History

Freeburg lies in the fertile and rolling Southern Illinois plains between the Kaskaskia River and the mighty Mississippi River. It was platted in 1836 as the town of  Urbana by John Tolin Lemen whose father had immigrated to this area from Virginia around 1800.  Apparently, the first settlers of Freeburg were of English and Irish ancestry if we discount the American Indians who lived here for hundreds of years as evidenced by the presence of the Mound Builder's culture in the vicinity. 

There were five migratory Indian tribes that crisscrossed each other in Illinois;  the Peorias, Cahokias, Kaskaskias, Tamaroas, and Michiganics.  It is said that Turkey Hill north of town was a  popular Indian campground that also attracted many early settlers because of  the view it provided of the surrounding countryside. The last Indian tribes left this area by 1820. 

The big German migrations to this area started around 1830 and continued quite strong for the rest of the century.  Obviously, the abundance of coal, the availability of cheap fertile farm land, as well as the proximity to the frontier city of St. Louis,  only 20 miles to the northwest, are what attracted settlers to Freeburg. 

The old "Plank Road" was built in the 1850's and for 35 cents you could ride from Belleville to Freeburg in "comfort" without  potholes on what is now known as the old Freeburg Road.  Abe Lincoln is said to have utilized this road on at least one occasion. 

In 1851, the post office came, and when it was found that there was another town of Urbana in Illinois, the city fathers changed the name in 1859 to Freeburg after the beautiful city of Freiburg in the state of Baden, Germany,  from which some of the early settlers had come. 

The town was incorporated in 1867 with 808 residents.  The railroad came in 1869 and exchanged owners several  times before being sold to the Illinois Central. 

In the heyday of independent coal mines, as many as 1500 miners lived here, and in 1874,  there were 10 hotels for them to choose from if they could not find more permanent lodging.  With the closing of the Peabody River King Mine just east of Freeburg in 1989, coal no longer played a dominant role in the local economy. 

Today, Freeburg remains a conservative, mostly German community with a highly diversified business economy that also serves as a bedroom community for Belleville and the St. Louis metroplex, while still providing essential services needed in any small community. 

On clear days, downtown St. Louis is visible from Turkey Hill.  Several small factories are in business within the township.  These include - E.M. Wiegmann & Co., Inc.; Tower's Fire Apparatus Co., Inc.; Siemen's Mfg., Co., Inc.; and several small construction, trucking, and engineering firms.  Three commercial  orchards are also located in the area;  Eckert's Orchards, Schlueter's Orchard, and Braeutigam's Orchard.