Frankfort

History

First inhabited by Native Americans, including the Potawatomi and Sac and Fox tribes, Frankfort was used as a conduit between the Des Plaines and St. Joseph rivers. The area was part of the Virginia Territory until the French signed a treaty with Manitoqua, the Potawatomi chief, for land in the Prestwick area. The first pioneers came to Frankfort in the early 1830s by means of the Des Plaines River from the southwest and by wagon from the east along the Sauk Trail, a roadway that still exists. William Rice, the first non-native settler, made a permanent settlement in Frankfort in 1831. While the first pioneers, coming mainly from the New England colonies, were mostly of English and Scottish descent, German immigrants made the village of Frankfort a reality in the 1840s. They had fled harsh conditions in their homeland and were industrious and experienced farmers, soon buying most of the fertile farmland from the "Yankees", who were more inclined to provide services for local needs. Establishing both ownership and pride in the area, the German settlers implemented the first system of resident concern for local lands, which has been maintained ever since. What is now known as Frankfort Township was originally part of the Hickory Creek Precinct. Will County was originally divided into ten precincts. In 1850, the county adopted the township form of government. Frederick Cappel named Frankfort Township after his native city, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In 1855 the Joliet and Northern Indiana Railroad built a line through an area linking Joliet, Illinois, with Lake Station, Indiana. The J&NI Railroad was leased to the Michigan Central Railroad, and service was implemented in July 1855. Nelson D. Elwood, an officer of the rail line, and Sherman Bowen, a Joliet attorney and…

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, it has an area of , all land. Frankfort is in the Chicago metropolitan area, about 28 miles south of downtown. An unincorporated area north of the village of Frankfort (in Frankfort Township) is a census-designated place known as Frankfort Square. The village is bordered by Richton Park to the east; Tinley Park, Frankfort Square, and Matteson to the northeast; Mokena and New Lenox to the west; and Monee and University Park to the southeast.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  19,061
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  17,464
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  15,052
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  14,647
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  14,567
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  13,971
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  13,551
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,695

Largest nearby schools

• Lockport Township High Sch East
  High · Lockport · 3,872 students · 17.2:1 ratio
• Lincoln-Way East High School
  High · Frankfort · 2,749 students · 19.1:1 ratio
• Lincoln Way West
  High · New Lenox · 1,994 students · 19.5:1 ratio
• Lincoln-Way Central High School
  High · New Lenox · 1,962 students · 14.5:1 ratio
• Hickory Creek Middle School
  Middle · Frankfort · 910 students · 14.7:1 ratio
• Chelsea Elem School
  Elementary · Frankfort · 882 students · 16:1 ratio
• Grand Prairie Elementary School
  Elementary · Frankfort · 869 students · 15.5:1 ratio
• Homer Jr High School
  Middle · Homer Glen · 843 students · 14.1:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.9 — 2026-07-08
  21 km ENE of Kenilworth, Illinois
• M 2.6 — 2025-03-15
  6 km W of Dwight, Illinois
• M 3.1 — 2024-07-15
  2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois
• M 2.9 — 2015-03-25
  3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois
• M 3.2 — 2013-11-04
  1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois
• M 2.6 — 2013-06-10
  4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois