1600History
In July, the Pennsylvania House became the first hotel in town, operating at the present-day 1600 block of Broadway Avenue.
1822Military
The county was named after Edward Coles, the second governor in Illinois who served from 1822 to 1826.
1826History
In 1826, Kentucky émigré Charles Sawyer became the first white man known to settle in the Mattoon area, just north of the timberline (known as the Wabash Point Timber) along the...
1827Government
The first school was established in 1827–28 in the Paradise Township, taking place in a makeshift cabin and taught by James Waddill.
1830Government
On Christmas Day, 1830, Coles County was established.
1836Government
In 1836, "Old State Road", which runs along the southern end of town, became one of the first trails to be established in the Mattoon area.
1844Education
School was maintained in this location until 1844–45, when the first real schoolhouse was built in what would become Mattoon.
1850Infrastructure
=== 1850–1900 ===
The growth and subsequent history of Mattoon is tied to that of local railroads.
1854Infrastructure
In 1854, railroad surveyors from the Illinois Central Railroad and Terre Haute and Alton Railroad found their railroads would cross in the Mattoon area, and a burst of investmen...
1855Architecture
In 1855, the first houses were built.
1856History
The next year, 1856, saw the creation of the first newspaper.
1857Government
In May 1857, residents voted to incorporate the town, with 65 votes for and 25 votes against.
1858History
In 1858, the first public park was created with a land deed from John Allison and James and John Cunningham.
1861History
In 1861, the town was officially named after William B.
1865Culture
In 1865, Amish settlers began a community to the north near Arthur.
1917Disaster
=== 20th century ===
On May 26, 1917, the town was devastated by an F4 tornado which killed 101 people and injured approximately 638 people.
1932History
In 1932, the Kuehne Manufacturing Co.
1940Economy
The 1940 discovery of petroleum reserves near Mattoon led to a small "oil boom" over the next two decades, bringing with it economic benefits and increased civic pride.
1950History
The tree was cut down on August 1, 1950, due to disease.
1965Economy
The company closed in 1965.
1966Education
In 1966, Lake Land College was built just south of the city.
1968Economy
In 1968, they sued the national chain Burger King, producing a well-known case in United States trademark law.
1971Architecture
It opened in 1971 and it features Rural King, Marshalls, Jo-Ann Fabrics, and Dunham's Sports as its anchor locations.
1986Government
The 1986 arrival of the Lender's Bagels factory led Mattoon to dub itself the "Bagel Capital of the World." Home to the world's largest bagel, the town holds a weeklong family f...
1994Economy
Hood was indicted for the Omega Trust scam, a 1994–95 scam that brought in around $10 million and was one of the largest in U.S.
2000History
In 2000, Mattoon native Clyde D.
2005Infrastructure
Funding of $2.5 million was obtained for it via the 2005 Transportation Bill.
2007History
On December 18, 2007, the U.S.
2009Infrastructure
Today, the mural "Civility" (2009), located in Progress Square, commemorates the arrival of the railroad and depicts the Essex House and both Lincoln and Douglas.
2020History
On January 15, 2020, LSC Communications announced they would be closing their Mattoon facility.
2022Architecture
A new Regional Innovation Center called LIFT opened in 2022.