Tilton is a village in Danville Township, Vermilion County, Illinois, United States.
It is part of the Danville, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The population was 2,724 at the 2010 and 2,647 in 2018.
The Village of Tilton is named after Col. Lucian Tilton, a friend of Abraham Lincoln, who was the manager of the Northern Cross Railroad.
Lincoln reputedly had Thanksgiving dinner at Tilton’s house in the village in the 1850s.
History of Tilton, IL
Tilton has a proud history, built with hard work, strong family ties and the spirit of everyone who has lived in Tilton.
Tilton was first platted in 1854 as the town of Bryant, after an assistant named Bryant, who worked for Mr. Catlin who already had a town named after him.
The town was also called the “Town of Carbon”, and plated in 1858 as the “Town of Tilton”, by the Chicago Carbon Coal Company. Tilton began as a mining village in 1855 and later became a large railroad terminal.
By 1905, these enterprises were lost, but Tilton has continued to strive and today has almost 3000 residents and continues to be a center of activity for business growth, while maintaining the small town lifestyle that so many residents have become accustom to.
NOTABLE PEOPLE:
- Bert Graham: infielder with the St Louis Browns
- Russ Meers: pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
- Joseph Kirkland: journalist and novelist
Tilton Historical Society
- 201 W 5th Street. Tilton, IL 61833
Visit the Tilton Historical Society to explore local artifacts, photographs, and stories that preserve the rich heritage of the Tilton community.
Stop in to learn more about the area’s past and discover how local history continues to shape the village today.
Why Live in Tilton?
The Village of Tilton maintains a quality of life typically associated with small Midwestern towns, including low municipal tax rates, no personal property tax, acreage of prime developed land located on Illinois Route 1, a low crime rate, quiet un-congested neighborhoods, and a responsive government. Ease of access right onto Interstate I-74, making Tilton a great place to raise your family.
This is the land of old coal mining, friendly people and copious amounts of food. Yes, it does rain, snow, become scorching hot, and on occasion a nice storm, but that does not stop us from enjoying life.
In the winter, music, local bars, and our local cuisine keep the town buzzing. But when the sun comes out, you will find residents heading for Herschel Lake, Vermilion River, ATV Park, attending a festival, or flocking to the town’s many parks.