Kewanee, IL (KEE)

Ticket Revenue

FY 2009

$218,296

Station Ridership

FY 2009

12,335

Note: Fiscal year is from
October through September.

The Kewanee station consists of a modern, permanent brick shelter with large glass windows, sitting beside the platform. This shelter was built in 1986, the year after the city’s historic station was demolished.

Kewanee is a town that grew with the railroad. In 1853, the Military Tract Railroad (later the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; now BNSF Railway) built through Henry County and decided not to attempt the difficult grading that would have put the main line through the existing town of Wethersfield. Local entrepreneurs took the opportunity to found a new town along the rail line. Kewanee was laid out in 1854, and Wethersfield suffered so much its businesspeople literally rolled their building on logs or wheels to Kewanee.

When laying out the new town, its founders gave it the name of Berrien, to compliment the railroad’s chief engineer. However, he objected, and suggested Kewanee as an alternative, as it was the local Indian name for prairie chicken, which were plentiful in the area. The town was incorporated as a city on January 18, 1897.

Coal being plentiful in the area, mining became a significant employer in Kewanee in its early days, and the depot shipped a great deal of coal. However, Kewanee has its fame as the home of the Kewanee Boiler. The major boiler manufacturer settled its works adjoining the CB&Q railroad, with spurs onto its grounds to facilitate moving their products. Kewanee boilers can be seen in both the Blues Brothers and Cannery Row films, and were manufactured up until 2002. There are so many of these boilers yet in service that parts are still being sold.

Kewanee is still a manufacturing town in the midst of productive grain farm land, and distinguishes itself not only with industry but as a smaller version of the ethnic melting pot that is Chicago.

One of the city’s main festivals is the Hog Days that has been held there in the fall since 1947 as a celebration of Henry County being declared number one in pork production by the Illinois legislature that year.

Amtrak does not provide ticketing or baggage services at this facility.

Kewanee is served by four daily trains. The intrastate trains are primarily financed through funds made available by the Illinois Department of Transportation.