Editing Sterling, Illinois (section)

==History==

In 1834, Hezekiah Brink built the first cabin in what was to become Harrisburg. Two years later, William Kirkpatrick settled downstream in an area that became Chatham.<ref>https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED500837.pdf</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=City of Sterling - Sauk Valley Media |url=https://local.saukvalley.com/sterling-il/city-of-sterling-815-632-6621 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=local.saukvalley.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1838, Harrisburg and Chatham merged to become the Town of Sterling in an effort to become the county seat. The name ''Sterling'' was chosen to honor Major James Sterling, who distinguished himself in the area during the [[Blackhawk War]] in 1832.<ref>https://www.riverfrontreimagined.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/introductioninterimdocument.pdf</ref> On February 16, 1857, Sterling was incorporated as a city by state law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Sterling · Sterling Digital Collections |url=https://sterling.digitalsckls.info/history-of-sterling |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=sterling.digitalsckls.info}}</ref>

On July 18, 1856, [[Abraham Lincoln]] visited Sterling to speak at a rally for the presidential candidate [[John C. Frémont|John C. Fremont]]. He spent the night at the home of Sheriff William Manahan, which has since been preserved and renovated into the Lincoln-Manahan Home. He gave his speech in Propheter Park, where a statue has been erected in his honor.<ref>https://sterlingmainstreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2019-Mural-Brochure.pdf</ref>

The Rock River failed to become a major navigational route as once hoped, but it provided power for the [[sawmill|saw]] and [[grist mill]]s, and later to a booming industrial base. In 1856, the first rail lines were laid in the area. With the power from the river and the transportation provided by the railroads, Sterling's business and industry grew. During the late 19th and early 20th century, the community's industrial bedrock was laid with the founding of [[Northwestern Steel & Wire]] Co., Lawrence Brothers Inc, National Manufacturing Co., [[The Frantz Manufacturing Company]], and the [[Wahl Clipper Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sterling Fire and Water Damage Restoration and Cleaning Services |url=https://www.servpro.com/locations/il/sterling |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=www.servpro.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Sterling has diversified and adapted to the 21st century. Its industrial base has expanded; the city has filled two [[industrial park]]s and made development for a third and fourth. Retail sales for the region have expanded as Sterling has emerged as a regional retail hub. Outside the city, the landscape is dominated by agricultural fields that typify most of the Midwest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Horner |first=Mark |date=2025-02-11 |title=Sterling, Illinois, United States - |url=https://mark-horner.com/index_2.php?location=sterling_il |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=The Alpha Group - Mark Horner |language=en-US}}</ref>

The cities of [[Sterling, Nebraska]], and [[Sterling, Colorado]], were both founded by former residents of Sterling, Illinois, as they branched out across the West.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}