Minonk

History

The founding of Minonk corresponds with the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad. The Illinois Central Railroad main line was completed in 1854 and ran through Section Seven, eventually becoming the City of Minonk. The plat of the town was first recorded on November 7, 1854. The Pekin line of the Santa Fe Railroad, constructed in 1879, intersected with the Illinois Central Railroad in the city. David Neal, an agent with the Illinois Central Railroad, is credited for naming the city. Local folklore provides varying accounts about the origins of the name “Minonk.” One version states that he originally named the area after a street in Boston, taken from the Mohican word meaning "high point," Two mines operated in Minonk: the first mine was located on the north edge of the city, and the second was situated a half-mile north of town.

Geography

As of the 2010 census, Minonk has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  727
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  696
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  673
• Common Grackle

  Quiscalus quiscula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  600
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  576
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  553
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  520
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  433

Most recent

• 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 3.6 — 2023-11-15
  1 km SSW of Standard, Illinois
• M 4.2 — 2004-06-28
  12 km NW of Dayton, Illinois