Troy Grove, Illinois

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Troy Grove is a small village in LaSalle County, Illinois, near the Ottawa area. It spans about 0.69 square miles of land and had 225 residents in 2020. The Little Vermilion River runs near the southeast edge of the village.

History in brief
- The town started in the 1830s as Homer, but it was renamed Troy Grove because another Homer, Illinois already had a post office. The nearby grove gave the name.
- A post office has operated there since 1837.
- The community grew around a sawmill, a gristmill, and early shops. The first store was owned by William Alonzo Hickok, the father of Wild Bill Hickok.
- One of the county’s first Presbyterian churches was founded there in 1849.
- Troy Grove is the birthplace of Wild Bill Hickok and Kate Austin, and the Wild Bill Hickok Memorial is in town. The last wild bison in Illinois was killed near the town in 1837. Silica sand is mined nearby.

Railroads and transport
- The town was once served by two railroads, but passenger service ended in the early 1950s.
- Today, Union Pacific owns the rail line used to haul silica from local mines.
- U.S. Route 52 runs along the north side of the village, and Interstate 39 is about 1.5 miles east, providing access to Mendota, Joliet, Rockford, and LaSalle.

People and economy
- In 2020, there were 80 households and 55 families. The population was about 98% White, with around 5% identifying as Hispanic or Latino.
- Household composition is a mix of families and individuals, with roughly 46% of households having children under 18. About half of households were married couples.
- The median age was about 34 years.
- Median household income was around $73,000, and median family income was about $83,000. Male earnings were higher than female earnings. Per capita income was around $34,500.
- A small portion of residents live below the poverty line, including some children and seniors.