the name Pekin, believing it sat on the exact opposite side of the globe from China’s capital. While the geography was flawed, the name stuck, reflecting a 19th-century fascination with the concept of antipodes and global symmetry.
The naming of Pekin, Illinois, reveals much about the aspirations and geographical misconceptions of 19th-century American settlers. When the town site was auctioned in 1829, Ann Eliza Cromwell, wife of one of the founders, selected the name. At the time, it was widely believed that China and the United States were antipodes—locations situated on diametrically opposite sides of the Earth. By naming their town after the Chinese capital, settlers were participating in a trend of naming American locales after their supposed global counterparts, a practice also seen in nearby Canton, Illinois.
The town's history is marked by complex social shifts. Early on, Pekin was a site of significant legal precedent regarding human freedom. In 1841, Abraham Lincoln successfully argued the case of Nance Costley, an enslaved woman who had been auctioned to founder Nathan Cromwell. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in her favor, establishing that the state presumed all persons to be free regardless of color. Despite this, the city later developed a reputation as a pro-slavery stronghold, with local sentiment often favoring Stephen A. Douglas over Lincoln during the Civil War era.
Industrialization and demographic changes further shaped the city's identity. Following the Revolutions of 1848, a wave of German immigrants settled in Pekin, significantly influencing its culture and economy. By 1860, nearly one-quarter of the population was German-born. These residents were integral to the city's development, establishing businesses like the Globe Distilling Company and the T. & H. Smith Company. Later, the city became a hub for coal mining, with multiple mines operating until the industry ceased in 1951. Today, the city maintains its heritage through events like the annual Marigold Festival, which honors local U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen, a key figure in the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Pekin, Illinois
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