Cahokia, Illinois Historical Marker
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 38° 34.244 W 090° 11.300
15S E 744953 N 4272891
Historical marker in park across street from Old Church of Our Family in Cahokia, IL.
Waymark Code: WM9EC
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 03/25/2006
Views: 86
"Cahokia,
the first permanent European settlement in Illinois, was established in 1699 by
priests from the French Seminary of Foreign Missions in Quebec. In 1698 a
mission party -- guide here by the famous explorer Henri De Tonti -- selected a
site for the Mission of the Holy Family that was adjacent to a village of
Tamaroa and Cahokia Indians.
A typical French village gradually grew up around the mission. Its
population, always small, was affected by the establishment of Kaskaskia and
Fort De Chartes and by the cession of the land to the British in 1765
after the French and Indian War. In 1790 Cahokia became the seat of St.
Clair County, a huge territory which then included the 80 northernmost counties
of Illinois. Cahokia did not long retain her important position, however,
because of recurring floods of the Mississippi and the growing importance of St.
Louis and East St. Louis. The county seat was removed to Belleville in
1814. Both the village and the Cahokia Mounds several miles to the
northeast were named for a subgroup of the Illinois Indian tribe.
The famous Chief Pontiac was assassinated near the village of Cahokia in
1769. George Rogers Clark negotiated here for Indian neutrality during the
American Revolution. Landmarks such as the Old Church of the Holy Family,
the old Cahokia Cemetery, the Cahokia Courthouse and the Jarrot Mansion
represent Cahokia's proud past."
~ from marker
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