Watseka, Illinois

The Watseka Union Depot is a historic railway station located on South Second Street in Watseka, Illinois. The depot was built in 1906 to accommodate traffic on the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad through the city; it also served the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway's line. Railway service through Watseka began in 1858, when the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad (a predecessor of the TP&W) opened a line through the city; the Chicago, Danville and Vincennes Railroad, which became part of the C&EI, began passenger service to Watseka in 1871 and soon accounted for the bulk of the city's rail traffic. The TP&W provided a plan for the new depot in 1904, which was similar to other stations along its line. The Watseka Women's Club provided planning input on the city's behalf; their influence resulted in the addition of a women's waiting room and a more monumental station with a depot park, both uncommon elements in a station serving a city of Watseka's size. By 1916, the new station served six trains which started or ended service in Watseka and twelve through routes; the line through Watseka remained profitable through the 1940s, and the city retained C&EI service until 1971.The depot was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1988; it was determined eligible, but was not listed due to an objection from the railways that owned the station. In 1989–90, the building was moved to save it from demolition; its National Register eligibility was revoked due to the move, but it was nominated again and listed on December 22, 1999.

The Old Iroquois County Courthouse, now known as the Iroquois County Museum, is a history museum in Watseka, Illinois, which served as the Iroquois County courthouse from 1866 until 1964. The Italianate building was designed by C.B. Leach and built by contractor A.C. Mantor. In addition to housing county courts and offices, the building also served as the county jail and sheriff's residence. In 1881, an addition was placed on the building, and the courthouse's octagonal tower was replaced by a square tower. A second addition was constructed in 1927; in the same year, the courthouse's copper dome was removed and replaced by a mansard roof.When a new courthouse was built in 1964, county officials planned to demolish the old courthouse; however, local outcry convinced the county to temporarily save the building. The courthouse sat disused and neglected until 1967, when the Iroquois County Historical Society formed and purchased the building for a museum. The museum is the home of the county's genealogical records library and includes collections of minerals and fossils, Native American artifacts, antique dolls, and numerous other historical items. The original courtroom is now used as a theater and concert hall.The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1975.

Middleport Township is one of twenty-six townships in Iroquois County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 4,375 and it contained 2,099 housing units. Middleport Township changed its name to Watseka Township in September 1863, but then changed back to Middleport Township on an unknown date.

Belmont Township is one of twenty-six townships in Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 2,610 and it contained 1,188 housing units.

Woodland is a village in Belmont Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 324 as of the 2010 census.

Pittwood is an unincorporated community in Middleport Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States.

Iroquois County is a county located in the northeast part of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States Census, it has a population of 27,077. It is the only county in the United States to be named Iroquois, after the American Indian people. The county seat is Watseka. The county is located along the border with Indiana.

Iroquois Township is one of twenty-six townships in Iroquois County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 625 and it contained 279 housing units. Iroquois Township was formed from a portion of Middleport Township as Westfield Township in May 1858; The name was changed to Iroquois Township on an unknown date.

Crescent Township is one of twenty-six townships in Iroquois County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 590 and it contained 275 housing units. Crescent Township was originally named Logan Township when it formed from Belmont Township on September 17, 1868. The named was then changed to Grenard Township in September 1869, and finally to Crescent Township on an unknown date.

Eastburn is an unincorporated community in Iroquois County, in the U.S. state of Illinois.

The Prairie Dell Meetinghouse is a historic church building located at the junction of 2550 East and 2150 North Road west of Iroquois, Illinois. The church was built in 1870 by local farmers; it served congregations from multiple denominations and is the oldest known church in the area. The church has a vernacular frame design, common in rural churches of the period, with Greek Revival and Italianate details. Its Greek Revival features include its temple front, Doric columns and pediments at the entrance, and frieze, while its long, rectangular windows are its main Italianate element. The church housed both a variety of local, mainly Christian, congregations and many traveling preachers.The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 12, 2005.

Crescent City is a village in Iroquois and Crescent townships, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 615 at the 2010 census.