Manhattan

History

The township was established in 1853. Manhattan village was established in 1880 as a stop along the Wabash Railroad 6th district, and incorporated in 1886. Its named comes from the New York City borough of Manhattan, which may have been suggested by then-Will County supervisor John Young. Due to railroad construction in the mid-19th century, many immigrants, especially Irish, moved to the area. It was eventually incorporated to obtain a saloon license. Its forebears of German and Irish heritage give expression in the early spring festival Irish Fest. On May 27, 1917, Manhattan was struck by a tornado as part of the May 25 - June 1, 1917 tornado outbreak, one of the most widespread and deadly on record. The early morning of June 11, 1925, saw the explosion of a 55,000-barrel crude oil storage tank owned by the Sinclair Oil Corporation just south of Manhattan when it was struck by lightning. The resulting fire was reportedly visible from up to fifty miles away and raged for over twenty-four hours.

Geography

Manhattan is located at (41.422044, -87.981042). According to the 2010 census, Manhattan has a total area of , all land. Manhattan is located along the Wauponsee Glacial Trail that can be accessed at the Manhattan Road Access Point.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Joliet Central High School
  High · Joliet · 3,377 students · 18.4:1 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
• Grand Prairie Elementary School
  Elementary · Frankfort · 869 students · 15.5:1 ratio
• Washington Jr High & Academy Prgm
  Middle · Joliet · 774 students · 14.1:1 ratio
• Wilson Creek Elem Sch
  Elementary · Manhattan · 732 students · 16.3:1 ratio