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Mendota is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States, in the state\'s north-central region. The population was 7,061 at the 2020 census.[4] It is part of the Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area. Mendota is located approximately 85 miles (137 km) west of Chicago, 70 miles (110 km) east of Moline and 55 miles (89 km) south of Rockford. The current mayor is David W. Boelk, an independent elected to a four-year term.
The name \"Mendota\" is derived from a Lakota word meaning \"junction of two trails\", which was found appropriate for the city since there was a nearby railroad junction for the Illinois Central Railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.[5][6]
HistoryMendota depot ca.1898
In summer of 1853, the Illinois Central Railroad was completed and crossed the existing Chicago and Aurora Railroad. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad completed the crossing at the present site of Mendota. By the following year, the population had grown to more than 1,000 and the town was home to saloons, hotels, and various shops. The town was incorporated as a village in 1855 and reincorporated as a town in 1859. By 1860, the town was also home to churches of 5 denominations.[citation needed]
With the availability of the railroads to facilitate export, several manufactures of items ranging from organs to cigars and buttons opened factories in Mendota. By the end of the American Civil War, the population of the town had more than doubled to over 2,000. By winter of 1866, citizens voted on a referendum to secure a city government.[6] Mendota was incorporated into its current city government on April 9, 1867.[6][7]
A library was opened on September 8, 1874, with 1700 books secured by donation. It was acquired by the city government in 1894. The original building was replaced in 1905 by a new Carnegie Library.[2]
A new Union station was opened on February 23, 1888, to replace the Passenger House, which was the original depot that had burned down in 1885. The new building contained a hotel, restaurants, and separate waiting areas for passengers and railroad staff. Because of falling revenue and ridership, much of the station was torn down in 1942. The current Mendota station is the only remaining portion of the original structure.[8]
Geography
According to the 2010 census, Mendota has a total area of 5.096 square miles (13.20 km2), of which 5 square miles (12.95 km2) (or 98.12%) is land and 0.096 square miles (0.25 km2) (or 1.88%) is water.[9]
Mendota Creek, a south flowing tributary of the Little Vermilion River, flows through downtown Mendota from its headwaters in the agricultural fields northwest of town. The creek was identified in 2014 as having chronic problems with dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform bacteria concentrations.[10]
