Momence

History

First known as "Lower Crossing", Momence was named after a local Potawatomi, Isadore Moness. Momence was first platted by Dr. Hiram Todd in 1846. It is located on the Kankakee River. In July, 1893, a crew paid for by an appropriation from the neighboring State of Indiana cut a shallow channel not quite a meter deep through a limestone ledge running just east of Momence, which had for millennia partially blocked and restricted the flow of the Kankakee River, making up to that point the Grand Kankakee Marsh, then the nation's largest inland wetland, possible. The increased river flow, while doing little for the citizens of Illinois, drained thousands of acres of Indiana wetlands, permitting them to be profitably farmed, while destroying most of the marsh.

Geography

Image:Kankakee River at Momence.jpg|Fishing on the Kankakee River at Momence. According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Momence has a total area of , of which (or 5.82%) is covered by water.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Kankakee Junior High School
  Middle · Kankakee · 560 students · 13.7:1 ratio
• St George Elem School
  Elementary · Bourbonnais · 392 students · 13.5:1 ratio
• Momence Jr High School
  Middle · Momence · 344 students · 15:1 ratio
• Momence High School
  High · Momence · 343 students · 11.8:1 ratio
• Je-Neir Elem School
  Elementary · Momence · 329 students · 13.7:1 ratio
• Grant Park Elem School
  Elementary · Grant Park · 304 students · 12.2:1 ratio
• Mark Twain Primary School
  Elementary · Kankakee · 213 students · 16.4:1 ratio
• Edison Primary School
  Elementary · Kankakee · 189 students · 15.8:1 ratio