Publication Date

1970

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Guest, B. Ross||Kouba, Leonard J.

Degree Name

M.S. Ed. (Master of Education)

Legacy Department

Department of Earth Science

LCSH

Bensenville (Ill.)--History

Abstract

This paper attempts to examine and analyze the geographical changes which have taken place in Bensenville, Illinois, a small town located 25 miles west of Chicago. Bensenville, originally known as Tioga, was primarily a stopping off place for Indian tribes. After the area was settled by farmers from New York and Vermont, it was important for grain production and dairying. These activ­ities continued to be important throughout the 1900's. In the early part of the 20th century, the economy of the area shifted from an emphasis upon agriculture to one based on industry. Industrial development was slow at first and consisted mainly of the construction of transportation facili­ties and housing. During World War II, Bensenville manu­factured goods for the country's war effort and served as an important rail center. After the war, the area's in­dustrial base was expanded to include the manufacture of such durable and nondurable commodities as machine parts, aircraft tires, chemicals, paints, and hydraulics. This broadening of industry brought about more job opportunities and a rapid increase in population. The area's population has continued to grow at an annual rate of about twenty five per cent which has also placed severe pressures upon the city's housing, schools, recreation, shopping, trans­portation, and eating facilities. In order to provide the additional services that are needed and will be needed by Bensenville's growing population, the city should develop a plan of land use priorities. The changes in land use recommended in this paper are practical as well as workable and if implemented should help to alleviate many of Bensenville's problems. Any plan is more easily formulated than carried out. However, if improvement is undertaken with firm determination and re­solve, Bensenville can indeed make the transition from a once agrarian community to a modernized industrial society.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.||Includes maps.

Extent

v, 58 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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