141 The Growth of Elgin and the History of the Fox River Alan Hernandez The Fox River is a two-hundred-mile-long river that stretches from southeastern Wisconsin to Ottawa, Illinois. Elgin is a city that is near the center of the Fox River’s path. However, 200 years ago, Elgin had not existed yet but would be founded soon by the Gifford brothers. Elgin would be relying on major companies and the Fox River to keep itself sustainable. Eventually, Elgin acquired technology to help the city create buildings for people to reside in and allow itself to become a city for people to live in. Dan Flores spoke about a place where traditions and customs are cultivated by the people who live there and Elgin residents adapt to its environment to sustain the city and themselves. However, more advanced issues would arise, and the Fox River would get polluted after aiding Elgin in its urbanization. Despite the issues currently, the Fox River helped Elgin’s urbanization as a city to an extent. Elgin was founded by Hezekiah Gifford and James Gifford in 1835 and was given its name after a Scotch hymn, “The song of Elgin”. Natural resources of the Fox River were of good quality until the need for urbanization as civilizations grew larger and larger. The beginning of urbanization and growing a place includes removing trees and vegetation to have space Figure 44 443 E. Chicago Street in Elgin, built in 1845. Source: Historic Elgin
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