Lemont

History

Before European settlers arrived in Lemont, Native Americans traveled the Des Plaines River in birch bark canoes on trading trips between the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan. The native Potawatomi lived off the land in this area, directly using natural resources for food, shelter, clothing and medicine. In the 18th century, French voyageurs traveled down the Des Plaines River, trading Native Americans metal, beads and cloth for animal furs. Lemont was originally known as Keepataw (after a Potawatomi chief) and a post office was established in 1840 as Keepatau. After that, it was named Athens and then Palmyra. The name Lemont (literally, 'the mountain' in French) was chosen in 1850 at the suggestion of Lemuel Brown, the postmaster and justice of the peace, or perhaps by his brother Nathaniel Brown. Established in 1836, the village of Lemont stands as one of the oldest American communities in northeastern Illinois. It is historically significant for its role in transforming the northern region of the state from a sparsely settled frontier to a commercial, agricultural, and industrial region that supplied Chicago and areas beyond with commodities. Lemont is also unique in boasting an authentic historic district that remains intact and has been continually used since the 19th century. In 2016, the Lemont Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Both Lemont's history and architectural uniqueness connect to the Illinois and Michigan Canal (I&M Canal). Construction of the I&M Canal began in 1837 and stands as one of the last major canal undertakings in the United States (the Hennepin Canal opened in 1907). When it was completed in 1848, it provided a continuous waterway stretching from New York (through the Erie Canal, Lake…

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Lemont has a total area of , of which (or 95.71%) is land and (or 4.29%) is water. The village has 10 exclaves.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  52,427
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  45,380
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  40,688
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  37,808
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  37,688
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  36,162
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  35,601
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  35,554

Largest nearby schools

• Carl Sandburg High School
  High · Orland Park · 2,894 students · 16.1:1 ratio
• Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
  High · Palos Hills · 2,538 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• Victor J Andrew High School
  High · Orland Hills · 2,259 students · 14.7:1 ratio
• Lemont Twp High School
  High · Lemont · 1,324 students · 14.5:1 ratio
• H H Conrady Jr High School
  Middle · Hickory Hills · 1,113 students · 14.5:1 ratio
• Old Quarry Middle Sch
  Middle · Lemont · 819 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• Palos West Elementary School
  Elementary · Palos Park · 714 students · 14.9:1 ratio
• Oak Ridge Elem School
  Elementary · Palos Hills · 703 students · 12.8:1 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