National Register of Historic Places

Macktown Historic District

Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois
Listed
January 5, 1978
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
78001201

About this property

The Macktown Historic District is a national historic district encompassing the remains of the Macktown settlement in Winnebago County, Illinois. Established in the late 1830s at the confluence of the Pecatonica and Rock Rivers, Macktown was one of the first settlements in northern Illinois. The community was a major trading post along the Galena–Chicago Trail and was the site of the region's first bridge across the Rock River. Two buildings remain standing from the original settlement. The Stephen Mack House, a Greek Revival structure built in 1839, was the home of eponymous Macktown founder and Winnebago County pioneer Stephen Mack. The Whitman Trading Post is a limestone building completed in 1846. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 5, 1978. It is located within the Macktown Forest Preserve and is managed by Macktown Living History.

Location

Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois
42.45055, -89.08901

Categories

COMMERCETRANSPORTATIONEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Macktown Historic District

This page lists Macktown Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Rockton Historic District
Listed
0.8 mi
Jameson, H.D., House
Industrial
1.1 mi
Chicago & North Western Railway Stone Arch Bridge
Industrial
5.2 mi
Weber, Robert, Round Barn
Industrial
8 mi
Laurent, Kenneth and Phyllis, House
Industrial
10.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Macktown Historic District listed on the National Register?

Macktown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 5, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Macktown Historic District?

Macktown Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Macktown Historic District?

The period of significance for Macktown Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Macktown Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Macktown Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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