Channahon History
The Village of Channahon grew along the I & M Canal at the intersection of three rivers (i.e., Du Page, Des Plaines, and Kankakee Rivers.) An early archaeological excavation in the1900s unearthed mound remnants that pointed to three to four thousand years of history. The Potawatomie Indians named this area and called it Channahon, which means "meeting of the waters.". The Potawatomie Indians solely inhabited this area until white settlers looking for good farmland began to settle here in 1832.
In 1836, construction began on the I & M Canal and Channahon became the site for one of the locks that were needed along the waterway. The village itself was laid out by Myrvin Benjamin, and for awhile it was called DuPage, after the river that cut through the area.1 In the 1840s, the name of the area became Swifton, after the I & M Canal board president. This area continued to thrive until the railroad replaced inland boat travel, which caused business to decline. In the early 1900s, the automobile began to emerge as a new form of transportation. In June 1908, the owner of an automobile planned to sue the village after their automobile plummeted into the Du Page River due to a bridge failure. That incident was one of the factors in the decision of the village fathers to discard an earlier established corporate charter, according to legend.1
In 1962, the area was once again incorporated as the village of Channahon. As the village grew it developed with out a town center and hence the need for one. Today with Channahon's central location between the industrial complex of the Joliet and Morris regions, recreational potential of the I & M Canal area and the close proximity to interstate highways 55 and 80 sets the stage for resumed growth and recognition. The community also has a wonderful park district including the title of 1996 National Gold Medal Awards Program finalist for outstanding parks and a golf course. This area is sure to thrive with the addition a traditional town center.
Reference
1 Dillion, Phyllis, "History of Channahon Past to Present," no publishing date available