dix-oldcityhall.jpgOn February 27, 1839, an Act was passed by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois creating the present County of Lee from territory theretofore embraced within the boundaries of the County of Ogle. On May 31, 1839, the County seat of Lee County was located at Dixon by commissioners appointed for that purpose.

On September 13, 1839, the County Commissioners of Lee County held their first meeting at Dixon, the Commissioners being C. F. Ingalls, Nathan Whitney and James P. Dixon.

The plat of the town of Dixon was made by Joseph Crawford, County Surveyor of Lee County, on October 28, 1840, for and at the request of John Dixon, Smith Gilbraith, William Wilkonson, and Bowman & Lane, and recorded in the Recorder's office of said County in Book "A" of Deeds, page 62.

On March 20, 1843, an election was held at Dixon on the question as to whether or not a town should be organized under the general statutes of the State of Illinois permitting the organization of towns. The proposition carried, 44 votes being recorded in the affirmative and none in the negative. No record can be found of any of the proceedings that were had under this organization, although it is understood that a village government was conducted thereafter and up to the time of the incorporation of the Town of Dixon by a special act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, passed February 10 1853, Section 3 of this Special Act providing, among other things, as follows: "There shall, on the first Monday of March next, and on the first Monday of March annually thereafter, be elected five trustees, who shall hold their offices for one year and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. Public notice of the holding of said first election shall be given by the president and trustees of said town, then in office, as heretofore incorporated."

The first record that can now be found concerning the Town of Dixon is that which begins with the election of five trustees under the terms of the Act of February 10, 1853, in force March 1, 1853. This election was held on March 7, 1853, at the court house in Dixon, and John Dixon, P. M. Alexander, Lorenzo Wood, Legrand Wynkoop and A. L. Porter were elected Trustees for the term of one year. These Trustees elected John Dixon as President and A. B. Judd as Clerk of the Board.

On February 14, 1857, the General Assembly passed an Act to incorporate the City of Dixon. The Act providing at Section thirteen thereof, that before it should take effect it should be accepted by the qualified electors of the Town of Dixon at an election to be had for the purpose of voting for or against the acceptance. Pursuant thereto an election was had on April 14, 1857, at which 96 votes were cast for the adoption of the charter and 279 votes against its adoption.

On February 19, 1859, the General Assembly passed an Act to incorporate the City of Dixon, Section seventeen thereof providing that "This Act is to take effect and be in force from and after its passage."

On March 7, 1859, an election was held for the purpose of choosing the first Mayor and City Council of the City of Dixon. John Dement was elected Mayor, but failed to qualify. During the period intervening between the date of the first election and the date set for the election of Mayor to fill this vacancy Joseph Crawford served as acting Mayor.

On April 4, 1859, at a special election called for that purpose Amos C. Stedman was elected Mayor and took his seat as such. The Aldermen elected at the first election were: Joseph Crawford, Anson Hoisington, William Peacock, Andrew A. Benjamin, William Barge, William H. Van Epps, Harvey E. Williams and Robert P. Robinson. The City Council appointed James L. Camp, Clerk, and Amos P. Curry, Marshal.

The City organization continued under the special charter of 1859 until March 7, 1904, on which date, at an election held for that purpose, it was voted to incorporate under the terms of the general Act of the State of Illinois concerning the incorporation of cities and villages. At this election the number of votes cast "for organization under the general law" was 897 and "against organization under the general law" 489.

An attempt was made at an election held in March, 1891, to organize under the general law, but the proposition was defeated, there being 59 votes cast in the affirmative and 663 in the negative.

Another election was held January 17, 1911 and, by a vote of 574 to 445, the City of Dixon adopted the Commission form of government. The City has continued to operate under this form since that date although an unsuccessful attempt was made to abandon it at an election held October 22, 1918.

 Click here for a complete list of Dixon's Mayors

dix-library.jpgThe roots of the Dixon Public Library reach back to 1872 when the firemen of Dixon Hose Company began a small subscription library. It became a city library in 1895--96. In 1899 O. B. Dodge, the first president of the library board, offered to build a new building, which was formally opened to the citizens of Dixon in early 1901.

The facility was remodeled in 1955 when the apartment occupied by the library custodian was converted for use as a children's department. A new addition which changed the library to its present layout was opened in 1969, and the elevator was added in 1986. The building was refurbished in 1994.

Many changes have occurred over the years. Collections have grown with the library's growth, and a media center was added in 1988. The library houses over 94,000 volumes, more than 1000 DVD's and more than 500 compact discs and audiobooks. Special collections of interest include the Lincoln collection and a display of original WWI posters.

Visit Dixon Public Library's website.

dix-linchwy83 South Peoria Avenue
Dixon, IL  61021
(815) 284-3496
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No matter where you come from, you'll find Dixon to be great escape, getaway or stop along your travels. Our quaint community tucked in the rolling hills of Northwest Illinois is your place to come home to.

From Abraham Lincoln who served in the Black Hawk War to Ronald Reagan growing up here and then becoming the 40th President of the United States. Other notable people who have come from the area are John Deere and Charles Walgreen. We hope you'll stop back and visit our website and we look forward to your visit to Dixon.

  • As an added benefit, the Welcome Center has FREE wi-fi access available to our community visitors.  Feel free to come in with your laptop.

Visit our Lincoln Highway Interpretive Center and our unique gifts available for that special occasion.

 

PETUNIA WINE

Dixon Welcome Center Introduces Petunia Wine. Sold exclusively at the Dixon Welcome Center.

Smart Living Ad2014

 

 

Each year approximately 3,000 children throughout the Dixon Public Schools enjoy success in the classroom and in a wide variety of student activities. These children, their parents, and DPS's 350 administrators, teachers, and staff make Dixon's schools a vibrant and nurturing learning environment.

Elementary Schools
A unit school district governed by a single board of education, DPS is comprised of three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The three elementary schools are community schools, with kindergarteners and first graders attending Washington School, second and third graders attending Lincoln School, and fourth graders attending Jefferson School. Community schools allow DPS to equalize class sizes, maximize resources, and ensure a consistent curriculum.

Middle School
Fifth through eighth graders attend Ronald Reagan Middle School, which was expanded in 1996 to accommodate the development of a middle school. At RRMS, students are for the first time exposed to departmentalized instruction and learn from teachers who concentrate in their particular subject area. The up-to-date facility affords teachers the opportunity to incorporate the latest in technology into their students' learning.

DHS: Dixon High School
Dixon's most recognized architectural landmark, Dixon High School inspires teachers and students to reach their fullest potential. DHS annually graduates seniors to leading universities across the country, while at the same time preparing students with other goals for their future education and employment. Like DPS's elementary and middle school students, DHS's students consistently score significantly above the state average in all tested subjects.

DPS offers students, parents, and community members almost unlimited opportunities to be involved. In 2004, DPS launched an unprecedented effort to fund student activities entirely through fundraising. The success of this effort has allowed DPS to increase both the number of student activities and the number of students who may participate in them. As a result, DPS students enjoy the chance to compete in athletics, perform in a variety of fine arts, and participate in a wide range of clubs and organizations.

Parents and community members also play important roles in the education of Dixon's children. Whether through service on board of education committees, parent teacher organizations, mentoring programs, or the DPS Foundation, parents and community members contribute countless hours in support of DPS's mission. This support and the unsurpassed dedication of its administration and staff help make Dixon Public Schools a central part of the Dixon community.