History · South Elgin
South Elgin’s history is
mostly unwritten
The public archives hold just one old photo of South Elgin. The rest are in attics, shoeboxes and the historical society. Help start the collection.
1old images & papers
8recent photos
The story
from WikipediaRead it all ↗South Elgin was originally called "Clintonville", in honor of early settler James Clinton. The name "South Elgin" was adopted in 1897.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Timeline
built from the dates on the items below196819680714 15 Fox River Bus Lines @Commons
1970–1999Nothing yet. Family albums go here.
Be one of the first
Start South Elgin’s collection
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how South Elgin’s history is told.
1 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 🔁Retake an old view19680714 15 Fox River Bus Lines @, 1968: stand where they stood+15 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10Famous people from South Elgin
See all 1 →By decade
South Elgin, decade by decade
1960s1 item
1970s–
1990s
1990s
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
📷 Add from your albumToday8 photos
CommonsState St bridge crossing the Fox River - South Elgin, IL - …2025
CommonsState St Bridge - South Elgin, IL - November 20252025
CommonsSouth Elgin Village Hall - South Elgin, IL - November 20252025
CommonsSouth Elgin Police station - South Elgin, IL - November 20252025
CommonsHairpin turn at Fox River Trail - South Elgin, IL - Novembe…2025
CommonsFox River Trail approaching hairpin turn - South Elgin, IL …2025
CommonsIglesia Apostólica Filadelfia2023
CommonsKenyon Woods Middle School2006Then & now
No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as 19680714 15 Fox River Bus Lines @ (1968) and it appears here side by side.
🔁 Retake this view · +15Stories next door
nearby towns’ historyFrom Wikimedia Commons (9). Images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.