What is the history of Naperville, Illinois?
Naperville was founded in July, 1831 by Joseph Naper. The original establishment was called Naper’s Settlement. By 1832, over one hundred settlers had arrived at Naper’s Settlement. These settlers were temporarily displaced to Fort Dearborn for protection from an anticipated attack by the Sauk tribe. Fort Payne was built at Naper’s Settlement, the settlers returned, and the attack never materialized. The Pre-Emption House was constructed in 1834, as the Settlement became a stage-coach stop on the road from Chicago to Galena, IllinoisGalena. Reconstructions of Fort Payne and the Pre-Emption House stand as part of Naper Settlement, which was first established by the Naperville Heritage Society and the Naperville Park District in 1969 to preserve some of the community’s oldest buildings. After DuPage County, IllinoisDuPage County was split from Cook County, IllinoisCook County in 1839, Naper’s Settlement became the DuPage county seat, a distinction it held until 1868. Naper’s Settlement w
