Area Information
Bureau County was named in honor of Pierre de Beuro, a half-breed trader, who was the first man to establish a trading post within the present limits of the county. Phineas Wolfe started the first store in Walnut.
There were only 6 families in Walnut in 1845. The Fulton branch of the Burlington Railroad was completed in 1871.
The town was platted by Richard Brewer and for a time was called Brewerville, but was changed to Walnut. The village was incorporated in 1876.
In 1890, a fire swept over the village and a large part of the business portion was destroyed. Again in 1900, flames spread over the village. Both of the fires left Walnut in a desperate condition. People from the adjoining area flocked there to see the ruins and many predicted that Walnut would never recover.
Yet while the loss was keenly felt, there was just one thought among the village's citizens and that thought was the slogan, "Walnut shall rise again, better, safer and fairer than before." And Phoenix-like and with much hard work, Walnut rose from her ashes and stood again, newer and richer than ever before.
Average annual temperatures in July range from 64 to 83 degrees. The average yearly temperatures in January fall within a range of 11 to 28 degrees. Our annual precipitation is about 36.5 inches.
Area and county museums and other attractions include Neponset Township Historical Society Museum, the Bureau County Historical Society Museum, Hennepin Canal Parkway Museum, Sheffield Historical Society Museum, the Henry Thomas Museum, Wyanet Historical Society Museum, the Cherry Mine Disaster Holy Trinity Miners Memorial, Allen School, the Dr. John Kendall Home, McCune Sand Prairie, the Witness Tree, Bureau County Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Owen Lovejoy Homestead Site, the Red Covered Bridge, Warnecke Woods Spring Wildflower Walk, the Don Marquis Memorial Marker and more.
Walnut's educational needs are served by the Bureau Valley North School. Regional colleges and universities include the Illinois Valley Community College, Kishwaukee College, Illinois Central College, Bradley University, Black Hawk College, Northern Illinois University and Rock Valley College.
Hospitals and medical centers in the area include Perry Memorial Hospital, CGH Medical Center and the Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital.
Area recreational opportunities abound. You can enjoy horseback riding, bicycling and picnicking in our area's beautiful parks. There are also 96 miles of bike trails along the Hennepin Canal Parkway. You can also enjoy the Hormel Ponds northeast of the Memorial Park and playground. Other recreational opportunities include Lake Depue Park, Ladd Park, Sand Prairie Farms Hunting Preserve, Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park, Mautino State Park and others. If golf is your game, there are plenty of opportunities at Wyaton Hills Golf Course, Hidden Lake Country Club, Spring Creek Golf Course, Indian Hills Golf Course and Green River Country Club.
Come check out our area soon and see for yourself why this is a great place to live, work and do business. Stop by our United Country office and let us tell you about our many real estate opportunities.
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