Durand

History

Its township's beginnings initiated originally in a no longer existing settlement called Elton, an area South of Durand and including parts of the Pecatonica and Rock Run townships and settled in 1835 by Nelson Salisbury, Harvey Lower, and Scott Robb. They and nine other families settled the Southwest portion of modern Durand, Pecatonica, and Rock Run area. Durand gave birth to Illinois' first tax-supported volunteer fire department. Since its settlement, Durand has been prone to devastating fires. Durand's early flourishings were closely linked to the development of the Racine-Mississippi Railroad later absorbed into Western Union. The line reached Durand in 1857, en route to Freeport, paving the shift from the Elton community into modern Durand and deriving its name from the railroad's first president, H.S. Durand. At this time, Durand saw the beginning of its prosperity which entailed the demise of the Elton settlement.

Geography

Durand is located 14 miles by road north of US Route 20 on Illinois Route 70. Illinois Route 75 also runs south of town. According to the 2010 census, Durand has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Pecatonica Elem School
  Elementary · Pecatonica · 322 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• Pecatonica High School
  High · Pecatonica · 290 students · 13.2:1 ratio
• Pecatonica Comm Middle School
  Middle · Pecatonica · 285 students · 15:1 ratio
• Durand Elem School
  Elementary · Durand · 265 students · 11:1 ratio
• Durand High School
  High · Durand · 164 students · 9.1:1 ratio
• Shirland C C School
  Elementary · Shirland · 105 students · 9.5:1 ratio
• Durand Jr High School
  Middle · Durand · 79 students · 11.3:1 ratio
• Dolan Ctr Maryville Farm Campus
  Other · Durand