1835History
== History ==
=== Early settlement ===
The first European settlers to the Sycamore-area arrived in 1835 and concentrated themselves mostly north of the Kishwaukee River (the n...
1837Government
By 1837, after some controversy, the location of county seat was settled in favor of Orange, Sycamore's original name, and the settlement moved to the present-day site of the city.
1839Architecture
=== Later settlement ===
Following the end of the second county seat controversy, in 1839, the first DeKalb County Courthouse was built in the city, as well as Sycamore's first ...
1844History
A year later the settlement consisted of 12 houses, which increased to 18 by 1844.
1848History
Sycamore then began an era of steady growth marked by population increases in 1848 to 262, 1849 to 320, 1850 to 390, 1851 to 435.
1853Education
The city's first school building was built in 1853.
1855History
Sycamore was home to 41 commercial and industrial business by 1855.
1858Government
In 1858, Sycamore was incorporated as a village.
1859Government
Marsh Harvester was established in 1859, Ellwood in 1875 and the preserve works in 1891.
1869Military
Following the American Civil War the railroad began to assist Sycamore's growth and the settlement was incorporated as a city in 1869.
1891History
Ellwood Manufacturing relocated to DeKalb in 1891.
1903Architecture
In 1903, as the county prepared to construct a new courthouse, the debate over county seat was reignited.
1904Architecture
The town also has the county courthouse, built in 1904, of limestone.
1950Crime
Maria Ridulph (1950–1957), child murder victim
Alvah Sabin, politician, congressman, lived in Sycamore
Frederick B.
1957Crime
=== Maria Ridulph murder ===
Sycamore is the location of a notable cold case, the 1957 abduction and murder of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph.
1962Government
== Arts and culture ==
=== Tourism ===
Sycamore is home to the annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival, a pumpkin festival established in 1962 when local resident Wally Thurow began...
1978Government
The district was established in 1978 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
2004Disaster
This was the first earthquake in Northern Illinois since an M4.2 (intensity V (Moderate)) event in 2004.
2009Education
The newest elementary school, North Grove, opened in 2009 was built for access by the nearby subdivision.
2010Disaster
=== 2010 earthquake ===
On the morning of February 10, 2010 at 3:59 a.m., Sycamore was near the epicenter of an earthquake.
2011Crime
The case remained unsolved for over 50 years until in 2011, Jack Daniel McCullough, a former neighbor of the Ridulphs, was arrested and convicted of kidnapping and murdering Maria.
2016Crime
However, in April 2016, McCullough's conviction was overturned and he was released from prison after a post-conviction review of the evidence indicated that he could not have co...
2020History
== Demographics ==
As of the 2020 census there were 18,577 people, 7,083 households, and 4,602 families residing in the city.