Land Acknowledgment
As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, we acknowledge that in 1776—and for generations before and since—the land where Glenview Public Library stands was and is the homeland of Indigenous peoples.
This region has been primarily inhabited by the Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, and Sac and Fox nations, and is also the traditional homeland of the Kickapoo, Peoria, Myamia, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ.
As a civic institution whose core values include inclusion and perpetual learning, we honor their enduring presence, heritage, and contributions, and invite you to learn more about the histories and contemporary lives of Indigenous peoples who have called, and continue to call, this land home.
Settlement of Glenview
As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, it’s a moment to reflect on the early history of our own region.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Potawatomi had villages and camps near the Glen View Club, Wagner Farm, and the Grove. Major roads like Glenview Road, Waukegan Road, and Milwaukee Avenue began as indigenous trails.
After the 1783 Treaty of Paris transferred the Northwest Territory to the new United States, American and European settlement expanded. This expansion increased conflict with indigenous communities, and by 1830, pressure to remove native tribes had reached its peak. Under the terms of the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, the Potawatomi ceded their lands in northern Illinois to the US government.
In the 1830s and 1840s, American and English settlers began arriving in what would become Glenview. German immigrants settled in the area in the 1850s. The earliest residents were farmers, and agriculture was the main industry in the region. Taverns, saloons, and a hotel were built at the intersection of Waukegan and Glenview Roads which became Glenview’s first business district.
The arrival of the railroad in the 1870s connected the area to Chicago and began the transformation of Glenview from a farming community into a commuter suburb. With a growing population, Glenview incorporated as a village in June 1899.
Want to learn more about local indigenous history and European settlement of the area? Attend one of our upcoming programs or check out something from these book lists.
We the People Programming
From Prairie to Village: The Settlement of Glenview in the 1800s
Discover Glenview’s transformation from the homelands of the Potawatomi and the impact of the Treaty of Chicago to the arrival of immigrant farmers and the beginnings of our current community. Presented in partnership with the Glenview History Center.
Past Tense Book Discussion
Read historical nonfiction and discover connections to Glenview’s past. February's discussion title will be Rising Up from Indian Country: The Battle of Fort Dearborn and the Birth of Chicago, opens a new window by Ann Durkin Keating. Discuss and how the Treaty of Chicago impacted the settlement of Glenview. Books are available at the Reader Services Desk.
Book Lists
Celebrate America's 250th anniversary by exploring the early history of the Illinois region.
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