# Channahon, Illinois

Channahon (/ˈʃænəhɒn/ SHAN-ə-hon) is a village in Grundy and Will counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 13,383 at the 2020 census.
Located in a rural area southwest of Joliet, Illinois, Channahon lies at the confluence of the Des Plaines, Kankakee, and DuPage rivers, where they form the Illinois River. The Illinois and Michigan Canal runs through the village, intersecting the DuPage at Channahon State Park. Most of the village is within Channahon Township of Will County. The current village president is Missey Moorman Schumacher.

## History

Archaeological evidence suggests that the land on which the village now stands was inhabited as long as three to four thousand years ago by Mound Builders. When white settlers arrived in the early 1830s, the region was populated by Potawatomi, with whom the early settlers had friendly relations. The settlers came to call the area "Channahon," a Potawatomi phrase translated as "meeting of the waters."
When construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal began in 1836, Channahon's location was chosen as the site for two of the waterway's locks. In 1845, Myrvin Benjamin plotted a new settlement to take advantage of the two rivers and the almost-completed canal surrounding the location. At first called "Du Page," the settlement was officially named Channahon when the township government was organized in 1850. By the 1870s Channahon was home to a growing population and contained a post office, a schoolhouse, a Methodist church, two blacksmithies, and several stores. The community prospered until the rise of railroad transportation in the late 19th century caused commerce and population in the canal town to diminish. The Village of Channahon was first incorporated in 1896, but dissolved in 1908 to avoid liability after an automobile fell into the DuPage River due to a bridge failure. Becoming a mainly agricultural community after the decline of canal commerce, Channahon saw slow growth in the first half of the 20th century.
On December 11, 1961 the area was reincorporated as the Village of Channahon. In the following decades, Channahon's proximity to two major interstates, I-80 and I-55, resulted in the village's rapid industrialization—notably including such facilities as a Mobil oil refinery, two petrochemical plants, a soybean oil production facility, CenterPoint Intermodal Center in neighboring Elwood, and numerous warehouses in both Elwood and Joliet, among which are Amazon and Walmart distribution centers. Experiencing significant residential and commercial development in response to its industrial economy, Channahon has since grown into an affluent semirural suburb of Chicago.

## Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Channahon has a total area of 17.01 square miles (44.06 km$^2$), of which 15.74 square miles (40.77 km$^2$) (or 92.50%) is land and 1.28 square miles (3.32 km$^2$) (or 7.50%) is water. Channahon borders the neighboring communities of Minooka, Shorewood, Joliet, Elwood, Wilmington, and Morris.

### Climate

Channahon experiences cold winters with plenty of snow. Its summers are hot and humid, with cooling rains occurring frequently. The temperatures vary from 18 °F to 84 °F on average, with extremes reaching -2 °F and 92 °F on average.
Cloud coverage in Channahon varies from month to month. The time of the year with the most clouds is October 27 to June 13. The cloudiest month on average is December, and the least cloudy month on average is August.
Channahon has differing amounts of precipitation throughout the year. The time with the most rain is between March 27 to September 24. The month with the most precipitation is June.

## Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 13,383 people, 4,342 households, and 3,665 families within the village. The population density was 856.7 inhabitants per square mile (330.8/km$^2$). There were 4,684 housing units at an average density of 277.2 per square mile (107.0/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the village was 86.25% White, 1.27% Black or African American, 0.40% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.74% Asian, 3.27% from other races, and 8.0% from two or more races. 10.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,342 households, of which 39% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.8% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, 12.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 3.7% were cohabitating couples. 11.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15 and the average family size was 3.44.
The village's population was 27.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $105,156, and the median income for a family was $111,662. The per capita income for the village was $40,721. About 2.3% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

## Arts and culture
### Historic sites

The Illinois and Michigan Canal runs through the village, where it passes the locktender's house at Canal Lock No. 6 as well as the Dresden Mule Barn. The Briscoe Mounds stand near the Des Plaines River.

## Parks and recreation

Formed in 1971, the Channahon Park District maintains over 383 acres (1,550,000 m$^2$) of public parks. Facilities include:
* Channahon State Park, offering fishing and recreation beside the DuPage River; site of Forgotten Warrior Memorial
* McKinley Woods, featuring over 4 miles of walking trails near the banks of the Des Plaines River
* Community Park, Central Park, and Arroyo Trails
* Heritage Bluffs Public Golf Club
* Heritage Crossing Field House, with two gymnasiums, an indoor track, and fitness center.

## Government

Channahon is run by a Village Board of Trustees. The current President of the Board of Trustees is Missey Schumacher (elected in April 2015). At the county level, Will County residents are located within Board District 6, and are represented by Don Gould (R-Shorewood) and Joe VanDuyne (D-Wilmington). Grundy County residents are part of Board District 2, and they are represented by Chris Balkema (R), Debra Jo Kinsella (R), Lana Phillips (D), Eric Rasmusson (R), Greg Ridenour (R), and Deb Warning (R). In the Illinois State Senate, Channahon is represented by:
| District | Name | Party | First Served | Area(s) of Channahon Represented |
| 38 | Sue Rezin | Republican | 2010 | Aux Sable Township, Channahon Township |
| 42 | Linda Holmes | Democratic | 2007 | Troy Township |
| 43 | Pat McGuire | Democratic | 2012 | Troy Township |
In the Illinois House of Representatives, Channhon is represented by:
| District | Name | Party | First Served | Area(s) of Channahon Represented |
| 75 | David Welter | Republican | 2016 | Aux Sable Township, Channahon Township |
| 84 | Stephanie Kifowit | Democratic | 2013 | Troy Township |
| 86 | Lawrence Walsh, Jr. | Democratic | 2012 | Troy Township |
At the federal level, Channahon is represented by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), and Representatives Darin LaHood (R-16th District) and Jonathan Jackson (D-1st District).