Illinois Attractions|Small Towns Most People Don’t Know How These 10 Towns In Illinois Got Their Start By Laura | Published May 02, 2016 × Laura Author The Midwest is the best. More by this Author Ever wonder how certain Illinois towns got their start? We are profiling 10 Illinois town origin stories. 1. Joliet Doug Kerr/Flickr Joliet is right next to Romeoville, which may cause you to think that Joliet got its name from Shakespeare. Actually, the name comes from Louis Jolliet, but it probably got misspelled. It was Juliet, then was changed to Joliet. 2. Naperville Loco Steve/Flickr Naperville does actually get it name from someone with the last name Naper, Joseph Naper to be exact. Believe it or not, the town was predominantly rural until the population exploded in the 1960s. Advertisement 3. Mokena Adam Moss/Flickr Mokena comes from a Native American word for "turtle." Advertisement 4. Chicago Nicole Yeary/Flickr The word "Chicago" originates from the Native American word shikaakwa, which means "wild onions." In 1833, the town of Chicago had just 200 people. Its population rapidly increased, and for decades it was actually the fastest growing city in the world. 5. Zion Eric Gravengaard/Flickr Zion gets its name from Mount Zion, Israel. It is home to Illinois Beach State Park, which served as a rifle range during World War 1 and World War 2. Related Stories The Incredible Prison In Illinois That Has Been Left In Ruins Illinois' First FlyOver Thrill Attraction Offers Tons Of Fun For All Ages Fast Eddie's Is A Hole-In-The-Wall Market In Illinois With Some Of The Best Fried Chicken In Town 6. Cairo Nick Jordan/Flickr You'll notice that a lot of towns in southern Illinois have some Egyptian sounding names. This was done on purpose, as this part of Illinois became known as "Little Egypt." Many say it got this name because the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi reminded them of the Nile delta. 7. Normal Ross Griff/Flickr This town name always brings laughs, but actually, the naming process was not very exciting. It got its name from the "normal schools," which was another name for teacher-training institutions. 8. Elgin David Wilson/FLickr Elgin was heavily inhabited by Native Americans, who were driven out in the early 1800s. It was then renamed "Elgin," after the Scottish tune of the same name. It was on the map because of its watch factory. Advertisement 9. Aurora Daniel X. O'Neil/Flickr Aurora got its start as a manufacturing powerhouse. Later, it became the first in the U.S. to use electric lights for lighting the city. It then adopted the nickname "City of Lights." 10. Sandwich A. McMurray/Wikimedia This city was originally called "Almon." But people were not happy with the name. Finally, someone named "Long John" Wentworth went to Congress and claimed that the town should be renamed "Sandwich" after his hometown of Sandwich, New Hampshire. Did any of these surprise you? OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Want more Illinois in your inbox? Get the latest on things to see, do, and eat around Illinois! spinner Thank you! You'll receive your first newsletter soon! An error occured. Subscribe Related Articles You'll Love The Reinvented Chopped Salad Bar At This Yummy Illinois Restaurant You Won't Believe The Views You'll Find At This Incredible Airbnb In Illinois Take A Drive To The Country To Dine At This Exceptional Rural Restaurant In Illinois Your Ultimate Guide To Spring Attractions And Activities In Illinois What Will The US Tornado Season Look Like In 2024? Our Very Own Storm Chaser Weighs In 12 Airbnbs That Are Available To Rent For The 2024 Masters 13 Hiking Trails Across America With Stellar Views Of April's Total Solar Eclipse, According To AllTrails 12 Incredibly Quirky Airbnbs You'd Never Expect To Find In The United States