| The region drained by the Kankakee River in | | | | deposits are mined to manufacture lime, and for |
| northeastern Illinois embraces some of the most | | | | gravel for macadamizing and ballast. Kankakee |
| beautiful and fertile land in the country. The | | | | limestone is in fact quite well known for its high |
| Kankakee, which was the home of the Potawatomi | | | | quality and beauty, and is used in many of the |
| Indians and the road through which early settlers | | | | private and public buildings in northern Illinois and |
| pushed into the area, rises in Indiana marshes; joins | | | | Chicago such as Momence hospital. The western part |
| the Iroquois River below Momence Illinois hospital, and | | | | of the county has substantial coal fields which are |
| flows to the Illinois near Manteno. An odd feature of | | | | highly productive, the coal being located just beneath |
| the Kankakee River Valley is the absence of any | | | | the surface. |
| ponds or lakes. This region is underlaid with a | | | | In 1834 settlers came for the first time to Kankakee |
| limestone formation which can vary from several | | | | County, following the federal government's signing |
| feet to over fifty feet beneath the surface. | | | | the Treaty of Tippecanoe in 1832. The promise of |
| Kankakee County soils can be classified in one of | | | | cheap land brought many immigrants from Vermont |
| three groups: marsh and sandy land; light black earth; | | | | and New York who located in Momence Illinois. Today |
| and a heavy black soil which is the highest in fertility. | | | | visitors come from all over the country to enjoy the |
| The sandy soils are found in low-lying ridges which | | | | scenery and tranquility of Kankakee. Students of |
| are covered by oak forest; the ridges themselves | | | | architecture will find many notable and historical |
| are separated by areas of heavy dark muck. While | | | | structures worth visiting, including the Kankakee |
| much of the original forest of Kankakee County has | | | | County Courthouse and Frank Lloyd Wright's Bradley |
| been cut down, there remains substantial tracts of | | | | House in Kankakee (one of the earliest Prairie Style |
| oak, ash, elm, hickory, maple, walnut and other hard | | | | designs). Besides traditional recreational activities such |
| woods. The rocky banks of the river feature stands | | | | as boating, fishing, and hunting, agritourism has |
| of cedar and pine. With the exception of sandy soil | | | | become a major local industry. This tourism features |
| areas and a few limestone outcroppings, the soils in | | | | visits to local farms and farmers markets, such as |
| Kankakee County are the most productive in Illinois. | | | | Kankakee Farmers Market, Meadowview Farmers |
| All north temperate crops do very well here. The | | | | Market, Manteno Illinois hospital Farmers Market and |
| average rainfall is half again less than in southern | | | | Mary's Berries are just a few of the many great area |
| Illinois. | | | | farmers markets. There are also wonderful bargains |
| Among mineral deposits there are deposits of | | | | at the many local antique shops such as Antiquery |
| potters' clay in many areas, which led to the | | | | Collectibles & More, Castle Antique Mall, Indian |
| establishment of several brick and tile factories in | | | | Oaks Antique Mall, Olde Barn Antiques, and Manteno |
| Kankakee city from its earliest days. The limestone | | | | Antique Mall. |