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History · Eastern

Eastern’s history is
mostly unwritten

The public archives hold no old photos of Eastern. The rest are in attics, shoeboxes and the historical society. Help start the collection.

0old images & papers
0recent photos

The story so far

from Wikipedia & the U.S. Census

Eastern Township is one of twelve townships in Franklin County, Illinois. As of the 2020 census, its population was 589 and it contained 270 housing units.

Its population held steady between the last two censuses: 582 people in 2010, 589 in 2020. Half of its homes were built before 1983.

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Eastern yet — the old photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Intro from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Population and housing: U.S. Census Bureau.

Be one of the first

Start Eastern’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Eastern’s history is told.

0 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10

Famous people close to Eastern

See all 13 →
Jerry SloanJerry SloanMcLeansboro · 14 miAdrienne MayorAdrienne MayorBenton · 6 miJohn Henry StelleJohn Henry StelleMcLeansboro · 14 miHenry C. WarmothHenry C. WarmothMcLeansboro · 14 miWilliam L. HungateWilliam L. HungateBenton · 6 miKenneth J. GrayKenneth J. GrayWest Frankfort · 11 mi
By decade

Eastern, decade by decade

Before
2000
No old photos in the archives yetWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
📷 Add from your album
National Register of Historic Places

Nothing in Eastern is on the National Register yet

That’s true of most small towns. It doesn’t mean Eastern has no history, only that no one has written up a nomination. The closest listed place is Franklin County Jail in Benton, 8.8 miles away.

Eastern and the nearest listed places

Dashed line = Eastern. Tap a dot.
Franklin County JailWest Frankfort City HallC. H. Judd HouseChalon Guard and Emma Blades Cloud HouseAaron G. Cloud HouseCloud State Bank

Closest to Eastern

Franklin County JailBenton · Building8.8miWest Frankfort City HallWest Frankfort · Classical Revival11.1miC. H. Judd HouseMoores Prairie · Building11.2miChalon Guard and Emma Blades Cloud HouseMcLeansboro · Building14.1miAaron G. Cloud HouseMcLeansboro · Built 188414.1mi

How a place gets listed

1Talk to the stateEvery nomination goes through the State Historic Preservation Office. Owners, towns and historical societies can start one.
2Try a local or state list firstMany states keep their own register with a shorter form, a common first step for old barns, halls and schoolhouses.
3Write it upA nomination covers the history, photos and a map. Franklin County Jail’s page links to a real one.
Know an old place in Eastern?A mill, a schoolhouse, a cellar hole, a church: add a photo of it to Eastern’s story, or a memory of it.
📷 Add a photo of an old place
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places · photos from Wikimedia Commons

Then & now

When neighbors add old photos, retakes from the same spot appear here side by side.

Stories next door

nearby towns’ history
📜 Hanaford📜 Macedonia📜 Cave📜 Thompsonville
The porch light’s on

Where to, neighbor?

You’re in Eastern, ILFranklin CountyView boundary

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01
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