Coltonville, Illinois, DeKalb County, is a ghost town that once thrived in the heart of Illinois. Known for its brief existence and historical significance, Coltonville was an early settlement that played a role in the region’s development. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: DeKalb County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: Approximately 41.9417° N, 88.7504° W
Elevation: Not available
Time Zone: Central Time Zone (CT)
Established: 1835
Disestablished: 1840s
Comments: Daniel Colton established Coltonville in the 1830s, making it one of the first settlements in DeKalb County. It was strategically located along the stagecoach route between Chicago and Galena, contributing to its initial growth.
However, its prominence was short-lived due to the rise of nearby towns like Sycamore and DeKalb, which had more favorable locations and resources.
Remains: In June 1839, DeKalb County was considering building a courthouse and, as such, placing a county seat. Rufus Colton, the county clerk, was leading a push for Coltonville, where he lived.
Colton nearly led Coltonville into a new era as a county seat through political wrangling and underhanded techniques. He had arranged for the court to convene at his home only after he had set up an election as a clerk for the county seat.
The election was unique in that only the residents of Colton’s choice for the county seat, Coltonville, were informed of it. When the DeKalb County Court convened in Colton’s Coltonville home, the sheriff served a court order stating a courthouse would be built in Sycamore, the city that would become the county seat.
Even without the court order, Colton’s actions would have never been deemed legal; an act of the Illinois General Assembly eventually canceled them. Brush Point, the other community considered for the county seat, disappeared after losing out to Sycamore.
Current Status: Coltonville is a ghost town with no remaining structures or discernible landmarks. The area where it once stood is now primarily farmland, with no significant traces of the original settlement.
Remarks: Coltonville’s decline highlights the shifting dynamics of settlement patterns in the 19th century, when transportation routes and economic opportunities greatly influenced the survival and growth of early towns.
Its brief existence reflects the challenges faced by early pioneers in establishing lasting communities.
