Farmer City, Illinois

Farmer City is a city in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,037 at the 2010 census.

Farmer City is part of Blue Ridge Community Unit School District 18 sharing facilities with nearby Mansfield and Bellflower, Illinois. Farmer City facilities include the District Unit Office, the Ruth M. Schneider Elementary School (K-3) and Blue Ridge High School. Blue Ridge received a bronze in the U.S. News and World Report Best High Schools list.

History

The Kickapoo and Potawatomi Native American tribes lived on the prairie and woodlands around Salt Creek and other local streams. The westwards push of traders and adventurers led to settlers around 1825. Dennis Hurley is believed to be the first white settler in the area; build a cabin, the area became known as Hurley's Grove with other families settling the area. Founding families were the Kirbys, McCords, Clearwaters, Watsons, Johnson, Webb, Blalach, Weedmans, Coveys, Cummings and Huddlestons. Hurley's Grove was just south of present day Farmer City, with increased population by 1837, becoming part of DeWitt County in 1839.