Bill Text: IL HR0949 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Congratulates Vermilion County on its Bicentennial anniversary and celebration during the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Commends all of the contributions by its leaders and families who have impacted the health of their community.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2026-05-30 - Resolution Adopted [HR0949 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HR0949-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to congratulate Vermilion County on its
Bicentennial anniversary and celebration during the 250th
anniversary of the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, Vermilion County was named after the Vermilion
River, which passes through the county into the Wabash River
in Indiana near Cayuga, with the river being named after the
color of the soil along its route; and
WHEREAS, Vermilion County was under the flag of France as
part of New France from 1682 to 1763; it was taken over by
Great Britain for 15 years after the French and Indian War, and
it became a part of the colonies after the Revolutionary War
when the area was surrendered to Virginia, becoming known as
the Illinois County of Virginia; later, the area became a part
of the Indiana Territory, then the Illinois Territory, and
finally the State of Illinois; Vermilion County was officially
created from a portion of Edgar County on January 18, 1826; and
WHEREAS, Vermilion County's saline springs attracted many
early settlers, including Joseph Barron, an interpreter of
Native American languages, who was present at the Vermilion
Salines as early as 1801; the production of salt from the

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springs proved to be profitable when salt became less
expensive from 1822 to 1829; and
WHEREAS, Many settlers in Vermilion County came from
Kentucky, eastern Tennessee, Virginia, and western North
Carolina due to their opposition to slavery; some of these
settlers were members of the Religious Society of Friends,
also known as Quakers, and they founded the settlement of
Vermilion Grove in the southern part of the county,
establishing one of the county's first settlements and the
site of the county's second public school; and
WHEREAS, Farmers turned the rich, black soil of Vermilion
County to produce food and also raised cattle and hogs, and in
the mid nineteenth century, coal became the leading industry
in the county; and
WHEREAS, Vermilion County had many of its residents serve
in the Winnebago War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II,
the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, and the county has many
heroes who merit decorations for valor and bravery; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Westville in Vermilion County was
laid out by William P. and Elizabeth West in May 1873, and by
1885, the town was thriving after Mike Kelly started several
coal mines in the area; this later led to the Chicago and

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Eastern Illinois Rail line running through Westville, and a
now memorialized train depot was built where passengers would
purchase their tickets and coal miners would wait for their
trains; and
WHEREAS, Westville will be having a Freedom Celebration
from June 8 through June 14, 2026, which will include
activities and events at the Westville American Legion, such
as a patriotic home decorating contest and a celebration of
Latoz Hardware's 80th anniversary; June 14 will close the
events with a variety of activities, including a patriotic
golf cart parade, a vendor's fair, a flea market at St. Mary's
Parish grounds, and a vintage baseball game at Youhas Field;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate Vermilion County on its Bicentennial
anniversary and celebration during the 250th anniversary of
the United States of America, and we commend all of the
contributions by its leaders and families who have impacted
the health of their community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the organizers of Westville's Freedom Celebration
as an expression of our respect and esteem for a vibrant 200

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year history.