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La Salle, IL

LaSalle
La Salle
City
La Salle
Downtown LaSalle, Illinois.
Downtown LaSalle, Illinois.
Location of LaSalle in LaSalle County, Illinois.
Location of LaSalle in LaSalle County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 41°20′28″N 89°5′27″W / 41.34111°N 89.09083°W / 41.34111; -89.09083Coordinates: 41°20′28″N 89°5′27″W / 41.34111°N 89.09083°W / 41.34111; -89.09083
Country United States
State Illinois
County LaSalle
Townships LaSalle, Utica, Peru, Waltham, Dimmick
Founded 1852
Government
 • Mayor Jeff Grove
Area
 • Total 12.97 sq mi (33.60 km2)
 • Land 12.86 sq mi (33.31 km2)
 • Water 0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)
Elevation 517 ft (158 m)
Highest elevation (ABC Wire, Inc.) 655 feet (200 m) ft (Formatting error: invalid input when rounding m)
Lowest elevation (Illinois and Michigan Canal) 438 feet (134 m) ft (Formatting error: invalid input when rounding m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 9,609
 • Estimate (2016) 9,203
 • Density 715.52/sq mi (276.26/km2)
Time zone CST (UTC−6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC−5)
ZIP Code(s) 61301
Area code(s) 815, 779
FIPS code 17-42184
LaSalle, Illinois
Website lasalle-il.gov

LaSalle is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States, located at the intersection of Interstates 39 and 80. It is part of the Ottawa-Peru, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area. Originally platted in 1837 over one square mile (2.6 square kilometers), the city's boundaries have grown to 12 sq mi (31 km2). City boundaries extend from the Illinois River and Illinois and Michigan Canal to a mile north of Interstate 80 and from the city of Peru on the west to the village of North Utica on the east. Starved Rock State Park is located approximately 5 mi (8 km) to the east. The population was 9,609 at the 2010 census, and was estimated to be 9,328 by July 2014. LaSalle and its twin city, Peru, make up the core of the Illinois Valley. Due to their combined dominance of the zinc processing industry in the early 1900s, they were collectively nicknamed "Zinc City."

LaSalle was named in honor of the early French explorer, Robert de LaSalle.

The Illinois and Michigan Canal was first thought up by French explorer, Louis Joliet. Much later, when Illinois became a state, the idea of a canal connecting Lake Michigan to the Illinois River was supported by many, including Abraham Lincoln. The 96 miles long canal was finally constructed between 1836 and 1848. Upon its completion, Chicago became the eastern terminus and LaSalle became the western terminus. LaSalle boomed as a transshipment point from canal boats coming from Chicago to steamboats going to St. Louis and New Orleans. It became a place where Northern and Southern culture met.


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