Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Allin Township yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Allin Township is located in McLean County, Illinois. As of the 2010 census, its population was 919 and it contained 389 housing units. Allin Township was originally named Mosquito Grove Township, but changed its name on March 4, 1867. The township bears the name of James Allin, a promoter of Bloomington, Illinois.
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 919 to 877 (-5%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
From the old history books
What they wrote about Allin Township in 1924
Passages that mention Allin Township, cut from the printed page as they were published.
A condensed story of the early settlement and development of the various townships of McLean County, together with the founding and incorporation of the towns and villages is told as follows: Allin Township. — Originally this township was called Mosquito Grove, in honor of one of the three groves which were located there. On May 3, 1867, the name was changed to Allin, in honor of James Allin, the pioneer. The groves were Mosquito, Brown's and Brooks' groves. With the exception of these, totaling 1,400 acres, the township was prairie land.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
By decade
No old photos in the archives yet
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Allin Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1951McLean sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Allin Township.
Famous people
Famous people close to Allin Township
Nobody well known was born in Allin Township itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →
From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
